Maia: Why UFC anti-doping policy is ‘really good’

Demian Maia is 38, and has been fighting for 15 years. Maia challenged the UFC G.O.A.T. Anderson Silva in 2010, and in 2012 dropped down to welterweight. He is currently on a four-fight win streak, and is ranked #7 in the UFC. The fighter says he may not have peaked yet as a fighter, and praised the UFC’s USADA-run, anti-doping policy, as it benefits technical fighters like himself.

“I think I’m in the best moment of my career, but I can’t tell,” said Maia to Brazil’s Combate, as translated by Lucas Rezende for BE. “I feel good, with no serious injuries and very adapted to the weight. This new anti-doping stuff is really good, because it will benefit the most technical fighters, not the strongest or most explosive ones. That will earn me some more time in the sport. I hope this is not my prime, I hope I can still grow and that my prime is still ahead of me, but frankly, I can’t think about that.”

“It’s very hard to think about retiring, because I really like to do what I do and I don’t feel my performance getting worse. Everyone has a certain maturity point their bodies reach, and I think I’m reaching that a little older than others. The day I stop enjoying what I do, I might stop. I don’t do this to show off, to be noticed or anything like that. The pleasure I get from it comes from training and learning new stuff. Just to be there and do what I like.”

Demian Maia next fights Matt Brown on May 14 at at UFC 198 in Brazil.