After being defeated by Nate Marquardt at UFC 102, Demian Maia decided to change his training for his next challenge against Dan Miller at UFC 109. Three weeks after the Marquardt loss, Maia, who has six wins and only one defeat in the UFC, called his friend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He told “Minotauro” that he was planning a trip to Cuba to sharpen his boxing.

“Going to Cuba? No way!” Nogueira responded. “Come here to my house in Salvador (Brazil) to train with me, Dórea, Rogério and Cigano.”

Maia did not hesitate to accept the offer.

“I’ve been here for almost two weeks,” Maia said. “It’s been a great experience to train boxing with master Luiz Dórea, Minotauro, Rogério and Cigano. I intend to come here many more times before my fight.”

Maia acknowledged that he does not know much about Miller.

“I haven’t started to study Miller yet,” he said. “The most important thing is that I’m training hard to improve myself as an MMA fighter, but I’m not forgetting the most important aspect, which is my ground skills. Training here in Bahia with guys like Minotauro, Minotouro and Cigano, it’s been an amazing opportunity to keep my jiu-jitsu sharp.”