Demian Maia
Active 2007–present · rated in 4 editions across 2 divisions · peak overall 86.0
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Demian Maia at welterweight
Scouting report
Moving to welterweight, Demian Maia produced 22 UFC victories and a title shot between 2014 and 2018, defeating opponents including Carlos Condit, Jorge Masvidal, and Ben Askren, and challenging Tyron Woodley for the belt at UFC 214. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu system carried over from middleweight, reflected in a 90 Cardio and peak 86 BJJ rating that underpinned a division-topping grappling résumé.
Peak ratings
By edition
Maia went on a grappling run upon focusing on the welterweight division from 2014 to 2015, defeating Alexander Yakovlev, Ryan LaFlare, Neil Magny via rear-naked choke in Rio, and dominating Gunnar Nelson over three rounds at UFC 194 in Las Vegas. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guard passing, mount control, and back takes are reflected in an 97 BJJ and 84 Wrestling.
Maia extended his winning streak to seven in 2016 and 2017, submitting Matt Brown in Curitiba, choking out former interim champion Carlos Condit in round one in Vancouver, and defeating Jorge Masvidal at UFC 211 in Dallas to earn a title bout against Tyron Woodley at UFC 214. His mat control and submission dominance justify his 98 BJJ and 90 Fight IQ.
Maia suffered decision defeats to Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman before authoring three consecutive victories in 2019, submitting Lyman Good, outworking Anthony Rocco Martin, and submitting former Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren with a third-round rear-naked choke in Singapore. His submission ability and takedown persistence are reflected in an 96 BJJ and 84 Wrestling.
Demian Maia and the most predictable win in MMA
Everyone knew what Demian Maia would do: shoot a single leg, take the back and choke. For years nobody could stop it. He is the purest grappler in the dataset, and the pick is simple as long as you know what you are buying.
Maia attribute by attribute
Boxing. Basic. The boxing exists to disguise the shot, with little knockout power and upright, awkward mechanics.
Kickboxing. Essentially absent. He rarely kicked because it risked his balance and his ability to shoot.
Wrestling. Effective chain wrestling shaped for jiu-jitsu. He used half-guard pulls, single-leg dogfights and cage walking rather than a blast double.
BJJ. The top of the scale. His back takes look effortless, and the backpack position led to a steady march toward the rear-naked choke.
Strength. Remarkable squeeze. Body triangles that crush ribs also wear out anyone trying to defend the choke.
Durability. A solid chin, but poor defensive striking meant taking needless damage against Anderson Silva and Kamaru Usman.
Cardio. A liability. Grappling burns energy, and if he did not finish by round two his arms tired and his shots slowed.
Fight IQ. Elite inside his own game. He knew his limits and stuck to the plan, though there was no Plan B if it got stuffed.
The trait to take: BJJ
If the fight gets to the back, it is over. This is the most suffocating submission grappling in the pool.
The trait to skip: Boxing
His striking is a decoy. A composite carrying it will be a sitting duck in any exchange on the feet.
Demian Maia at middleweight
Scouting report
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Demian Maia built his reputation on submission grappling, converting takedowns into back control against opponents across the UFC's middleweight division. At UFC 87 in 2008 he finished Jason MacDonald by rear-naked choke, part of a run that made him the UFC's record-holder for most consecutive submission wins in a single division. His middleweight run also included a unanimous-decision win over Dan Miller at UFC 109. Maia's grappling was rated at an 85 BJJ and 80 Wrestling, contributing to an 84 Overall.
Peak ratings
Demian Maia at 185: a submission artist among strikers
Demian Maia began his run in the top promotion at middleweight, where he stacked up submissions and earned a title shot against Anderson Silva in Abu Dhabi in 2010. He lost that one on the cards over five rounds. He also beat Nate Quarry by choke on the way up. This card is that early version, a grappler with the tools to end a fight on the mat. A drafter who picks him here is buying a clear plan rather than a well-rounded fighter. The plan is simple to state, and it worked against most of the men he faced, but it needs the takedown to happen first.
Middleweight card breakdown
Boxing. Modest at 72. He uses the hands to force a shot rather than to hurt anyone.
Kickboxing. His lowest number at 66. Kicks and knees are minor parts of his game.
Wrestling. Good. His takedowns are built to hold people down once they arrive.
BJJ. The best on the card at 97. He hunts back takes and chokes with real patience.
Strength. Serviceable at 76. Enough strength to hold position once he gets there, and no more than that.
Durability. Solid. He absorbs punishment while working toward a takedown.
Cardio. Strong. He keeps a steady grappling pace in late rounds.
Fight IQ. Very good. His sequence planning is clear and he rarely wastes energy.
What you buy: BJJ at 97
The 97 in BJJ is one of the highest in the pool. If a fight reaches the ground on his terms, the card has a very high finishing chance.
What you give up: Kickboxing
Kickboxing at 66 is the weakest area. He can be hurt on the feet by anyone with range, so choose partners that can keep the fight out of striking exchanges.
Keep exploring
Closest welterweight profiles to Demian Maia, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Jake Shieldsbest bjj 92 · weakest kickboxing 64
- Michael Chiesabest bjj 88 · weakest kickboxing 68
- Jon Fitchbest cardio 92 · weakest kickboxing 68
- Sean Bradybest wrestling 93 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Welterweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Middleweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Demian Maia's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Demian Maia into your build
Demian Maia enters the pool on any spin landing on welterweight or middleweight between 2010 and 2019. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are our own, built from independent research and from how Demian Maia is regarded by the MMA community, with earlier MMA video games used only as a starting baseline for the scale. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Demian Maia's real-world abilities. See the disclaimer below. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read how we check our write-ups in our editorial standards.