Demian Maia's Blogs
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Maia Offers a TV Message to Chael Sonnen
By: Gleidson Venga
Former UFC middleweight challenger Demian Maia recently appeared on Brazilian TV network RedeTV to send a message to fellow 185-pounder Chael Sonnen.
The 34-year-old Sonnen has had Brazilian tempers -- those of both fans and fighters -- flaring recently with his high-profile smack talking of the country.
"He said he came to Brazil and was surprised to see that here we have computers and the internet, but he shouldn't worry about our technology," said Maia. "I think he should worry when he comes here, because many people will have to teach him triangle choke defense."
At UFC 95 in February 2009, Maia submitted Sonnen in the first round with the aforementioned triangle choke.
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Aldo, Maia and ‘Charles do Bronx’ Try to ‘Drown the Goose’
By: Gleidson Venga
This past Sunday, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, former middleweight title challenger Demian Maia and hot up-and-comer Charles Oliveira all appeared on Brazilian network RedeTV's "Panico na TV," the leading humor and variety show in Brazil, for a competition of an usual sort.
In a competition called "Drowning the Goose," the three MMA standouts tried to throw a plastic goose through a basketball hoop, while standing on a wet canvas.
Aldo, Maia and "do Bronx" were joined by three former participants from "Big Brother Brazil."
In the end, it was the UFC champion Aldo who added another championship to his docket by drowning the figurative goose.
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Maia leads 'TUF 12' Finale Payouts with $80K
By: Mike Whitman
Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia was the big winner at Saturday's “The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale” Finale, which took place at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
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Maia earned an event-high $80,000 for his unanimous decision victory over Kendall Grove ($28,000). The figures were communicated to Sherdog.com by the Nevada State Athletic Commission via email.
Jonathan Brookins garnered $16,000 for his unanimous nod over fellow season finalist Michael Johnson ($8,000). Meanwhile, Season one winner Stephan Bonnar netted $62,000 after outpointing Croat Igor Pokrajac ($10,000).
Featherweight competitor Nam Phan ($38,000) was awarded a $30,000 consolation prize in the form of a “Fight of the Night” bonus for his widely disputed split decision loss to former WEC talent Leonard Garcia ($62,000), who also walked away with the $30,000 bonus. -
Primer: UFC 112
By: Jake Rossen
Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
It’s not exactly the Thrilla in Manilla, but the UFC’s first trip into the Middle East Saturday still represents a progression of fighting sports previously left to media and satellite signals. (Boxing is too disorganized to even attempt t-shirt sales, let alone global expansion.)
A worldwide infection of Ultimate Fightingâ„¢ is the goal, and while that may be too optimistic by half -- revulsion in areas like Germany will always be a thorn -- a major event in Abu Dhabi is a milestone. It was only a few years ago that Sheikhs hosted grappling-only tournaments, paying sizeable purses to fighters like Mark Kerr and Ricardo Arona without any interest in introducing strikes. Now Anderson Silva, the best MMA striker in the world, is having an arena built for his participation.
It’s impossible to say whether fighting will ever be the one definitive sport that ignores cultural differences: Dana White is certainly not a peacemaker, even if he does share Gandhi’s sense of style. But somehow, his promotion has arrived at the point where an Octagon has been built in Abu Dhabi to house several Brazilians, a Hawaiian, a few Brits, and a kid from Toms River, N.J. Something has happened. Read more -
Poll: Silva-Maia Outcome
By: Mike Fridley
The map below displays regional data for the current poll. Refresh (F5) to update:
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Maia Talks Silva
By: Jake Rossen
File Photo: Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com
Whether Demian Maia knows it or not, much of the lasting impressions for UFC 112 will come down to how he decides to attack Anderson Silva on Saturday. If he’s reluctant to push the action, as Thales Leites was last spring, it is not likely Silva will rush into him. At that point, the match becomes more staring contest than fight.
Fortunately, Maia knows where his chances are. “I put a little bit more attention in wrestling because that’s what I need to do in this fight,” he told MMAWeekly. “I need to take Anderson down.”
That’s far from a guarantee of a win, but Silva’s deficit certainly exists more on the floor than on the feet. Maia’s problem will be in trying to resolve the incredibly substantial jiu-jitsu education Silva has received from Antonio Nogueira and other top-shelf Brazilian grapplers. He’s been tackled to the floor, but usually not against guys who have a chance of tying him up there; guys who can tie him up usually can’t get him to the floor. If Maia can bridge that, it’s at least paying the cover charge for having a chance. Read more -
Video: Silva & Maia Highlights
By: Mike Fridley
In this offering from UFC’s official YouTube channel, career highlights of UFC 112 headliners Anderson Silva and Demian Maia are on display.
Watching Silva explode into a flying knee reminds me Dominique Wilkins dunking in the face of any who challenged him in his prime. His grace recalls memories of Eric Davis scaling the centerfield wall of Riverfront Stadium to rob many a round-tripper. His timing gives me flashbacks to Deion Sanders high-stepping in the face of any quarterback that mistakenly threw to his side of the field.
“The Spider” is that good. Read more -
Poll: Silva-Maia Pick 'Em
By: Mike Fridley
The map below displays regional data for the current poll. Refresh (F5) to update:
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Maia Eyes Title Shot in 2010
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Video: Demian Maia’s MMA Debut in 2001
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Demian Maia sent Sherdog.com’s Marcelo Alonso the following video of his professional mixed martial arts debut as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt in 2001. Despite dominant positioning, Maia didn’t look especially interested in submitting his opponent.
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