DEMIAN MAIA

ATTRIBUTES

OFFENSIVE SKILLS

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES

PULL GUARD TO OPEN GUARD CLINCH

Level 3—Single Collar Tie

When Maia’s standing takedowns are being stuffed and countered, try locking up in the easy-to-reach Single Collar Tie, then pulling guard to bring the fight into his world.

DIRECT CATCH TO TRIANGLE CHOKE

Level 3—Open Guard Clinch, Bottom

After dropping down and pulling the opponent into Open Guard Clinch, lock in this lethal technique triangle from the bottom to bring the fight to a swift finish.

DIRECT CATCH TO KIMURA FROM HALF GUARD

Level 3—Half Guard, Top

Maia also has many brilliant submissions from the top. He can lock in this crippling kimura from the Half Guard Clinch, making him a serious threat the moment he begins to pass his opponent’s guard.

STRENGTHS

• Submissions

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt

• Grappling

Demian Maia is a dominant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter who seeks to bring his opponents to the ground so he can quickly finish them with one of his many lethal submissions.

Play defense with Maia on the feet, attacking in sparse bursts of offense as you look to set up effective takedowns.

He is a tremendous grappler from both the top and bottom, so if his takedowns keep getting stuffed, try pulling guard with a technique transition from practically any clinch position instead.

Bring the opponent to the mat so that he can work his demoralizing ground grappling and submission game.

He can lock in fight-ending submissions even from Half Guard, not to mention all other dominant top positions, such as Side Control and Mount.

Maia can also secure lethal subs from the bottom, such as triangles and kimuras from Open Guard Clinch and Half Guard Clinch.

Get the fight to the floor and get the opponent to tap with Maia’s dominant ground game.

WEAKNESSES

• Strength

• Footwork

• Striking game

Maia is a monster on the ground, but he struggles to remain competitive in most other areas of the fight game.

His stand-up is simply not good—his strikes lack speed and power, and he knows few technique strikes on the feet.

He also has poor footwork and is vulnerable to standing strikes, so keep him out of grappling distance by remaining elusive and landing quick strikes from the outside.

Don’t let him clinch with you or he’ll likely pull you into his guard, which is a dangerous place to be— again, exploit his poor footwork and striking speed on the feet to keep your distance, and pepper him with quick combos, preventing him from effectively clinching or shooting in.

He’s vulnerable to clinch strikes himself, so the Muay Thai Clinch can be worked against him if you’re confident in your fighter’s grappling abilities.

Otherwise, simply look to pick Maia apart on the feet and remain ready to stuff his takedowns at any moment.