Maia: I can be the champion
Demian Maia: “I just relaxed, and I know I will fight for the title and I know I have a great chance to win. That’s why I want the chance, but I need to speak so I fight for the title.”
Demian Maia was at one-time one of the best middleweights in the UFC and earned a title shot in 2010, a fight he lost by decision to Anderson Silva.
Maia later dropped to the welterweight division and recently is on a four-fight win streak. He is poised for a title fight or at least a number one contender fight next and recently told the MMA Hour he believes he is ready to be UFC champion:
“I was always very, very focused, just thinking about the title. Everything I did in my life was about the title, but that’s too much pressure over me. When I relaxed more, even my performance became better. Now, it’s not like ‘I need to fight for the title, I will win’. I just relaxed, and I know I will fight for the title and I know I have a great chance to win. That’s why I want the chance, but I need to speak so I fight for the title.”
After dominant victories over Gunnar Nelson and Neil Magny, Maia will now face Matt Brown at the UFC 198 card in Curitiba, Brazil, and the May 14 bout could determine the next contender. Not focusing on the belt led him to this position, and he already sees himself in a title fight in 2016.
“Sometimes I don’t talk too much, that’s myself, but I truly believe I can be the champion,” he said. “I feel, I can visualize that. I’m gonna fight for the title this year, I visualize that. And I feel I can be the champion.”