Eye on the prize: MMAmania.com exclusive UFC 83 sit-down with Demian Maia
by Andrew Nostvick on Apr 14, 2008 10:26 PM EDT
25 comments
Demian Maia will make his return to the eight-sided-cage this Saturday night in Montreal. He will clash with middleweight fighter and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season three runner-up, Ed Herman, at UFC 83.
Maia, who has won his first six career fights, will be in only his second in the UFC.
"I feel pretty good. I love the Octagon," Maia told MMAMania.com. Maia made his UFC debut at UFC 77: "Hostile Territory," when he tooled Ryan Jensen, submitting him via rear naked choke in the first round.
Herman will be one of Maia's tougher opponents. Since losing to Jason MacDonald at UFC Fight Night: "The Final Chapter," in fact, Herman has three straight UFC wins, including a knockout against Joe Doerksen at UFC 78: "Validation." Herman also has wins against Dave Menne and Nick Thompson.
Maia acknowledges that "Short Fuse" will be a tough battle.
"He's a very tough opponent, with good takedowns and ground game," Maia said. "To win I need to play my best ... and I'll do it."
Maia is certainly no slouch at the ground game. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner has won four of his six career fights by submission.
"BJJ is my life and if I never lost it's thanks to my background," Maia said.
Maia is also a 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling World champion and a runner-up in 2005. Maia would like to win the ADCC Title again in 2009.
"ADCC is the grappling world cup, the most important tournament with no gi in the world," Maia said. "After UFC, the ADCC is the most important event for me. I want to win again in 2009." Maia has also defeated UFC heavyweight fighter Gabriel Gonzaga in a jiu-jitsu match, among others.
Maia considers Rickson Gracie to be one of his biggest influences in his MMA career. He considers Gracie to be inspirational.
"He is one of the biggest BJJ icons, nowadays. He influences me not just a fighter but as person too," Maia said. "I know him personally and he is a great person that gives me a lot of inspiration."
With Herman on the horizon, a win would certainly make Maia more noticeable in the middleweight division. UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva has had a death grip on the division and appears to be holding on for just a while longer.
Maia would love an opportunity to fight Silva down the road.
"He is the best in the world," Maia said. "A fight with him one day is gonna be a great honor. I respect him a lot."
What's important for Maia now is to leave Montreal on Saturday night with a win over Herman.
"It s very important," Maia said. "I wanna get the title one day."
His journey toward that goal will have to go through the Bell Centre this weekend ... and Ed Herman.
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dont know much bout this buy =/
anybody got footage on him?
by kAiNOA PilAGO on Apr 14, 2008 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This will be a very tough test for Herman. I am calling the upset right now!
by john on Apr 15, 2008 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got Herman losing aswell. I predict a quick submission, maybe a triangle choke. If that is the case it would be good if Herman went to sleep this time, He would gain respect from me if he goes out, after what he said when he lost to Mac.
by Stagger-Lee on Apr 16, 2008 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ive been 1st commenter many times. dont know why ppl like to brag about it. GROW UP!!!!!
by kAiNOA PilAGO on Apr 14, 2008 10:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the administer should start banning any posts with the words 1st baby, cool first, 1st cool, yes 1st, allright first, first again, 1st I rule, king of 1st, 1st not second, what happened i thought I was 1st, 1st yeah, 1st and foremost, first one, first in line, etc. I’ve been seeing this for 5 months now. Maybe the next time they do work on the site they will start deleting all post with those keywords.
This guy has some nice Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. I have yet to see his chin tested though. Looks promising.
by protecvideo on Apr 14, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jiu-Jitsu Battles against Gonzaga
by Nos on Apr 14, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn! Like this guy a lot. Can’t wait for him to smash that ass Herman. Technique > red heads.
by Carl on Apr 15, 2008 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ed Herman is gonna have a rought night. He lost to MacDonald and he just about got choked out by Doerksen and would have lost if not for the round ending. You can say goodnight now Mr. Herman cause Maia is gonna put you to sleep.
by NorthStar on Apr 15, 2008 12:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hermans got some good g-n-p (relatively speaking)…so i guess it boils down to whether or not he can finish pounding on maia before he passes/taps out from one of maias subs.
by JoeyVitaminB12 on Apr 15, 2008 5:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don’t like herman either, very cocky and poor stand up. i hope he gets tapped quickly so he looks like a fool.
by markg on Apr 15, 2008 7:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Paging Mr. Herman, Mr. Herman to the front desk.
by PW on Apr 15, 2008 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ha, seriously, Maia is going to tool Small Wick Herman. If Herman was half as good as he thinks he is he would be twice as good as he really is.
by PW on Apr 15, 2008 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
funniest post i’ve read in a long time.small wick herman HA
by BLOodyMEss on Apr 15, 2008 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice write up. he “tooled Ryan Jensen.” hahhaha. I’m looking forward to this fight.
by wagnerav on Apr 15, 2008 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
this kid has definitly has a chance at submitting ShortFuse. Ed has got to be careful and avoid getting caught while trying to GnP this kid. in his first fight against Joe Doerkson he got caught in a triangle while trying to pound him out.that is Eds biggest problem,he puts himself in dangerous situations while trying to GnP.once this problem is corrected he will become a top 185er.he is tough as nails & doesnt quit.i would like to see him fight fellow TUF3 contestant the COUNT Michael Bisping, if they both win their fights.this would be a great test for the COUNT.it wouldnt do much for Ed if he beat Bisping other than putting a w in his W-L column.but i still would like to see it happen. the winner of the Starnes Quarry fight should also be in the mix of future opponents for the Crippler Chris Leben.if Kalib wins that would set up a rematch that went to a dec. in favor of Starnes the last time & if Nate wins it would set up a awesome 10- 15 min. stand up war .
by the levi on Apr 15, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This should be a good scrap. In my opinion, it’s worthy of being on the main card. Herman has finished his last 3 opponents and Meia seems to be a guy on the rise.
my prediction:Herman by split decision in what could be fight of the night.
by Clint on Apr 15, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I don’t really see Herman winning this one. Demian Maia has some SICK BJJ.
by Toms Bombs on Apr 15, 2008 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maia’s BJJ is way better then what Herman can bring, and Ed’s ground game is his bread and butter, but he probaby doesn’t want any part of the ground..Maia will not give him a choice and most likely get a submission win.
by Stagger-Lee on Apr 16, 2008 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The only way’s I see Herman winning is if he KO’s Maia standing or if he is able to ground and pound Maia, because Demian does not take punishment well.
by Stagger-Lee on Apr 16, 2008 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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