UFC 95 Preview: Demian Maia

by Nick Thomas on Feb 17, 2009 9:01 AM EST in MMA News

Of course Chael Sonnen is a tricky opponent, he’s very strategic, will try to annul my game all the time, will try to make his points and try to stay away from the ground, not to expose and try to win the fight on points, this is what is complicated about him. He is a guy with a high level of Greco, Grappling, always efficient for a MMA fight. But I believe in my Jiu-Jitsu, I believe I can submit him the same way I did in other fights.

-- Demian Maia talks Anderson Silva and more with Tatame.com.

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We believe the same thing, Demian.

by Derek Suboticki on Feb 17, 2009 10:59 AM EST reply actions

i love rooting for the underdog, so.. GO SONNEN! haha.

although, whats the point, ill root for him, but he’ll surely leave an arm available for maia..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Feb 17, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

Sonnen think he is the top dog actually, something between Fedor and A.Silva, but most probably a fusion of both…I’m not rooting for him one bit.

by spectaa on Feb 17, 2009 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

yup, i know. whatever filho was had was probably contagious. haha. He’s a huge underdog but he still made some bogus statements.. Lots of people will hate on him and will want to see him get subbed.. But where’s the fun in that? right? its too easy. haha.

He’ll probably get subbed and it would bring down his ego a bit.. but rooting for the sure thing isnt as fun right? haha.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Feb 17, 2009 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

Where's

Danas Vlog at? Or is he skipping this one since its free on Spike?

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Feb 17, 2009 11:00 AM EST reply actions

He is in Canada I believe to save 97. I’m sure he has the guy with a camera following him around and might package something depending on the result.

I will play my game beneath the spin light.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Feb 17, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

UFC president Dana White exited a jet at a private air terminal in Las Vegas on Monday, but still needed a minute to remember where he was. He had just come from Mexico City, where he said he was negotiating a television deal and a deal to bring a live card to the country.

He had to go to the office for meetings he guessed would stretch late into the night – "I’ve got 50 people there who are waiting on me," White said with resignation in his voice, well after 7 p.m. Pacific – and then planned to fly to the United Kingdom today to preside over the promotion of UFC 95 on Saturday at London’s O2 Arena.

But as much as he has been traveling, White was melancholy over a trip he is unable to make. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta and vice president for regulatory affairs Marc Ratner are going in White’s stead, flying to Montreal this morning to meet with officials of the athletic commission in Quebec.

Yahoo.

Guess he is not in Canada after all.

I will play my game beneath the spin light.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Feb 17, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

Thats an

Insane schedule, props to him!

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Feb 17, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

why o why do i hate sonnen so?

wonder what his excuse will be after he taps…

by pmac06340 on Feb 17, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions

The ghost of Filho distracted him.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Feb 17, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

I see the Maia train rolling through Sonnen land.

by MattTil on Feb 17, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions

I wonder how much longer Demian can run the one dimenional train up the rankings?

it is good for him his one dimension is grade A+++… but he is still one dimensional

by dbcb on Feb 17, 2009 12:38 PM EST reply actions

What’s the story on his standup? I know nothing about it. Nonetheless, even if he is woefully incompetent I see him getting passed Sonnen.

by MattTil on Feb 17, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Word is that he trains with Wanderlei, and Wandy is in his corner at fights, but given how successful his brawling style is I’m not sure that’s the direction that Maia wants to go. I mean, if it helps him set up his BJJ, great, but I’m unconvinced.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Feb 17, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Maia via first round amputation of Sonnen’s left arm.

by ufc4 on Feb 17, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Maia loves chokes. I doubt he armbars Sonnen.

As for the fact that he trains with Wanderlei Silva, his stand-up has improved. He looks way more comfortable than he used to, that’s for sure.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Feb 17, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

Absolutely he looks more comfortable. I just don’t think it’s on the level where he can use it as an effective second weapon if he can’t get the fight to the ground. I think his striking is still somewhere in the realm of a good setup for takedowns, but not much more.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Feb 17, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

For right now, that’s true. In the future, it won’t be. Right now, his stand-up is a means to an end – which is to secure the takedown (or jump guard).

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Feb 17, 2009 9:06 PM EST up reply actions