December 3rd 2010

We stopped in on UFC middleweight Demian Maia to get a few words about the fight with Kendall Grove which headlines tomorrow night’s TUF 12 finale.

On hearing that Grove requested Maia as an opponent:

“I didn’t know that he asked for this fight! This is the first time I have heard that. But I think its normal [to ask for certain opponents] if you think a guy is a good fight for you.

On whether Grove will be afraid of the ground in this fight:

With him, he doesn’t care, he will fight in any place. If it goes to the ground he will be OK, he will not be desperate to stand up or anything I don’t think.

On particular difficulties that Grove presents:

He is a very specific opponent because he is so tall. He is the tallest guy in my weight division. So it’s a different kind of approach. He is very complete, he is good at everything. He can stand and go to the ground - although everyone that I have fought lately has been like that, so its nothing different apart from his height.

On improving his stand-up and whether he sees himself ever enjoying the stand-up side as much as the jiu jitsu:

Stand-up for me is something I am always going to use to take the fight to the ground but you never know, one day I may knock somebody out.