Comments on: Demian Maia: The gentleman black belt

By: mu_shin

mu_shin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:24:43 +0000

I think the interesting comment here is what Kidneybeans had to say about grapplers and standup. I’m noticing it too, that there is so much consciousness among current MMA fighters concerning the “exciting fight factor” that a lot of potentially compelling MMA matches are devolving into kickboxing fights.

Watched a bunch of highlights the other day of early UFC fights, before time limits, before weight classes and rounds, before no strikes to the back of the head, before no groin strikes, before no head kicks to a downed opponent. Interesting how far MMA has come, but also of interest what’s been lost.

The impetus behind many of the changes the have morphed MMA from what it started out to be into what it has become has been the pressure of the television audience. While I think many of the changes are appropriate in terms of fighter safety and a sense of modern sportmanship, I hope that so much pressure on fighters to be “exciting” doesn’t take grapplers like Maia away from what they do so well, and away from the dramatic, multi-faceted multi-dimensional combat sport that modern MMA can continue to become.

By: Guy Gaduois

Guy Gaduois — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:37:28 +0000

This just in: BJ Penn is contesting this award to Maia because Maia has been seen eating Italian dressing, which we know contains oil, which transfers to the skin via sweat, giving Maia an unfair advantage in MMA.
We await word on whether or not Maia will eat all future salads wearing a rashguard.

By: MMASwami

MMASwami — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:57:44 +0000

Maia is great. He was on TAGG radio the other day and was very engaging. Well worth listening too.

By: Angry Mike

Angry Mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:50:29 +0000

I think Maia wins against Sonnen. Sonnen’s a good wrestler, but that plays to Maia’s strength in bjj. Filho proved that Sonnen can be submitted. The real question is whether Sonnen’s stand up is good enough to stop Maia. I don’t think Sonnen can keep the fight standing long enough to finish, and when it hits the ground Sonnen is in trouble.

By: kidneybeans

kidneybeans — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:02:55 +0000

And this is why he’s one of my favorite fighters. Should be a great display of grappling against Sonnen this weekend. Although curiously a lot of times when you get two great submission guys they end up standing the whole time. I think this might be the exception though, maia is just too good at avoiding punishment.