Maia: If I can take Lawler down, I know I can win
Demian Maia: “He’s tough.He has a big heart and it’s hard to take him down. But if I’m able to take him down I know I can win. I can do that to pretty much anyone in the division.”
As is the goal for every welterweight, Demian Maia hopes to one day fight for the title. Against current champion Robbie Lawler, Maia believes that he could win for sure, if he can get the fight to the mat:
(The fight would be) pretty tough, Maia said. Of course, he’s tough. He’s experienced, he’s not young. He has a lot of experience. What he did to Rory (MacDonald at UFC 189)? Rory’s great. I fought him, I know he’s great. And he was winning the fight and Robbie was able to pull the win in the last round. Robbie is a guy with big heart, he’s hard to take down, heavy hands, he deserves to be a champion. I wish I can fight him one day for the title.
Maia also sees the ground as his path to victory in a potential bout with Lawler, not having any interest in trading punches with the hard hitting champion.
In my case (the ground is) the only way, Maia said. I’m not going to exchange punches. His hands are too heavy. You see what he did in his last fight. He’s tough. He has a big heart and it’s hard to take him down. But if I’m able to take him down I know I can win. I can do that to pretty much anyone in the division.