UFC contender Demian Maia proud of lack of damage taken in recent fights

UFC welterweight contender Demian Maia has absorbed just 13 significant strikes in his past four fights combined. That’s a statistic he can take pride in, because the jiu-jitsu ace has always preached the importance of getting in and out of the octagon with both he and his opponent taking as little damage as possible.

“It’s not conscious, during the fight I don’t think about that,” Maia told MMAjunkie. “But it’s the way my training is planned to get the least hit as possible and be able to clinch the guys and get closer. As I’m clinching with the guys, it’s hard to punch me. When I stand up, I’m not so close to them to punch me. The style and the way I train make it harder for the opponents to punch me or to hit me.”

Maia (24-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) is currently riding a six-fight UFC winning streak and gunning for a title shot against the winner of next month’s UFC 205 co-main event between Tyron Woodley (16-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Stephen Thompson (13-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC).

At 38, Maia appears to be getting better and better with each fight. His past four wins have come against Carlos Condit, Matt Brown, Gunnar Nelson and Neil Magny, and he finished everyone except Nelson with a submission inside the distance.

Maia exits his fights in the same physical condition he entered them, and he points to his August victory over Condit at UFC on FOX 21 as one of his crowning achievements. He was able to take the former WEC and interim UFC welterweight champion to the ground with ease then finished the job with a rear-naked choke, all in less than two minutes.

“I think it was one of the highlights of my career against a guy who was a former champion – not just in the (WEC), but also the UFC,” Maia said. “A guy that many people thought he won against Robbie Lawler in that title fight. To go there and have this performance, for me, it was a very inspiring night.”

The performance against Condit was the personification of what Maia does best. He can win a fight without absorbing damage or dishing out much to his opponent, a feat which he’s been able to accomplish time and time again en route to earning 18 UFC victories, tied for the third mot in company history behind Michael Bisping (20) and Georges St-Pierre (19).

Maia said what he’s doing in the octagon is beneficial to not only his fight career, but also his future retirement. The Brazilian wants to have a long and healthy life once his days as an active competitor are over, and he’s aware that the way he approaches the sport is going to help make the transition easier.

“We joke in the academy that some friends in the academy are forgetting things and say the same things over and over,” Maia said. “But it’s true. Sometimes you get too many hits and it’s not good for your health. My goal is not just to be a champion, but to be healthy when I finish my career.”

For more on the UFC schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.