When Demian Maia steps into the cage to face Ryan LaFlare at UFC Fight Night 62 it will be a dream come true for the Brazilian welterweight.
The event takes place at Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro. The venue holds a special place in jiu-jitsu lore. Something of which Maia (19-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) is well aware.
“Fighting in a Brazilian main event is something I’ve dreamed about my whole life,” Maia told MMAjunkie. “Maracanazinho – I told everybody it’s like the temple of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Helio Gracie fought there in the ’50s. Carlson Gracie fought there in the ’60s and ’70s. Rickson Gracie fought there in the ’80s. So I’m so proud to be in the temple of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fighting for the fans there in Rio de Janeiro.”
In LaFlare (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Maia faces an undefeated opponent who has fought – and won – in a different country in each of his four UFC outings. Maia is expecting a tough fight from his younger opponent in their FOX Sports 1-televised headliner.
“I knew he was pretty tough, I knew he never lost, and I know he’s well-rounded,” Maia said. “And I know it doesn’t matter that a lot of people don’t know him because he started a little later than I started. But, he’s a pretty tough guy. He does everything well. It will be a tough fight.”
Maia, who snapped a two-fight losing skid with a victory over Alexander Yakovlev last May, has fought a who’s who of stars across the middleweight and welterweight division since debuting in the UFC at UFC 77 in October 2007.
His star-filled resume has led to Maia giving extra weight to the oft-repeated idea that there are no easy fights in the UFC. It’s something he considers while trying to gameplan for an opponent like LaFlare.
“I’m training to do my best with standup, jiu-jitsu, takedowns, everything,” Maia said. “We’re going to see what happens because during the fight you don’t have too much time to think. Especially with a tough opponent. If you have an easy opponent – which there is not anymore in the UFC. Maybe in the past, but nowadays everybody’s tough. Especially if you’re top 15. You don’t have too much time to think. You just go in there and fight, and let’s see what happens.”
For more on UFC Fight Night 62, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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