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By: Jason Bent, MMATorch Columnist This bout is arguably the best of this entire card. While you can certainly make a case for Couture vs. Nogueira, especially given their standing in the sport, these two middleweights are in the prime of their careers and match up very well with each other. UFC 102 is a solid card bolstered by the hall of fame match up in the main event, but in my opinion it will be this middleweight bout which will steal the show and could perhaps create a legitimate contender for Anderson Silva's belt.
Demian Maia is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and has so far shown to be more proficient than nearly anyone else in the sport today. You can describe someone as being skilled in BJJ and even hang the tag of "black belt" upon them, but superlatives and rankings do Maia no justice. Seeing is believing, as he has run roughshod over all of his opponents en route to an undefeated record to go along with having been awarded "Submission of the Night" honors on four occasions in the UFC. Maia is a legitimate threat to anyone he faces, and should he get past Marquardt he will be possibly the one fighter who could finally topple Anderson Silva.
Demian Maia's career record stands at 10 wins against no defeats with 8 of his victories having come by way of submission. Maia will turn 32 in November, fights out of Sao Paulo, Brazil and has competed under the UFC banner since making his debut at UFC 77. Maia's most notable victories have come at the expense of Ed Herman, Nate Quarry, Jason MacDonald and Chael Sonnen. Up until this point, Maia has never tasted defeat and in victory it appears as if no one has the tools to put him in such a position.
Nate Marquardt could be the one to do such a thing and is looking forward to battling Maia at UFC 102 for certain. Marquardt is the best middleweight not named Maia, Silva or perhaps Henderson, and is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the game today, regardless of weight. Marquardt is excellent on the ground, devastating on the feet and always arrives in top shape which bodes him well against Maia. The biggest problem facing Marquardt is that he is just on the cusp of greatness and has fallen short when given those opportunities.
He is one of the best fighters that most fans are not aware of, and this is due to the fact that he is a very humble guy who is not outspoken or flashy. In this respect, Marquardt is very much like Rich Franklin, but the difference is that Franklin has worn championship gold. For Marquardt to come near joining such company it will take a victory over Maia this Saturday.
Nate Marquardt's career record stands at 28 wins against 8 losses and 2 fights having been ruled a draw. Of Marquardt's 28 wins, 15 have come by submission and 5 by way of KO. Notable victories for Nate have come against the likes of Yves Edwards, Shonie Carter, Kiuma Kunioku, Kazuo Misaki, Martin Kampmann and Wilson Gouveia. His losses have come at the hands of Genki Sudo, Gil Castillo, Kiuma Kunioku, Izuru Takeuchi, Keiichiro Yamamiya, Ricardo Almeida, Anderson Silva and Thales Leites. The loss to Leites was due to him losing two points for what were ruled illegal strikes.
This bout is a clash of styles and it is a damned fine one at that. Demian Maia is better at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than Nate Marquardt is at anything whatsoever. The biggest problem for Maia is that Marquardt is pretty good at everything and possesses superior stand-up skills, superb wrestling ability and could prove capable of keeping this fight on the feet. One thing for certain is that the two fighters will not be the only ones on their feet if this one turns out as expected.
Bent's Prediction: Demian Maia by 2nd Round Submission
The first round of this bout will be fantastic and a true battle of wills. Maia has very little stand-up ability and Marquardt can hit like a truck. Maia has excellent takedown ability but Marquardt has the goods to avoid them, sprawl and keep this one going toe to toe. Marquardt has fought everyone and will fight anyone at anytime, and Maia is getting his biggest test of his entire career in this one.
Demian Maia will not be able to goad Nate Marquardt into fighting his game, but he will be able to take advantage of any mistakes, and I do not see Marquardt fighting a flawless fight. Once this one does hit the ground, it is Maia's and in short order. So, I see the first round being a true battle which could very well end with a referee stoppage and Marquardt's hand being raised, but it is my belief that Maia will survive the first and Nate will not survive the second. Maia will cash yet another "Submission of the Night" check and wait patiently for his shot at Silva or Henderson.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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