UFC 95

[Trplsec]

Just noticed that Jiu-Jitsu sensation Demian Maia is set to fight Chael Sonnen on this card.

Maia has been tearing up the UFC by twisting expierenced guys like Nate Quarry and Jason MacDonald into Origami figures. But with Sonnen he gets another tough guy with a ton of experience.

This should be an interesting scrap. I feel bad for Sonnen. He goes right from Filho to Maia in back-to-back fights.

With Marquardt-Gouveia and Josh "The Barometer" Koscheck versus some undefeated Brazilian guy also on the card, this should be another decent free event from the UFC.

[TFK]

I won't complain because it's free MMA, but it's a pretty weak card top to bottom. The only fight I'd go out of my way to see is Maia\Sonnen. But as we've seen with the UFC, you don't need good names to have good fights. So it'll probably still be a fun card.

As it is, I have plans that day and night, so I'm most likely gonna DVR it and watch it Sunday.

TFK

[Trplsec]

I won't complain because it's free MMA, but it's a pretty weak card top to bottom. The only fight I'd go out of my way to see is Maia\Sonnen. But as we've seen with the UFC, you don't need good names to have good fights. So it'll probably still be a fun card.

As it is, I have plans that day and night, so I'm most likely gonna DVR it and watch it Sunday.

TFK

Well there aren't marquee names on the card, but the match-ups could produce some great fights.

It is being broadcast tape-delay I think, so it makes perfect DVR fodder.

[ArturoGatti]

Well there aren't marquee names on the card, but the match-ups could produce some great fights.

It is being broadcast tape-delay I think, so it makes perfect DVR fodder.

when is this?

I think it's a good card, nice match ups. It's more of a UFN rather than a numbered UFC, though.

[Joe King]

when is this?

I think it's a good card, nice match ups. It's more of a UFN rather than a numbered UFC, though.

They are just rushing to get to 100.

[jarhead]

They are just rushing to get to 100.

yeah, it kind of seems that way, huh. But TFK is right, no use in complaining since they are making it free. Living up here in the Northwest, Sonnen has been a good fighter for a long time. I would love to see him pull this one out, I will be willing to bet he keeps it standing as much as he is able to. Meia is as real as it gets with BJJ.

Never really thought much of Marquart, it should be decent, but not much interest there for me.

Koshchek always brings it, always in a fan friendly fight. I'm always up to watch Josh.

[Trplsec]

Sonnen might have brain damage. He thinks he and Maia could beat Anderson. Maybe he means together they could.

Maia remains a well-known mystery


LAS VEGAS – Sports journalists in Brazil are quick to seek Demian Maia out for a story, and not simply because the unbeaten middleweight is one of the rising stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Maia (10-0) is in demand in his native country, at least in part, because of his background. A journalism graduate from Casper Libero in Sao Paulo, Maia shares a lot more in common with the media who report about mixed martial arts than any of the other great fighters that country has produced because he’s one of them.
He understands the nuances of a sports story nearly as well as he does the intricacies of an arm bar or the rear naked choke.
“The guys there are always happy to talk to me, because they know I understand them,” Maia said following a busy day at his Las Vegas training camp, where he prepared for his bout Saturday in London at the O2 Arena on Spike TV at UFC 95 against Chael Sonnen (23-9-1).
“Sometimes, when they write something about the other fighters, the fighters will get mad and not like it. But I’m like [the journalists]. I have a similar background.”
Well, they’re similar to a point. There aren’t many sports writers who have a black belt and who have rung up submission of the night honors in their last three UFC outings, as Maia has done at UFC 77, UFC 83 and UFC 87.
Maia, whose wife, Renada, is an editor of a magazine in Brazil, is a two-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But he still has much to prove as an MMA fighter.

UFC president Dana White raved about Maia’s jiu-jitsu, but said many questions still remain about whether Maia has the total package.
“Honestly, right now I think it’s pretty hard to say,” said White, who briefly considered using Maia as a coach on the currently filming season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
“He’s got sick fight jiu-jitsu and that’s important. There are a lot of guys who are great at sport jiu-jitsu, but put them in a fight and they’re going to get the [expletive] beaten out of them. But Demian has fight jiu-jitsu and it’s real good.
“You can’t let yourself get too far ahead with this guy, though. Not everybody is going to be so easy for him to get to the ground. Then, is he going to be able to stand with guys? There’s a lot we still don’t know.”
Sonnen is impressed with Maia, enough to suggest that Maia is already good enough to defeat UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Silva, who is tied for the top spot in the Yahoo! Sports MMA rankings, is nearly a deity in White’s eyes, but Sonnen told USA Today that he felt both he and Maia could defeat Silva.
“I think I’m better than Anderson and I think Demian’s better than Anderson,” Sonnen was quoted as saying by the newspaper’s Sergio Non. “I think we would both beat him.”
Maia said he appreciated Sonnen for including him in that view, but White was incredulous upon learning of Sonnen’s words.
He laughed and then said, “You’re [expletive] me, right?”
Assured it was no joke and that the newspaper had quoted Sonnen as saying that, White said, “Chael Sonnen really said that? And he was serious? OK. Whatever. I’ve heard everything now. More power to him, I guess.”
Maia said he’s eager to earn a shot against Silva, but he was careful not to go as far as Sonnen. They know each other from Brazil, but said they have no relationship that would prevent a match.

Maia, though, understands the task before him. He has to reel off a number of wins over highly ranked opponents before White considers pairing him with Anderson.
“I feel like I have a chance to win against Anderson, but he’s beating everybody and he’s the best in the world,” Maia said. “I don’t even think too much about that now, because there is a lot more for me to do before that becomes a possibility.
“If I do my job every time, then there comes a point when it’s obvious to everyone and then things will take care of themselves. For me to say, ‘Now I’m dreaming of [fighting] Anderson Silva,’ no, I can’t do that. I only have thoughts of what I need to do against Chael.”
Sonnen is a two-time Greco-Roman collegiate champion, an NCAA All-American and a U.S. Olympic alternate. Sonnen’s likely to dictate the fight with his ability to take Maia down and put his opponent into positions uncomfortable spots.
Maia, though, is hardly bothered.
“There are a lot of aspects to fighting and wrestling is one of them,” Maia said. “I know what to do. I have much respect for Chael and I know he’s a great fighter. Wherever the fight takes us, I’ll be comfortable and ready for it.”

[*Z*]

Sonnen is fucking high. He will get choked out by Maia

[jarhead]

Sonnen is just trying to rock the boat, good for him. He's just trying to get in line for a shot at Anderson. What do you guys expect him to say, "Anderson is way better than me, I wouldn't stand a chance." A little swagger can go a long way in fighting.

[adamiw]

I thought Maia was very impressive....maybe he could be a threat to Silva?

[TKO]

I thought Maia was very impressive....maybe he could be a threat to Silva?

Dude looked good again tonight he is definitely a contender..

[jarhead]

That was a very impressive win for Meia. He needs to be put on the list for a shot. The guy has the goods.

I am becoming a fan of Junior Dos Santos. The guy has great skills, and is very athletic. He will be a force in the HW division soon. Although, I thought the fight against Strude was stopped waaaayyy too early. Strude went down but went right into guard. Not a big deal, Dos Santos would have pounded him out.

[jarhead]

Nate wins. Neither guy looks great

[jarhead]

I didn't understand a word Terry Etim said in the post fight interview, was that English?

Rogan compared his stand up to Anderson's. Why, Joe? Because they are both tall?

[TKO]

I didn't understand a word Terry Etim said in the post fight interview, was that English?

Rogan compared his stand up to Anderson's. Why, Joe? Because they are both tall?

yah that was a little to much - they always try to promote the english guys but Etime is prett good.d