Demian Maia
I'm really happy to be able to live my life doing what I love.
Everybody needs money, obviously, but that's far from being the most important thing in the world to me.
You can trade money for other good things and that's nice, but it's not the first thing that matters to me. I'm a martial artist and I have other priorities.
I didn't choose this career for money. When I started training, I did it because I liked it, and I never had money for anything in my life.
I will fight everywhere, but I trust a lot on my jiu-jitsu.
I lived in Barueri for a long time, and now I live in a city close to Barueri, so it's like my backyard.
A lot of people underestimate Jake Shields, but his results speak for themselves. He's tough to beat.
A loss is horrible, and it's even worse in the UFC.
I'm a name that can be as a co-main event or a main event and people want to see.
I've been in this position before when you never lose, when your record is clear, people are avoiding you.
It's obvious that I want to reach Cerrone's win record, I know that's important for my career. Those milestones last forever, even if someone passes you later, they are forever.
That was my dream since I was a kid, since I first saw a vale tudo event in my hometown of Sao Paulo. I wanted to compete.
When I got into UFC, it was an unbelievable feeling. When I got inside the cage, 'Big' John McCarthy - a guy who I was watching back when Royce Gracie was fighting - was the referee. I was able to earn a quick submission win. It was perfect.
Everybody that I fight always avoids jiu-jitsu.
I have my principles. I'd rather die than change my principles.
In the 1930s, in boxing, to be the heavyweight champion of the world was really, really big, people wanted to see the toughest guys. But what I've figured out now, in the '50s, '60s, boxing started to become more entertainment than sport.
People learn. If you market somebody, let's say GSP, a lot of people were saying he was doing boring fights because he was taking the guys down and controlling them, but he was winning, and he was the guy who selling the most.
I think in the long term, you make money with focusing on the sport.
I know my jiu-jitsu is good enough to beat the best guys in the world.
I need to improve my striking and my wrestling, but I always be best at jiu-jitsu.
I know you can't lose concentration when you get in range, otherwise you'll get caught with something.
I felt when I was hitting guys or going for a takedown at 185, sometimes it was like hitting a wall.
I cannot forget my roots. That's what helps me win fights.
I had good teachers and I loved to compete in jiu-jitsu. I was doing good, a world champ, but I always knew I wanted to fight.
I always try to improve my stand-up game, it's very important for me.
Any man can be defeated.
I'm sure about my style. I always go to fight. I always go to be aggressive.
Anytime a guy asks to compete against you, they usually think they have the advantage.
My jiu-jitsu is very good, and anytime I'm able to show what my coaches and my team are capable of doing, I really enjoy it.
Jiu-jitsu is very 'democratic,' it does not matter how you are physically - it is all about your mind, and a lot of technique.
When you fight MMA, there are so many things involved, so many techniques, that you just can't do everything or you'll over-train.
A lot of people love what I do and a lot of people don't like or hate my style, so it's external - I really don't care about that. I'm happy with the people that appreciate it, but I'm not unhappy with the people that don't like it.
Everybody has their own opinions and you cannot please everybody. I'm never going to try to do that - to please everybody - because there is always somebody who will say they don't like it.
I always try and use my jiujitsu to win fights. That's my favorite method of securing victory.
My loss to Marquardt was just one of those things. I made a mistake and got caught. I think I had a lot more to offer in that fight, but he caught me before I had a chance to show it.
MMA is pretty tough on your mind because it's a sport that's not just about winning. You really want to win bad, but it's tough when you lose. You get beaten. And it really messes with your ego, because nobody wants to get beaten by other people physically. It's not just a game. You get beaten physically.
MMA's not like a game like basketball, for example, that if you're winning by 30, 40 points and there's just five minutes left, you can do whatever you want because the guy isn't going to beat you. In MMA, you can get beaten in the last minute of the fight, or the last second of the fight, so sometimes you've got to be safe.
I'm a very competitive type, so I want to win the fight first of everything.
I'd like to be remembered for being the one responsible for adapting Brazilian jiu-jitsu for modern MMA. For what I've learned from fence work and some ground positions. Lots of details I developed after years and years studying them, testing what worked on the mat, against the fence, what kept opponents on the ground, control situations.
There are lots of jiu-jitsu fighters who finish fights and have good MMA jiu-jitsu, but I think I've applied techniques which I can teach other people.
You can't compare my background to the Gracies', not only in technique, but in terms of business and marketing.
I would never say 'Demian Maia jiu-jitsu.' I created lots of things that became known, but it's all Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Fights are all about styles and matchups.
Chael is a pretty tough and strategic opponent and very hard to put down.
The difference between me and other black belts is that I truly believe that jujitsu can be used in all aspects of MMA, because it was created to do that. If you train hard, it will work.
I think I've already won the most important titles in Brazilian jujitsu and grappling.
I don't like to have a strategy going into a fight. If he has a good right hand or a good kick or good submissions then I'll try to avoid that, but I like to be in a fight and I like to go into the fight. Even in jiu-jitsu I didn't think of pulling this guy into guard or take him down because I like to go into the fight and see what happens.
Grappling is my style.
My wife never comes to watch me fight, she gets too nervous, so do my family. They will only watch it on the television after they know the outcome.