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[Cat--Smasher]

Demian on loss to Weidman: “I believed I could knock him out and I wanted to see if I could actually do it”

On an exclusive interview to TATAME, the BJJ black belt affirmed he was more focused on knocking his opponent out than winning the bout at any cost.



What are your thoughts about the fight?



Man, because they changed my opponent at the last minute I believed a lot my hands. I believed I could knock him out and I wanted to see if I could actually do it. I focused on that the entire fight and not focused on winning, but doing what I wanted to do. Actually I guess it’s easier fighting for the win. If I had worried about points… The guy took me down once, twice, these kinds of things.



Was this the game plan for Michael Bisping or did you decided to do it after they replaced him?



No, the game plan was completely different. Against Bisping I was getting in there and working on grappling. When they’ve changed, since I was doing fine on the stand-up, I thought I could knock him out. Then I kept trying it all the time, but I could not fit a nice coup. I couldn’t do it, I don’t know what happen.



How was the next day? You were on the first fight of FOX’s card, an important fight after a good win against Jorge Santiago. Did you talk to the UFC guys?



No. I guess there’s not much to say. I did what I had to do, I trained like I was supposed to, but I couldn’t do what I wanted to do at the time. Now I gotta train and be ready for the next one,



Bisping, who should have been your opponent, fought Sonnen and lost. Have you watched it?



Just the end, but people said it was even. There were people saying Bisping was winning, I saw it on the locker room, but I couldn’t watch it because it was right after my fight. I went there trying to do my best, to put a good show, I wanted to get there and knockout, submit, whatever. Despite I didn’t really go for the submission, I tried to do the best thing I could. I knew it was an important FOX event, but I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.



What are your hopes for the future? Fighting Bisping would be a good thing?



It would be excellent, but I’m not hoping for anything. I want to return to the trainings next week and rethink some concepts.



About the rematch Sonnen vs. Anderson, what do you thing that happens when they meet again?

Demian on loss to Weidman: “I believed I could knock him out and I wanted to see if I could actually do it” :: TATAME

Come Demian, you stand up is improving but stick to your game.

[Daellusx]

I think a Maia/Bisping fight would be a good matchup. Both are coming off a lose and they were already scheduled to fight each other so why not? Winner can move back in to the top 5 of the division and loser can go home.

[CtGreat]

There is nothing I hate more than when a fighter tries to reinvent themselves and completely strays from their base. That's about as stupid as a worldclass striker trying to be a grappler.

[Mr. Cornute]

I have to agree with CT
I personally miss the Maia who would sub a guy & do it beautifully. That is why I like Paulhares so much cause dude can rip your leg off no matter who you are. Maia needs to remember he is not a striker & use strikes to better set up his take downs & do what he does best...SUB People.

[lwbrewer]

Heck striking is my weak point and I think I would of lasted 3 rounds against his striking that night. At least be winning the fight say win the first 2 rounds than try your striking skills out even though it was ungodly poor. Why did ya gas when you had a full camp to get ready?????

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

For me, I think the Nate loss at 102 really broke alot of Maia's confidence and from that, I believe the Anderson fight broke what was left. Demian's tried to evolve, but as great as his standup may have 'improved' he's been fighting like Gonzaga without the epic Crocop KO.

Sure, Maia's rocked several of his opponents and I believe he beat Munoz, but he's not a striker and should most DEFINATELY go back to what brought him to the dance, and that's his nearly unparalleled BJJ.

Mark my words, if Demian sticks to his BJJ and amazingly gorgeous trips, he can sub his way back up to the top of the division and still be a contender. If he 'stays the course' and fights like he has in his past five or so fights....I think he might just become a really, really, really dangerous gatekeeper, which sucks.

[rabidsponge]

the guy lands a good punch on munoz then thinks hes chuck liddell

[initial_zen]

it was painful to watch maia fight like that. He just fought plain stupid.. hopefully he learns from it.

[kingrobert]

Originally Posted by CtGreat

There is nothing I hate more than when a fighter tries to reinvent themselves and completely strays from their base. That's about as stupid as a worldclass striker trying to be a grappler.

I agree. Mia best chance to win a fight is with his Bjj. His striking is better but I dont think he will ever be able to KO anyone. Mia needs to go back to trying to get all fights to the ground and then if he cant using his stand up.

[Goremire]

It's weird how you sometimes see really, really good grapplers fall in love with standup (usually to their detriment) but you hardly ever see it happening the other way around.

Off the top of my head I can't really think of any top class strikers who abandoned their striking for ground and pound and submissions - can anyone else?