In one of the most recent quotes from UFC veteran Frank Mir, he talked about having a jiu-jitsu coach in Demian Maia and how his game has gone "drastically to different levels":

I’m going to soon be the the destroyer of Brock Lesnar’s legacy and career…. Obviously, I’m slightly scared — just look at Brock … he is a scary guy. When he was beating me down I went to tap. Oh, well, that’s right. Brock asked the referee to come over and save him! At [UFC 81] I wasn’t really working with a jiu-jitsu coach. I was my own coach. I now have Demian Maia who is my head jiu-jitsu coach. My game has gone drastically to different levels. I thought I was actually good at it until I started rolling with him

This has been somewhat of a continuing trend with Demian Maia. More recently, a lot of fighters have been touting his jiu-jitsu in the cage including the opponents he's defeated. The question remains as to why Maia's jiu-jitsu game is becoming one of the most desired attributes in a fighter, and why hasn't the style been so easily replicated?

Maia seems to have figured out one of the true ways to be a jiu-jitsu practicioner, yet very dangerous to nearly any opponent. In the past, many fighters have acknowledged that while jiu-jitsu can be dominating on the floor, those fighters have to get the fight to the floor. What happens when your opponent literally drags you to the floor, puts himself in what seems to be a bad position, but puts you into his world? Bad things in this case.

While Maia is still susceptible to the striking game, his overall jiu-jitsu game is vastly more dynamic than almost anybody in the UFC right now. He works aggressively for the clinch and takedown, drags guys into his guard, and works his offensive jiu-jitsu to cause opponents to go on the defense even when those opponents are in the dominant position. This is where Maia seperates from the rest of the crowd.

One of the more prominent differences in Maia's jiu-jitsu versus other fighters is his knowledge and transitioning ability. He easily moves from submission to submission as if he's working his way down an internal flowchart. If armbar is there, do this, but if not, do that. His additional speed to the transition game only makes it much more formidable, and the knowledge that the opponent has must be vast in order to defend. There in lies the big problem for Maia's opponents. If they have the knowledge, can they contend with the speed? If they have the speed, can they keep up with his mind?

So, why have guys like Frank Mir decided to seek out Demian Maia? The combination of speed, transition training, knowledge, and his dynamic abilities aren't exactly a new concept, but the way in which he implements those concepts in the Octagon are very new. Most jiu-jitsu fighters in the game today either use a methodical way of working an opponent, or must rely on gaining wrist control, some sort of control to try to pull off submissions. Maia doesn't wait. He actively hunts for that type of control.

Maia is evolving the way jiu-jitsu is being used within the sport of MMA. He's one of the leading examples as to how jiu-jitsu can be a highly offensive weapon in the cage. I'm hoping that Mir's transitions and knowledge increase with the partnership.