"He’s a very calm and technical athlete. Despite Nate also being from Jiu-Jitsu, I think there’s a big difference of one athlete to another. [Nate’s] very aggressive and has wrestling base, but I think this isn’t the secret. Demian is left handed and is also no fool standing, knows how to kick, how to punch ... I think it isn’t for Nate."
Eduardo Telles, training partner for undefeated UFC middleweight Demian Maia, tells Tatame.com that he expects the jiu-jitsu phenom to surprise a lot of people -- including opponent Nate Marquardt -- at UFC 102 on Saturday, August 29, from the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The winner of this bout will have to get in line for a shot at the 185-pound title after the arrival of Vitor Belfort booted Dan Henderson from the UFC 103 main event into a rematch with current champ Anderson "The Spider" Silva. It's a four-way dance for the crown and it will be interesting to see which of these two men go for the gold -- and which of the other two men is wearing it.