WW Prospect

Anyone think Demian Maia has a realistic shot at the French Canadian blanket?

His stand up has looked pretty good recently and his ground game is off the charts.


Or will GSP just out jab him?

GSP is the only WW out there who I think could win a decision against Maia.

Someone like L.N.Burger or Hendricks could KO him of course, but 9 time out of 10 I think Maia just smothers them.

I think GSP would have to follow the Koscheck blueprint to get the win, with added emphasis on avoiding the clinch.

Maias cardio in a 5 round fight is an important unknown quantity in this equation as well.

Depends on his striking, GSP doesnt have devistating 1 punch KO power which is good for Maia, as long as he doesnt flying knee right into a hayemaker GSP probabally wont turn his lights out.

If Anyone can outgrapple GSP its Maia, he took Sonnen down so he can take GSP down.

It all depends on weither Maia stands shellshocked refusing to engage like he did in half the Anderson fight. Although GSP is far from Anderson on the feet id say he is better than Maia.

My thoughts are like Mryzyz, I think he follows the Kos Blueprint and Jabs and Jogs and beats Maia because he is more versitile standing and I dont see these guys in a ground war.

Wouldnt rule out a Maia sub against any Ww though. I think GSP will avoid a ground game and fight his own fight.

GSP is starting to bore the balls off me


In other news

Nick Diaz’s camp plans to file a complaint with Quebec’s athletic commission in the wake of a UFC 158 weigh-in controversy, according to the fighter’s representative, Jonathan Tweedale.

As detailed in a video posted online after the March 16 event, UFC executive Michael Mersch informed Diaz and his camp just prior to the weigh-in that the Quebec commission would not take decimal points into account, meaning that as long as both men weighed in under 171 pounds, they would be considered to weigh 170. Mersch also informed Diaz that he and Georges St. Pierre might be given an extra hour to make weight if necessary.

In a recent statement released to MMAFighting.com, commission rep Joyce Tremblay reiterated that decimal points are not considered when weighing fighters in the Canadian province:

“I wish to inform you that, during UFC 158, no contestants exceeded the weight determined in their contracts. Currently, [the commission] does take into consideration the maximum weight determined by contract when it carries out the weigh-ins before a bout. However, our regulation on combat sports does not take decimals into account. Their consideration is a question of interpretation likely to be debated between the two parties under contract.”

Tweedale disagrees with the statement and told Sherdog.com on Tuesday that a complaint will soon be filed regarding both the weigh-in and drug testing procedures conducted at the event, which took place at Bell Centre in Montreal. Formerly a member of the Vancouver Athletic Commission, the British Columbia-based lawyer released the following statement to Sherdog.com on Tuesday:

“The Quebec commission’s statement is a disappointing admission that the March 16 event was not conducted under the rules applicable to a UFC title fight -- or under the rules the fighters contractually agreed to, upon which rules Mr. Diaz was entitled to rely under his bout agreement.

“Section 168 of the Regulation respecting combat sports provides that the maximum weight that a fighter must achieve at the official weigh-in shall be determined in advance by contract -- and if the fighter does not make the contracted weight -- in this case 170 pounds -- then 20 percent of his purse or ‘the contestant’s remuneration’ will be deducted and paid to his opponent (subsections (7) and ().

“The contracted weight for this fight was 170 pounds. 170.9 is not 170, anywhere in the world, for a title fight. There is no question what ‘170 pounds’ means, in the bout agreement, as a matter of contractual interpretation.

“The Quebec commission deliberately relaxed the rule in this case and, by its own admission, allowed their hometown fighter to ‘make weight’ even if he weighed more than the contracted weight.

“The commission’s statement that their Regulation ‘does not take decimals into account’ is bizarre and untrue. Section 74 of the Regulation provides that at an official weigh-in, ‘[t]he scale shall have graduated readings at each 100g (3.6 oz) and shall be certified by Measurement Canada.’ There would be no need to have graduated readings at each 100g if the commission ‘does not take decimals into account.’

“Furthermore, section 77 of the Regulation provides: ‘At an official weigh-in, no time shall be granted to a contestant to enable him to increase or decrease his weight.’ It appears that here too, the commission was prepared to relax this rule at the last minute in favor of Mr. St. Pierre.

“Further serious irregularities including, inter alia, the Quebec Commission’s failure to supervise fighters’ provision of samples in connection with testing for Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods (under sections 71.1 to 71.6 of the Regulation), will be set out in an official complaint that will be filed imminently.

“In the circumstances, Mr. St. Pierre remains legally and ethically obligated to fight Mr. Diaz at 170 pounds or else vacate the belt in favor of those prepared to fight at welterweight.”

Though the complaint will be filed in Quebec, Tweedale told Sherdog.com that he hopes to receive relief from the UFC.

“The UFC will determine whether it is fair to deprive Nick of a welterweight title shot at 170 pounds,” Tweedale told Sherdog.com in an email. “He still hasn't got the title shot at 170 that he contractually agreed to. What we want is the title shot that Nick is owed.”

Before the Fitch fight I would have said no but after his performance against Fitch I think It will be a very interesting fight as you say Maia's stand up is ever improving and we all know how good his ground game is.

Be very interesting to see who they match Maia with next surely an Ellenberger fight makes most sense.

Would I put a ton of money on it,No,but without a doubt Maia has a good chance at taking the title at WW.
I'd love to see the fight.

Every win for Maia at WW so far has been against top level grapplers and at MW,he fought a few,beating Sonnen and pushing Weidman and munoz to close decisions.
He has looked like he's in the form of his career after making the drop to WW.He has a range advantage,he has the cardio(except in the last minute weidman fight) to go 5 rounds and he is an elite grappler that is a serious threat on top or from the bottom.

He has the Tools but making them work against GSP is another thing.

GSP would jab and sprint his way to victory like he did against Koscheck.


The weigh-in thing in Quebec is interesting. Was pretty clear GSP started to get tired in round 3 and was constantly looking at the clock during 4 and 5 and there was a huge drop off in his explosiveness in the later rounds when it came to takedowns. Wonder if he just had a bad camp.

GSP Jab and Jog to a UD victory, I hope GSP moves up soon (hopefully he is struggling to make the weight)

I dont see maia getting many shots either, dont think he is what the UFC want as a champ and they will do evertything they can to avoid that scenario like they have done with Lyoto.


I was hoping that Gunnar would be a realistic challenger in 12 months but he looks a long way off at the moment.