Maia Focused on Task at Hand on UFC 109 Main Card

When ADCC Champion and world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Demian Maia first burst onto the international MMA circuit, many held high expectations for the ground wizard. True to his roots, Maia did not disappoint, winning five straight fights after debuting for the UFC in 2007, all of them via submission. Unfortunately for Maia, that momentum came to a screeching halt at the hands of the number two-ranked middleweight in the world–Nate Marquardt–when he was knocked out early into the first round of their fight last August. Eager to bounce back from his most recent performance and confident that he still has the skills to challenge for the belt one day, Maia maintains that he is strictly focused on his main card bout with fellow middleweight contender Dan Miller on tonight’s UFC 109 broadcast.

Maia recently spoke with Tapology’s Steven Kelliher about his loss to Marquardt and what may have contributed to it, his training heading into tonight’s fight, and his thoughts on the middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort set for April of this year.

Tapology: Unfortunately I’m going to start out with the bad news. Could you talk about your last fight against Nate Marquardt back in August and tell us what went wrong overall?

Maia: I think what happened was I totally changed the game plan when I was going to fight. I don’t know if I had problems with concentration or something else, but the game plan was different from what I did. I think I was too relaxed, but I think what happens is what should happen, so it has opened my eyes.

Tapology: What did you think about the stoppage of the fight?

Maia: I always believe that what happens is the best that can happen. You could say that I could have woken up and grabbed his leg, but I don’t complain. I think that what God does is the best thing.

Tapology: Is a rematch something you are thinking about?

Maia: Yeah for sure. I always want to fight somebody that beat me. I know we’re going to fight again—I don’t know when—but I know we’re going to meat each other some day inside the Octagon.

Tapology: You started off in the UFC with five straight submission victories. Is that something you’re concentrating on getting back to against Dan Miller at UFC 109?

Maia: Always, always. With Nate I was looking for that, but I just changed my strategy. I am always looking for the submission.

Tapology: What are your thoughts on Dan Miller overall?

Maia: I think he has good Jiu-Jitsu. I saw some of his fights and he has good stand-up also. He is pretty complete, but he’s better in submissions I think. He is a dangerous fight for anyone. I think my Jiu-Jitsu is always by biggest strength and it’s always going to be like that even if I improve in Thai boxing.

Tapology: Miller said recently that he is not worried about going to the ground with you, but as far as the stand-up is concerned, what have you been doing in training to prepare for that aspect of the fight?

Maia: Of course he can fight on the ground. He is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, which is going to be nice to fight against. I think I can do well on the feet. I have been training a lot of stand-up lately, so I think I can do well with everyone nowadays.

Tapology: There was a picture of you training with Strikeforce Women’s Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos recently. Do you train with her often?

Maia: No, I just met her because Rafael Alejarra trains her in conditioning and he asked me to help her in Jiu-Jitsu, so I was showing her some technical moves to help her. She is very tough. I have never sparred with a woman as tough as she is.

Tapology: Should you get by Miller at UFC 109, do you have any specific thoughts on what you would like next in the UFC?

Maia: I don’t want to lose my concentration thinking about that. I want to focus on Miller right now.

Tapology: Anderson Silva is going to be fighting Vitor Belfort in April at UFC 112. What are you thoughts on that middleweight title fight?

Maia: I think Vitor has the tools to win, and I think for Vitor it is better for him if the fight ends in the beginning, but if the fight goes longer it is better for Anderson.

Tapology: Is a shot as Anderson Silva still obviously the number one goal of your career at this point?

Silva: For sure. He is the best in the world and I would love to fight him one day.

Tapology: Is there anything else you would like to say about your next fight?

Maia: I am just going to put all of my heart and soul into this fight like I always do. I hope the fans will like it, because I always fight for the fans.

Tapology: Thanks for the time Demian and good luck.

Maia: Thank you very much.