Demian Maia has been defined by his skill in a world where WWE tactics have a much bigger success rate as evidenced by the McGregor antics.
Still he opted to test his skill once more and take on Jorge “Gambebred” Masvidal in a move that not only didn’t earn him respect from the current champ but it went the other way – Woodley is now calling Maia names due to the unfortunate match.
From UFC Unfiltered (via MMA Fighting):
“Unfortunately for Maia, he accepted the fight the week of me and Wonderboy’s fight. In my personal opinion, bad move. Wait and see how the fight went. If nobody came out of the fight hurt, a clear winner, not another draw, you’re already in a position to fight for a world title. Why would you put yourself up against the worst possible matchup outside of a title fight? Why would you put yourself in that position? I don’t want to call him stupid but damn that was stupid.”
Maia, who was after a title shot didn’t really have much choice but to take the fight as the first time Woodley and Wonderboy faced off it went to a tie.
In the past Maia told MMAJunkie radio:
“To become a real sport, (MMA) needs to be more seen and held as a sport, not as a show
We want to see MMA grow and to keep growing for the next 100 years and be a big sport like basketball, football, soccer, we need to hold it as a sport. The goal of a sport is one goal, it is to win.
You watch a tennis match because you want to see who is going to win, who is the winner, not who plays this style or this style. If you watch NFL (the team in the finals is not) the guy who plays a more interesting game or the game you like most. You’re going to put the winners. And that’s why those are sports and they are growing sports. If you like the sport, you like the sport.”
Demian Maia will battle with surging 170-pound striker Jorge Masvidal at the upcoming UFC 211 – May 13th.
