Demian Maia says Dan Miller bout was “Key fight in his career”, thinks Chael Sonnen as top contender is “Fair”

Last Saturday night at UFC 109, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu specialist Demian Maia decided to implement a striking game for his bout with Dan Miller and ultimately succeeded as he gained a unanimous decision for the win and veer away from his disappointing KO loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 102 last August. Now, Maia feels he must continue to improve to become an all around top fighter and once a title shot is presented to him is when he believes the time is right for just that.

In a interview with Tatame.com with translation from URDirt.com, Maia says that his plan was to take Dan Miller to the ground to do what he does best, but in the end felt very comfortable with his new found ability to strike on the feet.

“He avoided a lot, wanted to stand with me, but it is normal. Most opponents I fight will want to stand against me. When I got to go to the ground was near the fence, then worked the ground and pound. I did not play much to pass, waited for him to give me the opening, but he did not, so I was hitting my spots and assuring. In the second round, especially, I found a good distance and decided to test me, see how I felt. I felt good, played with confidence.”

With the win at UFC 109, Maia is back in the hunt for the middleweight championship and when asked about Chael Sonnen’s performance in a win over Nate Marquardt, the Brazilian was not surprised that Sonnen would come out on top and had one of the toughest strategies to fight against within the organization.

“It didn’t surprise me not one bit, I was telling everyone that Chael had a good chances to win. To beat him you have to have a good guard, excellent striking and a reasonable ground game, because he will take you down. He can take a beating and he isn’t easily submitted, it’s one of the toughest to beat strategies in the UFC.”

Maia even feels that the UFC’s decision to make him number one contender is “fair”, but says that fellow Brazilians Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort would come out on top if the UFC 112 faces Sonnen, but admits that the Team Quest fighter still has a chance.

What do you think of Chael Sonnen’s chances against Anderson Silva or Vitor Belfort for the UFC middleweight title? Do you agree with Demian Maia?

Photo: UFC.com