Demian Maia segrade senast mot Matt Brown via submission under UFC 198 i helgen. Han hoppades på att UFC då skulle ändra sig och ge honom titelmatch mot welterviktsmästaren Robbie Lawler, men det kommer nu istället att bli Tyron Woodley som går matchen under UFC 201.
Maia anser att han förtjänar titelchansen och kommer att vara beredd på att ersätt om Woodley inte kan gå matchen.
Det här berättade Maia via ”MMAJunkie”:
I think in this division, I have the longest sequence of victories, more than Woodley. So, mathematically, I think I’m the one that deserves to fight for the title.
We knew unofficially before my fight, so it wasn’t a surprise. But there’s always that hope that they might change their minds.
The way I see it now, I have three options: I can wait for a title shot with whoever wins. I can fight once more before the title, which is what I don’t want. And lastly, I can just hop in if anyone is unable to fight.
Senast var det Michael Bisping som fick en oväntad titelchans mot Luke Rockhold, efter att forne mästaren Chris Weidman hoppade av på grund av skada. Maia hoppas att något liknande kan hända för honom. Han är dock medveten om att matchen likaväl skulle kunna gå till Stephen Thompson.
I have that in mind, absolutely. After my camps, I always stay in some form of maintenance mode. I’m going back to my regular training very soon. Of course, not with the same intensity of when the fight is near, but certainly waiting to see what happens.”
At this point, it’s so abstract I don’t really want to speculate too much. I know if Thompson wins, he’s a possibility. I wouldn’t know about Rory, because he had his shot recently. Things change so much, so many switch-ups and injuries.
I’d say I’m first in line. Thompson may have a bigger winning streak, but he lost to Brown, for instance. If you take my last eight fights, I fought numerous ranked guys. I’ve fought a lot of people and won.
Brasilianaren Maia står just nu med 5 raka vinster och sammanlagt 23 vinster och 6 förluster.
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