UFC 211's Demian Maia explains why he took Jorge Masvidal fight instead of waiting for title shot

It was just one month ago that Demian Maia wrote a lengthy Facebook post to explain why, at the time, it was UFC welterweight title shot or bust for him.

Maia was back on Facebook again today with another lengthy post, this time explaining why he accepted a fight against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 211, which the UFC announced earlier this week, when it was largely believed Maia  (24-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) was next in line for a title shot against the Tyron Woodley-Stephen Thompson winner Saturday night at UFC 209.

“It’s very simple,” Maia wrote. “They asked me to take a fight, and I was told that I’d have to stay active to get my shot. I am and have been a martial artist, a competitor, and a fighter for over 20 years. This is what I do for a living, it’s who I am. I have a lot of respect for the UFC and Dana White, it’s been almost 10 years, and if this is what I have to do, it makes no sense to wait.”

Maia, who’s No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, has found a new life at welterweight. The 39-year-old Brazilian grappler has won his past six fights. Three of his past four victories – over notables Neil Magny, Matt Brown and Carlos Condit – have come via submission.

Standing in Maia’s way is Masvidal (32-11 MMA, 9-4 UFC), a 32-year-old American Top Team fighter who is on a three-fight win streak while knocking out Jake Ellenberger and former title challenger Donald Cerrone most recently.

The fight will air on the UFC 211 pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Check out Maia’s full statement on the situation (via Facebook):

I’ve been getting a lot of questions from the fans and the press trying to understand why I took such a dangerous fight, just days before the UFC’s welterweight title fight. It’s not a secret to anyone that I was waiting for the title fight, and it may seem strange that I changed my mind so close to when I’d probably get my shot confirmed. It’s very simple. They asked me to take a fight, and I was told that I’d have to stay active to get my shot. I am and have been a martial artist, a competitor, and a fighter for over 20 years. This is what I do for a living, it’s who I am. I have a lot of respect for the UFC and Dana White, it’s been almost 10 years, and if this is what I have to do, it makes no sense to wait. I honestly believe I’ve done enough to get a title shot, but not everything in life is always as we’d like it to be, and it doesn’t matter anymore. All of my focus is on UFC 211, since Masvidal is an extremely tough opponent, and no fighter can make plans thinking already about what will come after fighting him. As the sportsman that I am, I’ll go in there, do my best, compete, and test myself again. This is the life I chose.

For more on UFC 211, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.