Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago Planned for UFC 136 in Houston
Two Brazilian middleweights will meet in Houston this October at UFC 136. Submission ace Demian Maia announced on Twitter today than he'll face fellow BJJ black belt, Jorge Santiago.
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Jorge Santiago tells Tatame that he thinks he can submit BJJ ace, Demian Maia, in their upcoming...
Jorge Santiago tells Tatame that he thinks he can submit BJJ ace, Demian Maia, in their upcoming bout at UFC 136 in Houston this October:
How are your training for the fight going?
Right after the fight was over (against Brian Stann), I took some time off and started training it step by step. I’m still not playing his game, I’m just doing a strong basic preparation. I hope to do a great fight with him. Demian wants to show his striking, so I’ll enjoy trading punches with him too.
Do you believe he’ll want to bang with you?
I don’t know. For what I could tell about his last fight, he really likes striking, but he’s strongest point is his Jiu-Jitsu. If we must strike, let’s do it.
What are your thoughts about his Jiu-Jitsu?
He has an excellent ground game. I’ve watched his fights for a long time, he has a good ground game, but mine ain’t any worst. I still haven’t had the chance to show it in MMA, but I can fight him on the floor. My ground game is focused in MMA, I don’t only work on the guard, use it to sweep… If you are not careful, I’ll get you and you’ll tap out.
You’re not afraid of Demian while on the floor?
No… If he makes a mistake, I’ll submit him.
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Demian Maia, speaking to MMA Junkie following the TUF 12 Finale, compliments Kendall Grove on his...
Demian Maia, speaking to MMA Junkie following the TUF 12 Finale, compliments Kendall Grove on his BJJ defense:
"I'm happy because I won, of course," Maia said. "I wanted to submit him in this fight, but Kendall was smart. At one point I was baiting him to go to the side when I was on his back because I wanted to switch to the arm-and-neck submission.
"He didn't go even though his corner was saying, 'Go to the side, go to the side. Escape your hips.' He was not escaping, and I was like, '[Expletive]!' After the fight, he said to me, 'You wanted me escape my hips to that side so you could switch to that submission.' I said, 'Yeah, you're smart.'"
