UFC on FOX 2 Results: 5 Things We Learned About Demian Maia

Demian Maia has seemingly lost a step.

His recent collapse at the hands of a relatively inexperienced rising star in Chris Weidman has made a lot of people wonder if the 34-year-old submission expert is on an immediate decline.

While Weidman is one of the middleweight division's most promising young talents, his skill level is nowhere near that of Maia's.  Regardless, the kid took the fight on 11-days notice.  Alarming, huh?

At this point, alongside a contender pool that's growing deeper by the year, Maia needs to reconsider his approach at 185 lbs.

Here are five important things we learned about the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Saturday night.

5. Chris Weidman Was Much Hungrier

It seemed as if Chris Weidman wanted this victory at UFC on FOX 2 more than Demian Maia.

He looked more disciplined on his feet, didn't allow Maia to do any damage on the ground and seemed more ready to capture a live television audience than his Brazilian counterpart.

Whatever it was, Maia failed to beat a 7-0 up-and-comer who hadn't really beaten anyone of significance prior to their fight.

Weidman now has this win to his name and should continue making ground on the top-tier talents in the middleweight division.

For Maia, it's everything he didn't want: a young kid defeating him on FOX and making him look like an exposed old man.

4. Top-Tier Talent Has Passed Him by

Demian Maia used to be one of the best middleweights on the planet.

That dominance led to his title bout with Anderson Silva at UFC 112, despite getting outclassed on his feet en route to a loss.

But that was almost two years ago—a time in which only Maia and Nate Marquardt truly posed a threat to Silva's championship reign.

Now things are a little different.  The talent level has seemingly left Maia to fend for himself.  Chael Sonnen, Mark Munoz, Brian Stann, the reemergence of Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva have all culminated into an extravagant weight class featuring KO artists and takedown specialists.

Maia's once dominate reign as a submission expertise has been overshadowed by the division's ability to add size, quickness and power to its pot over the past few years.

At this point, it seems as if the middleweight division is getting too diverse for Maia's one-sided Octagon presence.

3. His Standup Is Useless

Without any knockouts in his UFC career, it's easy to see how ordinary Demian Maia is on his feet.

That lack of KO power, as well as a well-rounded attack, was never more evident than in his Saturday night loss at the hands of Chris Weidman.  Weidman looked crisp, in control and more powerful, while Maia looked staggered at times and borderline suspect.

What it comes down to is the fact that Maia doesn't use his standup to win fights.  That's not how he did it in the past, and it's sort of too late in his professional career to reboot his technical system and gain some respectable striking abilities.  I mean the guy can throw punches and kicks, but nothing that's going to blow our minds.

With that said, his standup is basically useless.  He uses it to gauge his opponents from a distance and dictate how and when he's going to bring the fight to the ground.

Unfortunately for Maia, Weidman was too good on his feet and much better in the clinch than he had expected.

2. He Can No Longer Submit Guys

Demian Maia hasn't submitted an opponent in nearly three years.  That's eight fights.  Easily the longest drought of his career.

The problem with not submitting guys is the fact that Maia makes a living by doing so.  That's how he wins fights.  Since his last submission victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 95, Maia has posted a 4-4 record, including a title loss to Anderson Silva.

During that span, Maia has been somewhat successful in the takedown department.  He just hasn't been able to finish fights via submission.  I don't know if fighters are starting to figure him out or his lack of production relates to shear unluckiness, but either way, it hasn't happened.

It's frustrating—not only for fans who want to see Maia sink in an arm bar or choke, but for Maia himself, who prides himself in his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt skills.

Heading into the next year or two, if Maia doesn't start submitting opponents, his record is going to be a lot worse than 50-50.

1. His Best Days Are Behind Him

I honestly don't know what's next for Demian Maia. He's getting older, hasn't really secured an impressive victory in nearly three years and just got outclassed by a fighter with half his skill.

It seems as if Maia has never really recovered from his championship loss to Anderson Silva.  His production since then has been average at best, with his three victories coming at the demise of simple fighters like Jorge Santiago, Kendall Grove and Mario Miranda.

And with the middleweight division becoming more diverse in talent, ranging from KO artists to powerful wrestlers, Maia's Octagon arsenal seems out of date.

No longer can a fighter with just BJJ run through an entire division.  It's not going to happen.

Maia needs to reboot, secure a submission victory and hope his standup improves.

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