Jiu-Jitsu black-belt, Demian Maia gave a lesson on the ground against his countryman Mário Miranda on UFC 118, but, despite having fit several positions, he could not get the submission. “I got there and I felt I have evolved a lot and I got to the positions I wanted to”, comments Demian. On an exclusive interview given to TATAME, the fighter commented the win over Mário, on his recover after the loss to Anderson Silva in Abu Dhabi, and talked about the extra motivation of seeing his last tormentor on Mário’s corner. “With all due respect to Mário, but I was glad when I heard that Anderson would be on his corner because I knew I’d motivate me even more”, confess the fighter, who comment the rematch between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva, which might happen on 2011.

What did you think of your comeback against Mário Miranda?

I was glad I came back with a win. Of course I’d like it to be due to a submission, but he’s a very slippery guy on the ground, defended himself well, kept himself calm during the whole fight, even when was on a bad position, he’s a good athlete. His professional record already shows he’d be a hard one for everyone on this division. He’s only got one loss in 12 fights, so, for sure, he’d be harsh on everyone.

Where you surprised with his abilities on defending the submissions?

No… I knew he was a Jiu-Jitsu black-belt and a very good Wrestling athlete, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy for me to submit him, but he really defended himself well and I also had some technical mistakes which I might correct. I think it was a good thing for me to have this chance to see what I must improve, but I won’t take his credits of being a high level athlete.

You have dedicating yourself a lot on the boxing trainings and other modalities, besides Jiu-Jitsu. Do you think that this helped you to lose so many positions and could not submit him, once you are training less your Jiu-Jitsu?

I don’t think so, not at all. I keep training a lot of Jiu-Jitsu, I don’t leave it aside… I don’t train only Jiu-Jitsu nowadays, but Jiu-Jitsu represents, at least, 50% of my technical training, so it’s a lot… It’s much more than many people train. I believe I have to chance some things… I got easily on the mount, on his back and arm.... I got to the positions I wanted to. I trained and I felt like I evolved a lot and got to the positions I wanted to. There was only a final detail missing because, besides that, I felt comfortable on getting to the positions…. I trained a lot of Jiu-Jitsu por this fight.

What did Dana White say about your win after the controversy fight with Anderson Silva?

Man, on the press conference what Dana said, when He was asked about what he think it’d be the next step for me, that he still doesn’t know because the division is too busy… There’s Anderson’s fight with Chael (Sonnen), there’s Vitor (Belfort) who should get a title fight, there’re los of athletes that are on the front line, so it’s one of the busiest divisions now.

Anderson was on Mário’s corner during the fight, since they are training partners. Did that motivate you more?

Of course it did. I was glad when I knew he’d be on his corner because I knew it’d motivate me even more. With all due respect to Mário, but I was glad when I heard that Anderson would be on his corner because I knew I’d motivate me even more.