UFC on Fox 2 Preview: The Main Card
Maia vs. Weidman
Demian Maia’s last six bouts have reached the judges. | Photo:
Sherdog.com
MIddleweights
Demian Maia (15-3, 9-3 UFC) vs. Chris Weidman (7-0, 3-0 UFC)
The Matchup: A three-time All-American wrestler as a collegian, Weidman is considered to be one of the top 185-pound prospects in the UFC today. The Hofstra University product has not disappointed thus far, besting Alessio Sakara, Jesse Bongfeldt and Tom Lawlor in his first three Octagon appearances. After a hard-fought decision win against Sakara in his debut, the former Ring of Combat champion has looked increasingly impressive in notching first-round submissions in his last two outings.
Maia is a significant step up in competition: a former title challenger whose grappling credentials include a gold medal at the 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships. Maia began his UFC career on a tear, submitting his first six opponents, including Chael Sonnen with a triangle choke at UFC 95. The Brazilian has tapered off since, going 4-3, with all of his victories by decision. He is coming off a victory over Jorge Santiago in which he utilized his underrated takedown game to defeat the former Sengoku Raiden Championship titleholder. Maia is not going to scare anyone with his striking, but he has showed improved aggression in recent fights and is good at closing the pocket and using throws or trips to pull guard or move into top control.
Weidman, a member of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, has improving standup, but he is likely to shoot for the takedown early, and he will reshoot when necessary. Maia is not uncomfortable fighting from his back but expect plenty of pressure from Weidman. The 27-year-old is not content to sit in guard and will look to pass at every opportunity. Weidman has enough experience grappling so that he will not be out of his element if Maia is able to reverse position. The fight could come down to who can land most effectively on the feet.
The Pick: Weidman has a chance to justify his hype before a national television audience, but the task will not be easy. It will be a back-and-forth battle, with both men matching wits on the ground. Maia will have to effectively neutralize his foe’s ground-and-pound, while Weidman must be cautious in avoiding the Brazilian’s submissions. The unknown variable is the career arc of Weidman, who is still at the stage where his skills can improve drastically from fight to fight. It would not be overly surprising if his standup is markedly better than the last time he fought. It is hard not to like Weidman’s overall athleticism and talent. He takes a razor-thin decision over a very game Maia.
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