One-dimensional fighters normally don’t have a long streak of success in today’s era of mixed martial arts. Take a look at every single champion atop their perch in every UFC division. With the exception of Brock Lesnar, every champion can dish it out technically on the ground as they can on the feet. Obviously, some fighters prefer specific means to ending a fight over others, but a well rounded, diverse arsenal of offensive skills is something they all possess.
There are exceptions to the rule, and Saturday night’s UFC 118 battle between Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom Demian Maia (12-2, 6-2 UFC) and equally seasoned grappler Mario Miranda (12-1, 1-1 UFC) involves one of the UFC’s less diverse fighters who happens to be above even champions in the one area he excels.
Demian Maia is truly one of the best grapplers in mixed martial arts, and it isn’t purely based on a defensive style like many of the world’s best in the sport. Maia happens to be one of the few who has transitioned his ADCC championship skills into a highly threatening submission style that leaves most of us mere mortals in awe. Combining those skills with a background in Judo also allows him to be very adept at using leverage and the clinch to work for the takedown. Submission wins over Ryan Jensen, Ed Herman, Jason MacDonald, Nate Quarry, and Chael Sonnen certainly prove he has the best submission skills in the division, but his limited abilities on the feet have been exposed in much higher profile battles.
Maia is improving however, and while some have said that it may be too little, too late for the 32 year old Brazilian – I say it’s better late than never. Despite my optimism, Maia hasn’t improved at a significant rate. He looked able against Dan Miller, but nowhere in the realm of spectacular. He had moments against Anderson Silva, but spent much of the fight being clowned by the UFC middleweight champion. Is this a fight that Maia will give fans a glimpse at a much more improved stand-up game, or will he try to win by his preferred method?
Miranda will likely be a very tough competitor in the grappling department as he is a game Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in his own right. Very strong and well-conditioned, Miranda normally uses those attributes in combination with his ground acumen to gain advantageous positions and pound away at his opponents. He has submission ability, but he’s definitely more defensive than a whiz in breaking appendages.
Style match-ups like this normally point to a type of battle that some people overlook due to the credentials that are stacked heavily on the fight taking place in one area. Maia and Miranda are highly accomplished grapplers, but we may be in for a somewhat lackluster striking performance. The question is whether Maia has improved enough to slug it out with Miranda, and if so — can he avoid Miranda’s power?
When I first began scrutinizing this battle on paper, it didn’t look like a great match-up, and I’m not exactly sure whether I’m excited about this fight or not. There are a couple of possibilities that point to a real snoozer. Both men nullify each other on the ground, or both men slug it out in sloppy fashion. For the technical fan in me, slugging it out doesn’t appeal, but it could be entertaining in a “Just Bleed” sort of way.
But the interesting attraction to this fight is the questions that could potentially be answered. Will Demian Maia show an improved stand-up game? Can his brand of offensive jiu-jitsu endanger an adept grappler like Mario Miranda? Will Maia’s chin meet its match once again?
I’ll go with the safe bet. I think Maia can control and put Miranda into some danger on the ground if it goes there, and I think it eventually will. Miranda is definitely a live underdog pick here though, especially on the feet. The fight has potential to be a bit of a bore, but it should answer some questions about both fighters — especially Demian Maia.