Homecoming pressure under control, Demian Maia tackles gas tank

Demian Maia needs a win in the worst kind of way, but he’s trying to not let the pressure of a big homecoming get to him.

Maia grew up not far from where he’ll fight on Saturday night when the UFC returns to his native Brazil for the TUF Brazil 3 Finale in Sao Paulo. But he’s trying to treat the fight like a normal trip on the road as much as he can, just like if he was traveling to Las Vegas.

“Sometimes it can be tricky,” Maia told MMAjunkie Radio of fighting at home. “I’m taking care to not relax too much. I’m at the hotel, and I’m not going back to my home till after the fight.”

Maia (18-6 MMA, 12-6 UFC) on Saturday tries to snap a two-fight losing skid when he meets Alexander Yakovlev (21-4-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the main card of the TUF Brazil 3 Finale, which takes place at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1 (10 p.m. ET) following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Maia was a perfect 3-0 after dropping from middleweight to welterweight. Then he dropped a tough split decision to Jake Shields this past October in Brazil, and in February, he got a “Fight of the Night” bonus, but still had the first losing streak of his career when Rory MacDonald outpointed him in Las Vegas.

Now he has the pressure of that skid, and the pressure of the homecoming at the same time. But he said he’s got it under control in fight week.

“I try to protect myself (from too many friends and family) as much as I can, but when you’re in your city (it’s hard),” he said. “I grew up a mile away from here and I studied in college two miles away from here. Sometimes when you have problems, it makes you stronger. But I’ve been in the game for a while and I’ve learned how to deal with when you’re comfortable or not comfortable. I try to keep in the same mood.”

Against MacDonald, Maia was criticized, as he has been in the past, for gassing out later in the fight. He said that was a result of too many takedown attempts – something he hopes won’t be an issue against Yakovlev, a Russian newcomer to the UFC who picked up the biggest win of his career in November when he beat Paul Daley.

“The main problem is, you can be the most prepared guy with physical conditioning, but it’s hard when you shoot so much,” Maia said. “I didn’t do well in that fight (against MacDonald). I was just shooting, shooting and trying to double-leg.”

Against Shields, the fight was the main event – and a five-rounder. Looking wiped out deep in the fight in that one could happen to anyone, Maia reasoned.

“I don’t think it was the case against Jake Shields,” he said. “It was five rounds, so of course we got tired. But that was the case in the last fight. There was a problem there.”

The key right now for Maia appears to be acknowledging conditioning has been an issue. The question is whether he’ll correct it against Yakovlev, or if he’ll need to.

For more on the TUF Brazil 3 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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