Demian Maia willing to 'get a boat and paddle to New York' to challenge Woodley-Thompson winner

MANCHESTER, England – Demian Maia said he will do whatever it takes to make sure he’s the next UFC welterweight title challenger. That includes traveling from Brazil to New York City to challenge the winner of the UFC 205 title fight between champ Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson.

“If UFC gives me the opportunity to be ringside, I will be there,” Maia told MMAjunkie. “Even if I need to get a boat and paddle to New York, I will do (it). I’m ready to go. My manager and I, we let them know I’m ready to go to New York to watch because it’s very important for me to watch that fight.”

UFC 205 takes place Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Woodley (16-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC), No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, attempts to defend the 170-pound belt against No. 2-ranked Thompson (13-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the pay-per-view co-main event following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Behind the two fighting for the belt, No. 5-ranked Maia (24-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) said he’s the undeniable next best contender. He’s won six consecutive fights, with the most recent a dominant first-round submission win over Carlos Condit in August’s UFC on FOX 21 headliner.

Maia, 38, said after the victory that he hoped UFC officials would take another look at the title picture and grant him a shot. That didn’t happen, though, and he said he understands why Thompson, who has a seven-fight winning streak, was rewarded the first opportunity.

“I knew that could happen because Thompson, he came from a seven-win streak,” Maia said. “His last two fights were against very good fighters (in Rory MacDonald and Johny Hendricks). He also deserves it. I just hope after they fight – Thompson and Woodley – I get the winner.”

Although the UFC hasn’t confirmed Maia is next in line, he said he’s confident it’ll be the case. He won’t consider other fights until the matchup between Woodley and Thompson plays out, even if it’s a high-profile non-title bout against former champ Georges St-Pierre (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC), who reportedly has his sights set for a return the octagon after a more than three-year hiatus from competition. The ex-champ named Maia as a potential foe.

“I’m almost sure I will get the winner, and that’s the way it will be because there is – I don’t see nobody getting the title before me,” Maia said. “I think Georges, he is looking for big fights like Conor (McGregor), and these fights to make a lot of promotion, a lot of money. I think he’s thinking more about that because he already got everything he could get as the sport side of mixed martial arts.”

If Maia is indeed the next contender, the grappling ace would have to compete against an opponent who’s succeeded in the striking department. Woodley captured the belt with a first-round knockout of Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 in July while “Wonderboy” is a karate specialist who’s yet to find an equal on the feet during his MMA career.

Maia said either fight would be a tough task, but he’s leaning toward Thompson leaving with the belt. However, he made it clear he has no preference.

“It doesn’t matter,” Maia said. “Sometimes you think that one guy will be easier, and it turns out that it’s harder than you thought. Of course, they are fighting for the title. Both are great and just very different style. Whoever comes (out with the win), I will train differently for each one.

“I would give advantage to Thompson, a little bit of an advantage to him,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter that it’s better or worse than Woodley. Both are great, but I think his style – the same that Rory (MacDonald) did to Woodley – Thompson is a guy who can do the same. But of course Woodley has the big hands, and it can always play a role.”

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.