Demian Maia is not closing the door on a aggressive return to grappling or combined martial arts, however there’s one sport that appears extra possible at this level.
The jiu-jitsu phenom, a former middleweight and welterweight UFC title contender, final competed within the Octagon in June 2021, when he misplaced a choice to future champion Belal Muhammad. He did not intend for it to be his final struggle, however issues turned out that manner.
Maia, 48, retains busy at his Jiu-Jitsu health club in Sao Paulo, does colour commentary for the UFC on Paramount+, coaches fighters like Ian Machado Garry and Charles Oliveira, and teaches seminars around the globe. Nonetheless, he’ll refocus his coaching for his ultimate UFC struggle.
“(The door) is closing, but when the UFC got here to me with a suggestion to have a significant struggle in the best atmosphere, I would not do it,” Maia advised MMA Combating. “If it is smart and it is someplace like Rio de Janeiro or Las Vegas, the place I’ve fought many occasions and have quite a lot of historical past, I might undoubtedly contemplate it.”
Maia has competed 33 occasions below the UFC banner, with half of his 22 wins coming by submission over the likes of Carlos Condit, Chael Sonnen, Ben Askren, Matt Brown and Neil Magny. He was on a three-fight profitable streak, however misplaced his final matches to Gilbert Burns and Muhammad.
“I do not really feel like I used to be given a correct farewell,” Maia mentioned. “All of it led to a little bit of an anticlimactic manner. In 2021 I misplaced to Belal Muhammad. I received within the first spherical, he received within the second spherical. It wasn’t a very thrilling struggle. Even at the moment, I misplaced yet another spherical to retire. I wished to struggle. I used to be already fascinated with retiring, however that did not occur. So I at all times felt like, ‘I want I might have completed that chapter,’ and the chance by no means got here. I believe that is most unlikely.” The UFC would like to do one thing like that, however the sport surprises us on daily basis. ”
Maia has competed in three grappling bouts since his final UFC bout, tapping out Alex Oliveira and Kim Sang-wook, throughout which he picked up a choice win over Benson Henderson. Maia revealed that he obtained provides for extra fights “from nearly each group on a regular basis,” however nothing was attention-grabbing sufficient.
“We simply haven’t signed something but, as a result of there’s nothing that basically lights us up,” Maia mentioned. “There was nobody that thought, ‘That is the participant I need and that is the cash I need.’ I am keen to compete if it is significant, enjoyable, and funky, so I am not nervous about it and the provides preserve coming in.”
“A extremely attention-grabbing match could be in opposition to Nate or Nick Diaz, the Diaz brothers, as a result of they bring about a ton of hype,” he added. “They’re each superb at jiu-jitsu and can draw a giant crowd. That is attention-grabbing as a result of they might profit from the thrill they generate. After which there’s Georges St-Pierre. That goes with out saying. He is an extremely powerful competitor and a very good jiu-jitsu practitioner below Danaher, probably the greatest coaches on the planet.”
Maia revealed that he was approached by Hype with a suggestion to face Arman Tsarukyan in Rio de Janeiro this March, however the name got here lower than per week later whereas he was in another country on a seminar tour. Tsarukyan ended up choking Muhammad Mokayev as a substitute.
“He is actually spectacular and his grappling is top-notch,” Maia mentioned when requested if Tsarukyan could be a participant to observe sooner or later. “That man is extraordinarily sturdy, so it should have price him some huge cash (lol)”
