Demian Maia

Demian Augusto Maia Baptista (born 6 November 1977) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt.

Maia competed in both the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has competed in two UFC title fights, losing against Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2010 and Tyron Woodley for the UFC Welterweight Championship in 2017. In submission grappling, Maia has won gold medals at the ADCC World Championships, the World Jiu-Jitsu Cup, and Pan-American Championships.

Background

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Maia trained in judo as a child. He began at the age of four and trained until he was six. When he became a teenager, he also began studying kung fu and karate. By age nineteen, Maia was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu by his cousin. After four years and seven months, Demian received his black belt. Demian Maia finished college and graduated with a degree in journalism. As of 2021, he is a fifth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has won several major tournaments with Team Brasa. Maia has previously credited a three-hour private lesson he once took with Rickson Gracie as one of the moments that had the biggest impact on his approach to jiu-jitsu and changed it entirely.