Demian Maia interviews, talks Marquardt, Minotauro, both Silva's, training...

zé · 08-13-2009, 03:21 AM

O Lutador - O portal dos campeões

Demian Maia trains for the last time in Brazil before UFC 102. See the interview and the exclusive photos from the site olutador.com.

Demian Maia, unbeaten in five fights in the UFC, all of them ending in a submission, left this Tuesday (8/11) to the US for a preparation period with Rafael Alejarra to face Nate Marquardt, the toughest opponent that he's faced: "that is the test that I need to prove myself for a chance at the belt at the end of the year against Anderson Silva" said Demian during an interview for site olutador.com.

We at the site olutador.com accompanied the last training session of Demian Maia on Brazilian soil at his academy in the west zone of São Paulo, check out the interview and the exclusive photos.

Demian, how is your training?

I spent two weeks in the US preparing, some ten days here in Brazil and I return now to the US and stay two and a half more weeks until the day of the fight.

What's your evaluation of your opponent?

Nate Marquardt is the toughest test that I've had til now. Nate is the most complete, Jiu-Jitsu black belt, very good standing up, exceptional cardio, strong, big for his size. That is the test that I need to prove myself and fight for the belt.

What do you focus on in training?

My focus as always is Jiu-Jitsu, in all its parts, its facets, the sport part, the part that allows strikes, takedowns, but always looking for a Jiu-Jitsu fight. But, it's obvious that I'm training stand-up, trading, that type of thing.

Who is part of your training team?

My team right now is really big, I have professor Rafael Alejarra, who takes care of physical conditioning, with help from Diego in Brazil. I have Anderson for Muay Thai, I have André Lopes for Boxing, and there is a friend of mine (Brian) that is helping me with wrestling, who is an excellent guy, he knows a lot about takedowns. This is a part of Jiu-Jitsu that you need to have someone from outside with a view of other martial arts, going to be interesting to see other possibilities, basically that is my team.

Rodrigo Minotauro vs Randy Couture, what do you think of that fight?

The fight of Minotauro with Randy, I think that it's an excellent fight for Rodrigo, for his game, I think it's a fight that matches quite well. Randy has a big name in the US, so I think that it's an exceptional fight for Rodrigo to raise himself from that last fight he had that wasn't his best appearance, I think that it's a good fight for him, yes, it's not an easy fight, but I think that he is the favorite.

Did you watch the fight between Anderson Silva and Forrest Griffin?

Yeah I watched it and like always Anderson is a spectacular guy, standing up, you have to take your hat off for him, the ability that he has and the body control is really impressive. When it comes to striking in a fight, he is a guy that already proved a lot.

After Nate Marquardt, do you already know who is your next opponent in the UFC?

Honestly, I am focusing on this fight now with Nate, what I had talked with the guys from UFC about is that there is the possibility of the winner (between I and Nate) and Dan Henderson (who defeated Michael Bisping) to fight with Anderson at the end of the year.

What should we expect in the fight for the belt, if you happen to fight Anderson Silva?

Well, with Anderson, I'm not thinking about this right now because I have a very tough fight, but everyone knows, everyone saw that striking with him isn't the best idea, the stand-up, his striking is very impressive, it will be a fight with style versus style, but I believe that I can win using my Jiu-Jitsu.

Do you have any thoughts about participating in the Gi championships?

Actually, no. My focus is the UFC and maybe it will be no-gi that will be one month after the UFC, but I don't know yet if I will compete because there's a line of people waiting for seminars after the fight and I don't know if I will find the time (especially if I win that fight) to rest, to start a new training cycle until the end of the year, and still fight in ADCC. I will see how I'm gonna distribute my time yet, my focus now is totally on the fight, and later I will decide everything.

olutador.com appreciates your time and wishes good luck in your fight and we will be rooting for you, Demian Maia.

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Demian: 'Vou tentar finalizar o mais rapidamente possível'

Nate Marquardt must be your most dangerous opponent on the ground so far in the UFC?

For sure he will be one of the toughest guys on the ground that I've faced. I'm preparing myself like always and doing all of the training that I do. I believe in consistency, in being always training, never neglecting anything and my specialty, which is Jiu-Jitsu.

That fight could be important for the future in the organization, even a chance for the title. How do you see that fight?

I'm always thinking straight. I've lived in that rhythm of competition for many years, be it in Jiu-Jitsu or vale-tudo. I'm, like always, preparing myself the best form possible and my expectation is the best. I will enter and try to submit him as fast as possible.

How is the training going?

I spent some time training in the US, I stay a little bit in Brazil now, but I'm already returning to finish the work in Las Vegas. I did preparation with Rafael Alejarra and trained with Wanderlei's guys there. I wasn't able to train with him this time, but he's always helping me in training, correcting some details and good things to use at fight time. He watched my sparring, my boxing training and helped me to correct.

Vitor Belfort returns to the UFC to fight in an intermediate category, but he came fighting in your weight class...

I have to know in which weight he is going to stay. I have heard that he will fight in the next weight class, but he came fighting at middleweight... I've trained with him and he's a really tough guy that I like. He will be a great opponent for anyone that he goes against.

On the same day that you fight, Rodrigo Minotauro faces Randy couture. What do you expect in that fight?

I'm a fan of Couture and he certainly is a tough guy for anyone. But I'm a bigger fan yet of Minotauro and I think that his Jiu-Jitsu is something that Randy's never seen. He never fought a guy with the level of ground game of Minotauro, who also has good stand-up. Minotauro has a guard that I think will surprise him.

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I like how humble Maia is. I watch a lot of videos of him and he's always just calm, quiet, and working hard. I've been anticipating this fight for a long time and eating up any information I can get so any new articles I find in portuguese I'll post here.

o demian - tô torcendo por você!

**peteyandjia** · 08-13-2009, 03:30 AM

Thanks TS, thanks very much!!!

This is great!

War Demian Maia!!!

Biggest challenge of his career.

chitowngirl · 08-13-2009, 03:51 AM

Good read
Maia is a good guy and a great Fighter wish him the best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zé

Who is part of your training team?

My team right now is really big, I have professor Rafael Alejarra, who takes care of physical conditioning, with help from Diego in Brazil. I have Anderson for Muay Thai, I have André Lopes for Boxing, and there is a friend of mine (Brian) that is helping me with wrestling, who is an excellent guy, he knows a lot about takedowns. This is a part of Jiu-Jitsu that you need to have someone from outside with a view of other martial arts, going to be interesting to see other possibilities, basically that is my team.

Anderson is Maia's Muay Thai coach ? as in Anderson Silva ?

Black Gi · 08-13-2009, 04:01 AM

He's got skills, but if he pulls gaurd on Nate I think nate could GnP him just as well as he might get sub'd.

It's a tough one to call.

I wont be putting any money on this on, too close to call.

Black Gi · 08-13-2009, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitowngirl

Anderson is Maia's Muay Thai coach ? as in Anderson Silva ?

No, not that Anderson, they may be fighting soon.

Brockster · 08-13-2009, 04:03 AM

Demian maia is a cool dude, hope he brings a limb with him home, hehe. WAR MAIA

Cantona7 · 08-13-2009, 04:31 AM

As a big fan of Maia I see the Marquardt fight as being potentially the defining fight of his career. It's a huge test, not just of his skills but of his whole style and it's going to be a really tough fight, Nate is a real stud, but if Maia can sub him (which is a big 'if') then I really do think we've got a genuine challenge for Anderson.

SAIPULTURA · 08-13-2009, 04:32 AM

WAR DEMIAN MAIA I HOPE U WIN THIS FIGHT.ALL TEH BEST TO U.

lallinho · 08-13-2009, 04:36 AM

He's not getting past Nate, but I always wish the best for Maia. Nice guy

axe-murderer · 08-13-2009, 04:40 AM

Hope he pulls out a sub!!