Demian Maia

Name: Demian Maia Baptista

Current Rank: Black Belt under Fabio Gurgel

Notable Achievements:

• ADCC Champion (2007)

• CBJJ Brazilian Team National Champion (2003)

• IBJJF World Champion (2000, Purple Belt)

• ADCC 2nd Place (2005)

• CBJJO World Cup Champion (2002, 2003, 2005)

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda --> Carlos Gracie --> Helio Gracie --> Rolls Gracie --> Romero Cavalcanti --> Fabio Gurgel --> Demian Maia

Demian Maia Biography

Early Life: A Martial Arts Odyssey

Born on November 6, 1977, in São Paulo, Brazil, Demian Maia's martial arts journey began at the age of 4 with Judo. After a hiatus, he explored Karate and Kung-Fu during his teenage years. However, it was an MMA event in Ibirapuera, Brazil, that shifted his focus towards Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Intrigued by the effortless victories of BJJ practitioners, Maia decided to immerse himself in the art.

Academic Pursuits and BJJ

While studying Journalism at university, Maia began his BJJ training under Fabio Araujo, a brown belt under Carlson Gracie at the time. However, his insatiable desire to excel in BJJ led him to join Fabio Gurgel's Alliance team in São Paulo. Under Gurgel's tutelage, Maia achieved his black belt in an astonishing 4 years and 7 months, all while balancing his academic commitments.

Competitive Milestones

Demian Maia's grappling accolades are nothing short of remarkable:

• ADCC Champion (2007)

• CBJJ Brazilian Team National Champion (2003)

• IBJJF World Champion (2000, purple belt)

• CBJJO World Cup Champion (2002, 2003, 2005)

His favorite technique is the Triangle Choke, and he has competed in both the middleweight and welterweight divisions in MMA.

The Alliance Turmoil

In the early 2000s, Maia found himself at the center of a rift within the Alliance team. He and several other fighters chose to participate in the CBJJO World Cup, which offered prize money, against the wishes of Fabio Gurgel and Jacare Romero. This led to the formation of new teams like Brasa, TT, and Master academies.

The MMA Phenomenon

Maia's transition to MMA was seamless. After fighting in smaller promotions in Brazil and Finland, he joined the UFC, where he gained significant notoriety. He has had title attempts in both the UFC's middleweight and welterweight divisions and is known for one of the UFC's longest successful submission win streaks.

Legacy and Influence

Demian Maia is not just a BJJ black belt or an MMA fighter; he's a modern-day martial arts samurai who has excelled in multiple combat sports. His journey from traditional martial arts to BJJ and then to MMA is a testament to his versatility, dedication, and unquenchable thirst for mastery.