Demian Maia Offers His Prediction For Woodley vs. Thompson
Brazilian jiu-jitsu guru and No. 3-ranked UFC welterweight contender Demian Maia is likely deserving of a title shot. He’s won a super impressive six straight and is coming off of a dominant first round submission victory over No. 4-ranked former interim titleholder Carlos Condit. Despite his recent body of work, Maia will have to wait for his shot, as the 170-pound title is set to be defended at November 12’s UFC 205 from New York when champion Tyron Woodley battles Stephen Thompson.
As far as that fight goes, Maia feels as if Woodley has the power to retain his title, although the Brazilian ultimately sees “Wonderboy” getting the job done:
“The fight is a little more for ‘Wonderboy,’” Maia said during a recent Q&A session in England. “I think he probably will be able to control the way Rory (MacDonald) did with Woodley. Like movement and control the distance, but Woodley is always dangerous with the big right hand. If he hits him with the right hand, it will be a problem.
“If not, I think ‘Wonderboy’ will win by points or TKO, something like that.”
Maia, hopeful that he’ll receive a crack at the winner of UFC 205’s co-main event bout, also spoke on how he’d matchup with Thompson, one of the sport’s very best strikers:
“He’s an unorthodox striker and I’m an unorthodox grappler. Let’s see. I believe in jiu-jitsu, I believe in my style. I believe I’m going to win if I fight him,” Maia said about Thompson.
“Every fighter that I’ve fought in the UFC in the welterweight (division), they didn’t want to go to the ground with me, and I was able to put all my opponents to the ground. I was able to take all the guys down. Everybody trains wrestling so I’m pretty confident in my takedowns. I know everybody’s going to try to avoid (that) but even the fights that I lost in this division, I took everybody down. So it’s not going to be different.”
Who do you see walking away with welterweight gold next month, and could you see Maia eventually reaching the top of the mountain?
