Demian Maia feels he still has a lot to offer and doesn’t consider retiring as he prepares for his fight against Matt Brown at UFC 198, in May.
Demian Maia may be 38 years old and almost 15 years into his MMA career, but he feels he is only now going entering his peak. After challenging for the middleweight title in 2010, Maia found a home in the welterweight division.
Now fully adapted to the weight class and enjoying a four-fight winning streak, the Brazilian also feels the new antidoping policy established by USADA is a great change in the sport.
“I think I’m in the best moment of my career, but I can’t tell. I feel good, with no serious injuries and very adapted to the weight. “Maia told Combate. “This new antidoping stuff is really good, because it will benefit the most technical fighters, not the strongest or most explosive ones. That will earn me some more time in the sport. I hope this is not my prime, I hope I can still grow and that my prime is still ahead of me, but frankly, I can’t think about that.”
While trying to keep an optimistic outlook, Maia is aware he is getting close to the end of his career, as much as he doesn’t want to consider it.
“It’s very hard to think about retiring, because I really like to do what I do and I don’t feel my performance getting worse. Everyone has a certain maturity point their bodies reach, and I think I’m reaching that a little older than others. The day I stop enjoying what I do, I might stop. I don’t do this to show off, to be noticed or anything like that. The pleasure I get from it comes from training and learning new stuff. Just to be there and do what I like.”
Demian Maia, who has been recently campaigning for a title shot, will meet Matt Brown at UFC 198, in Brazil, on May 14. The main event of the evening has not been confirmed yet, but it is targeted to be a heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic.