Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, UFC on FOX
CHICAGO — Demian Maia thinks he can be the first person to hand Michael Bisping a submission loss.
“He has a good submission defense but it doesn’t matter,” Maia recently told MMA Fighting. “I’ve fought guys before that have never been submitted before many times and I’ve submitted them. I know I have the chance to submit him.”
It will also be his strategy when he meets Bisping at UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28. Maia acknowledges this fight against Bisping will be a great opportunity for him to showcase his jiu-jitsu skills again.
Maia, who held submission wins in his first five UFC fights, has seen his six most recent fights end in decision. Maia explains the lack of finishes have been due to more challenging opponents and his focus on improving in other areas of MMA.
“It’s expectations,” Maia told the press at last week’s UFC on FOX 2 conference. “I fight everytime tougher and toughers guys. I took time to learn more boxing, thai boxing and even wrestling. I cannot just train jiu-jitsu anymore. I need to be an MMA fighter.”
Maia last fought at UFC 136 in October, outpointing Jorge Santiago after three rounds. Meanwhile, Bisping is coming off a win against Jason “Mayhem” Miller on Dec. 3.
Maia was informed on Dec. 2 the possibility of meeting the winner of Bisping-Miller later at UFC on FOX 2. After Saturday’s fights, Bisping had to return home and decide if he would make a quick turnaround and fight again on the Jan. 28 card. The fight wasn’t official until last Wednesday’s UFC on FOX 2 press conference at the United Center.
“They just set me the flight tickets yesterday, like two hours before I went to the airport,” Maia said. “We just came here.”
In fact, Maia didn’t sign the bout agreement until after the conference.
If Maia wants to submit Bisping though, he’ll have to take him down first. Bisping has done a solid job keeping the fight standing, winning nine of his 15 UFC fights via (T)KO.
“Sometimes people underrate him, I don’t know why,” Maia said. “But I think he’s tough, he’s good. He’s only lost three fights in his career.”