Demain Maia vs. Nate Marquardt set for UFC 102 in Portland on Aug. 29 (http://mmajunkie.com/news/14729/demain-maia-vs-nate-marquardt-set-for-ufc-102-in-portland-on-aug-29.mma)

While UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has committed to a light-heavyweight contest on Aug. 8, two of the 185-pound division's top contenders will meet later in the month.

Demain Maia (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Nate Marquardt (28-8-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will meet at UFC 102 according to a report on Maia's official website.

The undefeated Maia has won five-straight contests in the UFC since debuting for the organization in October 2007. All five victories have come by submission, including four "Submission of the Night" bonuses.

Maia was last in action in a submission in over Chael Sonnen at UFC 95 in February.

Marquardt is currently riding a two-fight win streak since dropping a controversial split-decision to Thales Leites in June 2008.

The former King of Pancrase had one previous shot at Silva's belt in 2007. Silva earned a first-round TKO over Marquardt in the UFC 73 main event.

The winner of the Maia vs. Marquardt fight would certainly have a rightful claim to No. 1 contender's status in the UFC's middleweight division, though the victor of the UFC 100 contest between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson will also be near the front of the line.

While the event has not yet been officially announced by the UFC, Maia's post confirms previously reported details that UFC 102 is expected to take place Aug. 29 in Portland.

The event is expected to be headlined by a main event of Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

I dont know how Maia will fair. Marquardt has been over-aggressive lately. His last fight wow. And before that he was DQed. He has a fire under his ass.

f.uck yeah, i might go watch this one.

R.I.P. Maia.

Very good fight. Big step in Maia.

And again Okami is just completely looked over...

R.I.P. Maia.

+1, finally some1 who's gonna expose Maia

And again Okami is just completely looked over...

its cos he's not exciting, its hard to market a guy who makes Grandma look like the Flash

+1, finally some1 who's gonna expose Maia



its cos he's not exciting, its hard to market a guy who makes Grandma look like the Flash
yeah but exciting or not the guy's been on a tear, a champ at the belt shouldn't be determined by excitement. This ain't the WWE ya know

Great matchmaking. I trust that Bisping will get a title shot in the UK if he overcomes Hendo but the next in line after that must be the winner of this fight.

R.I.P. Maia.

I dont think so fam, Demian Maia is for real. Nate has been on a roll recently and trains with a sick camp but his recent KO's overshadow the fact that he's actually a submission fighter with 15 wins comming by way of taps and only 6 wins by ko, he blew it against Leities, and has been choked out by Ricardo Almieda.

Maia's been on a serious roll and has a top notch ground game and trains in strikes with Wanderlei Silva.

His UFC wins of Jensen, Herman, Macdonald, Quarry, and Sonnen, isnt a murders row but its still a nice set of fighters made even more imressive that he submitted them all without being in any serious trouble. Also in grappling competition he's got wins over Fabio Negao and Yushin Okami.

Its a serious fight that I cant wait to see, Marquart has really developed as a fighter but I think Maia is on fire and I think will beat Nate

I dont think so fam, Demian Maia is for real. Nate has been on a roll recently and trains with a sick camp but his recent KO's overshadow the fact that he's actually a submission fighter with 15 wins comming by way of taps and only 6 wins by ko, he blew it against Leities, and has been choked out by Ricardo Almieda.

Maia's been on a serious roll and has a top notch ground game and trains in strikes with Wanderlei Silva.

His UFC wins of Jensen, Herman, Macdonald, Quarry, and Sonnen, isnt a murders row but its still a nice set of fighters made even more imressive that he submitted them all without being in any serious trouble. Also in grappling competition he's got wins over Fabio Negao and Yushin Okami.

Its a serious fight that I cant wait to see, Marquart has really developed as a fighter but I think Maia is on fire and I think will beat Nate

Training striking with Wanderlei Silva is NOT a positive.

I like Maia, but he simply hasnt beat top competition. Quarry, Herman, Jensen, Sonnen and Macdonald just arent great fighters.

Marquart is a step up for him. And I think it will be a competitive fight.

+1, finally some1 who's gonna expose Maia



its cos he's not exciting, its hard to market a guy who makes Grandma look like the Flash

MMA is supposed to be considered a sport.

Okami regardless of whether or not hes exciting or not deserves a shot. And not only that, a japanese champion/challenger can give the UFC some much needed publicity in Japan.

Marquardt by early stoppage!

the okami talk can stop since he's hurt again with a torn ligament in his knee, he had to pull out of UFC 98 because of it.

i hope maia wins, but he better work like hell on his takedowns because if it stays standing Nate will finish him

the okami talk can stop since he's hurt again with a torn ligament in his knee, he had to pull out of UFC 98 because of it.

i hope maia wins, but he better work like hell on his takedowns because if it stays standing Nate will finish him

wait, hold on.... what??? Source??

wait, hold on.... what??? Source??

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5180322&postcount=17

o wow, what a bummer.

I was kinda looking forward to Okami vs Miller.

Maia vs Nate should be a good one, as the winner will be right in line for a crack at the title

after the Bisping-Hendo winner of course.

Training striking with Wanderlei Silva is NOT a positive.

I like Maia, but he simply hasnt beat top competition. Quarry, Herman, Jensen, Sonnen and Macdonald just arent great fighters.

Marquart is a step up for him. And I think it will be a competitive fight.


How is training in striking with a man who has 22 ko's out of 32 wins not a positive? And who has Marquart beat?? Gouvia, martin kampmann, jeremy horn and dean lister arent top notch fighters either, and he got choked out by Ricardo Almeida and destroyed in under a round by Anderson Silva

yeah but exciting or not the guy's been on a tear, a champ at the belt shouldn't be determined by excitement. This ain't the WWE ya know

MMA is supposed to be considered a sport.

Okami regardless of whether or not hes exciting or not deserves a shot. And not only that, a japanese champion/challenger can give the UFC some much needed publicity in Japan.

i completely agree w/ both of u, but while the Fertitas and Dana r fight fans they're also businessmen. like it or not more than 90% of ppl who watch mma don't actually understand mma so u have to keep them happy otherwise ur not makin dollars

How is training in striking with a man who has 22 ko's out of 32 wins not a positive? And who has Marquart beat?? Gouvia, martin kampmann, jeremy horn and dean lister arent top notch fighters either, and he got choked out by Ricardo Almeida and destroyed in under a round by Anderson Silva

Wand's style is reckless, it works for him because he has that mentality on the feet. i don't think you can really teach that brand of aggressiveness. Maia would be wise to get more technical in his strikes, not aggressive. i'm sure Wand is teaching him the technical aspects of striking, even if he doesn't employ them himself in fights

he needs to focus on striking to setup takedowns to get it to the ground. Wand ate a ton of shots in his career, he just has some tremendous recuperative powers, its a long shot to think Maia will possess that same trait.

Wand's style is reckless, it works for him because he has that mentality on the feet. i don't think you can really teach that brand of aggressiveness. Maia would be wise to get more technical in his strikes, not aggressive. i'm sure Wand is teaching him the technical aspects of striking, even if he doesn't employ them himself in fights

he needs to focus on striking to setup takedowns to get it to the ground. Wand ate a ton of shots in his career, he just has some tremendous recuperative powers, its a long shot to think Maia will possess that same trait.

Maia wont imitate Silva imo. Wand knows how to strike but lets his emotion make him reckless in fights. Maia is smarter and with the strikes he learns from Wanderlei he can use his own intelligence to make it work for him. If you look at the Sonnen fight, his striking looks effective but he doesnt make it a shootout, he did exactly as you sed and used it to close the distance to initiate grappling. He caught Sonnen, a high caliber wrestler, with a sick judo toss and transitioned right into a triangle.

I'm not saying its a lock that he will beat Nate but i think its highly possible. although an impressive win, Gouvia was gassed by round 3 making the KO easier.

Regardless of who wins i think its a great fight in the making and can wait for the event

i'm taking maia in a good competitive fight, this is a big step up for demian but i think he can pull out a submission late.

I dont know how Maia will fair. Marquardt has been over-aggressive lately. His last fight wow. And before that he was DQed. He has a fire under his ass.DQed....news to me :spankme:

i think maia is gonna grab that rear naked choke early in rd2

I gotta go with Maia on this one. He is undefeated not because he is lucky, but because he has incredible skill. I say Maia by submission (choke)

yeah I'd like to see Maia win also.

plus Marquardt already had his shot vs Silva.