Props: Fighters Only
Quoteworthy:
"I see myself ready to fight for the belt. I would go at Anderson and it would give him the chance of knocking me out or give me the opportunity to finish the fight. That’s what I expect. I’m not saying I will win, but I will fight to end the fight before the judges decision. I want to do an aggressive fight and expose myself more. The UFC were waiting on the result of Anderson-Thales match to see what to do with me. They told me they were planning to give me the chance in August but because of their performance the UFC decided not put Silva in a main event very soon. Then they matched me and Nate Marquardt to find out the next challenger for the belt."
Top undefeated middleweight contender Demain Maia looks to assure skeptics that he would not be content with a decision win over the middleweight champion, which is currently none other than Anderson Silva. His remarks come on the heels of Thales Leites’ uninspiring losing performance against “The Spider” at UFC 97: “Redemption” last month. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt seemed more concerned with surviving the 185-pound contest rather than winning it, which did not go over well with the fans or UFC brass. In fact, it prompted UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to book Anderson against a light heavyweight, Forrest Griffin, at UFC 102 on August 8, rather than have him defend his title against another ground specialist such as Maia. He’ll more than likely earn a crack at the belt if he can topple Nate Marquardt at UFC 102 at the end of August, but he’ll have to get in line behind the winner of the fight between Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping. And he can thank Mr. Leites for essentially delaying his opportunity at championship glory … whenever that may be.
56 Comments »
I know, but only cause you would be out cold!
BTW, Maia wont get by Nate.
right again buddy
lmfao the only exsposeing he is gunna do is exsposeing his weak standup game
He might plan on exposing his genitalia then while Anderson cops a look Maia catches him with a fight ending uppercut.
On a serous note everyone has doubted Maia in all his fights pretty much and the guy is just so good at bringing you into his world its not even funny.
I know Anderson would shy away from the ground even more than he did with Thales if that’s possible but Maia will be doing everything he can to win that fight and most likely it will be with a slick submission if anything at all.
I really like this guy and I give him a good chance of upsetting Anderson if not the best chance in his division.
Can’t wait to see him tap out Nate. Thats gonna be something to see for sure.
Don’t count on it. Nate is a beast and i think Maia will get KTFO before he gets a chance to take it to the ground.
This is a pickum fight for me. I can see Maia pulling guard and submitting Nate or I could see Nate winning in a number of ways. I’m leaning toward the more well rounded fighter, the bigger fighter, and the better athlete. To me Marquardt has all those advantages and has more ways to win the fight. I think Nate could knock him out standing, ground and pound (possibly), or decisioning him. And I really have a hard time seing any other way than a submission that Maia could win. He’s not going to be able to inflict enough damage on Nate to win a decision and lets face it, there’s no way in hell he’s going to KO Marquardt. So I give a slight advantage to Marquart in this fight.
nate after he brutally rocks maia and than finishes him with strikes
How many of you guys will be in Philly for 101? I’m not just talking to the guys in the suite, everyone (including mania and Jesse). I’m trying to set up some “manly” entertainment for fri. night after weigh ins…after dinner. I need a head count to set up a VIP room. Anyone interested in some “fun” let me know!
stinky, I know you’re in!
“Anyone interested in some Fun, call Kevin”..wow! thats sounds really bad buddy! lol
Im gonna go write: For fun, call Kevin at 717-446-3427 on every public, mens bathroom stall in philadelphia! hahah
AS For Maia vs. Marquardt: Sure, Nate is a freaking Animal, but Maia is one brilliantly crafty SOB. I hear, cardio machines like Wanderlei in AWE of how hard Maia works at improving his game. Maia’s striking will improve, and I expect it to improve drastically. Am, I saying he will win a stand up war against Nate or Anderson? NO, but if he can strike with people, it will be much easier for him to take down his opponents…and we all know that once the fight hits the ground, I dont care how good you are…it can only end 3 ways: Snap, Nap or Tap!
You didn’t just give kev’s number out to the world did you?
I been callin no ones answering
‘Snap Nap or Tap’ I like it!
Definitely better than my everyday sit, grit, and shit
Dave if you like that, go buy the Tapout shirt that says it on the back.
Anderson-Maia to me is a dream fight and it would be a privilege to watch these two quality fighters in a main event. These are two of my all-time favourites and I have all of the respect in the world for them. I think that Maia is the only MW who will be a threat to Silva’s title, he is that good on the ground and unlike that idiot Leites he’s constantly looking to finish the fight and has been able to take all of his fights to the ground in multiple ways. A Andy-Maia fight will either end in a KO win for Silva or a submission win for Maia, both guys are too dangerous for this fight to go a decision, there won’t be any lying on the floor here.
Whilst Maia will never be a KO artist, his striking is very underrated, he’s faced some heavy punchers and nobody has been able to rock him, if he was as bad on the feet as people imply then he’d be like Vinni Magalhaes.
As for Maia-Marquardt, this is a quality fight that will be Maia’s coming out party. Nate is a dangerous all rounder but Demian is the best BJJ fighter in MMA and can submit anyone if he takes the fight to the ground. Nate isn’t invincible and I am expecting another Maia submission to earn a title shot.
Maia’s grappling game is diverse enough that no one in MMA across all weight divisions can currently contend with him except for Roger, Jacare and Xande. Everyone will be shocked when he puts Marquardt to sleep with an RNC. Hell this is a man who put one of the sickest lateral drops on a man with olympic level wrestling. I hate sonnen but you saw what he did to Miller who is probly bigger and stronger than Maia. Can’t wait for this fight. Man i think i may be more pumped for 102 as much as for 100- my all time favorite fighter (big nog) and the prospect (not really anymore) who will/has replaced him as the pinnacle of grappling in MMA on the same card.
Really wanna see Maia take on Silva, that would be an amazing fight. Thanks Leites for scuppering it in the near future.
Just hope Maia can get past Nate. To hear some people describe marquadt on here, it’s like a description of GSP! I really don’t think he’s that “great” and I certainly have no desire to see him rematch Silva, the first fight was so one sided it doesn’t merit a rematch at all.
If Bizzzzbing beats Hendo he’ll be number one challenger, but if somehow Hendo pulls off the win, then the winner of Maia Marquadt will more than likely be number one contender.
YUp…Thats Kevin’s number…anyone in search of a good time, CALL IT!
John you’re crazy. Maia will have his hands full with Nate and keep his concentration there. Nate is a very strong dude with the experience to take the figh wherever he wants to.
You’re right JV. Maia is going to get hurt by Nate. He still has some developing to do before he can hang w/ the big boys. He’s got a world of potential though!
Will never know…nate will tko him in the 2nd
Yea well, take care of Nate and problem solved; I don’t think ANYONE would dispute his right to fight for the belt if he subs Marquardt. He’s got a good shot, but it’s not crazy to think that this fight would look similiar to the Leites fight either. Tough call, what happens after 10-15 mins when he can’t keep the fight on the ground and he can’t land any punch’s. At that point I think almost anyone would be standing there like Leites was going “ok, wtf do I do now??”
too true OD…looks like Maia got that belt at Toys R US…it says super….hahaha
LOL, I was thinking Super WalMart.
I’m super, thanks for asking. Everything is super when you’re . . . don’t you think I look cute in this belt.
yeah O damn, you took the word out of my mouth, “beat Nate and then people can’t dispute that you deserve a shot”
I like Maia, but at this point in there careers I really just think this is Marquardts time. Mais will have his day but i really think Marquardt takes this fight. I think he is the way more complete fighter at this point. The only way Maia wins is by sub and at this point in Nates career I think he is too skilled and strong (emphasis on STRONG, the guy is huge) to get subbed by Maia. I really dont think Maia has faced anyone yet that is anywhere near as skilled as Nate, and I see that being the decided factor in a fight that I hope is better than what it should be on paper.
does beating mcdonald, quarry and sonnen really warrant getting a title shot? i dont think it does. In reality nate has beaten harder competition i feel in horn, kampman and gouviea (not to mention he beat leites if not for bad referreeing). Nate is a more complete fighter and he’s better physically than demian. if damian can beat nate then he definately deserves a title shot but i just dont see that happeneing unless nate makes a mistake.
Agreed 100%
me too…finishing Willy G with what I call “the tornado”, roundhouse kick, hook, spinning back fist was one of the best striking combos EVER!!!
Yup. He reminded me of a video game character when you hit the special moves buttons…
I was there live when he did it! almost jumped out of my skin. Tried to explain it some of my mates after but they wouldn’t believe anyone could pull that off in a real fight especially a guy as big as Nate
i agree…but on that same line of thought, i don’t think either bisping or hendo are more deserving of a title shot than nate or maia…the winner of bisping/hendo should still have to fight once more to prove he is ready, it’d be bs if they get it right away
Maia is really fun to watch, probably moreso than anyone else in the UFC. However, he does not have the tools to take down A. Silva.
LOL
Drake usually knows his stuff but that is one weird post
Well, I am typing one-handed with my left arm in a sling, so maybe something was lost?
Maia is very entertaining to watch when he fights – I’d rather watch a Damian Maia fight than a lot of other ones. Despite that, and his obvious skillset, it’s not enough to beat the champ Silva.
Don’t forget that A. Silva is no slouch in the BJJ game either, having a Black Belt from the Nog brothers.
actually i think maia has a good shot at getting him down. lutter and hendo took him down pretty easily. franklin even took him down once. i just dont know if maia has enough standup to set up the takedown, but he will get there.
I think Nate is the only person at 185 that can challenge Anderson. Not that I think he would win, but he’s very well rounded and strong.
If Nate can get him down again early and keep him down and consistently wear him down, he could have an opportunity in the 3rd round for a KO/TKO. That’s the only way I see Nate winning.
Nate this, nate that, blah blah blah etc…Man, Nate blew it when he faced Anderson. The Spider doesn’t need to waste another fight on this douche…
Exactly, Nate’s good but not that good, Andy destroyed him in their fight so I have no desire whatsoever to see them in a rematch. Thankfully Maia will kill any hopes of Andy-Nate II when he submits Nate not so Great.
Here’s hopeing dave
Damian maia is sick
I like nate too
But its a matter of time before maia catches him
Maia by heelhook in 3rd
Maia will beat Nate and then put an end to Anderson’s reign. If Lutter could mount Anderson, imagine what Maia will do to him on the ground. And please, no excuses about Anderson’s knees being dodgy in that fight – they can’t have been that bad if he managed to triangle Lutter. I like The Spider but Maia’s JJ is too technical for Silva.
Maia will tap Nate. Rear naked choke 1st.
good luck gettin’ by nate-daddy.
he should relax his talk of fighting for the belt, because i’m having a tough time seeing him take out the current version of marquardt.
oh yea, to everyone that thinks maia can tap nate…
first he has to take him down (good luck!), then he’ll be trying to sub a dude who hasn’t been subbed since 2003 and did just fine against lister, thales, etc…
I watched maia pitter pat with Sonnen, a good wrestler, got to the ground unassuming, and whammo, that triangle was smooth as a baby’s ass.
Now Marquardt is not Sonnen, but Maia catches him, submission.
Nate will KO him in the first and then take the belt from Silva, believe that!
Nate vs Maia will be a great match i see nate by tko or maia by sub..overall i give the edge to nate…man im pumped i get to see this live.
Nate by anything he wants. I remember on this site, when no one even knew who he was. That goes for Anderson as well. I miss the “Another Pride can vs the TUF alumni Leben…” And then there was the “The UFC bought WFA and signed Rampage! Oh, what about Lyoto?. Who?” Funny how the world comes full circle.
Indeed. It’s also funny how, despite your incontrovertible brilliance for such a lengthy period of time on this site, you still haven’t quite grasped the correct spelling of the word “tapped”.
I have been really impressed by Maia’s wins but I HATE when the guy is talking about a championship bout when he has a tough opponent in front of him first.
He’s got probably the toughest fight of his career before he gets a shot at Silva.
i like Maia here, I dont think Nate just pound on this guy. IMO- the winner of this should face Anderson not Bisping/ Hendo. I just hate Bisping =) Wish Hendo would knock him the hell out