Demian Maia: “I deserve the titleshot”

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Josh Hedges

 

Five fights in the UFC, five submission victories. This time (UFC 95), the victim was Chael Sonnen, who came from victory over Paulo Filho, at WEC. With less than three minutes of fight, the Brazilian got the takedown and has already locked Sonnen in a triangle choke, and was just a matter of time for the tap. "I always enter without expectation for the fight, but I’ll find a way to submit", said Demian, to TATAME.com.

 

Getting more thousands of dollar because of the submission of the night, the Brazilian wants, now, his chance for the title. "I have to fight for the title. I’ve won five fights by submission and there were people that won less and... I’ve won three fights in the first round, I deserve the titleshot", defends the black belt, who sees himself in an advantage in the competition for the UFC extra bonuses. "My fights were by submission and the majority ends by knockout in the UFC, then I have great chances to make the submission of the night".

 

Waiting for a chance for the title, the Brazilian was smart to avoid a direct question: if you had to bet the $40 thousand that you’ve gain for the submission of the night, would it be on Anderson Silva or Thales Leites? "I would put $20.000 on Anderson and $20.000 on Thales (laughs)... I don’t know who will win, this fight is very difficult”, he avoided. As for his future in the event, the fighter doesn’t know when he’ll return. "We’re starting to see that now, but I have nothing closed yet", ended.

http://www.tatame.com/2009/03/04/Demian-Maia--I-deserve-the-titleshot