A mere matter of months ago, Demian Maia was one of mixed martial arts’ hottest fighters, owner of a six-bout win streak and preparing for a shot at the UFC welterweight title.
Fast forward a few months, and some are asking whether he should retire.
Such is the fickle nature of this sport, as Maia has dropped now back-to-back fights. His loss to Colby Convington on Saturday night at UFC Sao Paulo was a disappointing follow-up to his one-sided loss to champion Tyron Woodley.
But Maia, who turns 40 on Nov. 6, isn’t ready to hang them up just yet.
“I intend on fighting for another year or two,” Maia said at the post-fight news conference in Brazil through an interpreter.
It’s not just that Maia lost, but how he did so: In his losses to Woodley and Covington, he did not hit on a single takedown in 33 attempts over eight rounds, and that’s how Maia has traditionally set up his vaunted submission game.
Maia acknowledged it gets more difficult as opponents have more of you to study.
“I had problems taking Woodley down and we changed a lot of things, but we also have to remember that I fought against two great wrestlers in my last two fights,” Maia said. “Woodley and Colby, an All-American from Oregon University. For sure, I fought against three wrestlers from American Top Team in my last three fights, and people try to figure your game plan, they study, and it gets harder.”
Maia, who has been with the UFC since earning Submission of the Night over Ryan Jensen in his debut at UFC 77, has one fight left on his contract.
“My goal is to keep on fighting,” Maia said. “It’s a very tough sport. MMA is a tough sport, I will think about that. I have been in the UFC for 10 years and every time it is an emotional roller-coaster. It’s something that if you’ve never been in it you’ll never understand.”