UFC 91 Preview: Nate Quarry Vs. Demian Maia

This is the first installment of the Ropes, Ring and Cage UFC 91 preview, airing live on PPV this Saturday from Las Vegas, NV. Every day, RRC will provide background and analysis on one of the televised bouts. On Tuesday, RRC will preview Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks.

Nate Quarry (16-2) vs. Demian Maia (9-0) - Middleweights

>On Quarry

After his 2005 season on The Ultimate Fighter, it looked like all systems were a go for Nate “Rock” Quarry. Even though he was injured on the show, he made enough of an impression that he was asked to stay on as an assistant coach and was one of the most respected people in the house.

But while respect is great, winning is better. Quarry debuted on the TUF Finale, defeating Lodune Sincaid via 1st round TKO (strikes) in April of 2005. Two months later, he would defeat Shonie Carter, also by first round TKO (strikes).

Not one to have idle time, Quarry (seen left) again fought two months afterward and again won a match by first round TKO, this via strikes over Pete Sell. He earned a shot against then-Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin which in retrospect, he probably wasn't ready for. Franklin knocked him out at the 2:34 mark of the first round and then, the injuries hit.

The 6’0” Quarry took over a year off from the fight game to heal up injuries, including surgery to help repair a chronic back injury. He returned in September 2007 and once again defeated Sell, this time via a first-round knockout.

He wouldn’t fight against until April of 2008, getting a bizarre unanimous decision win over an unwilling-to-fight Kalib Starnes.

Nearly a forgotten memory among other welterweights like Anderson Silva, Michael Bisping, Patrick Cote, Chris Leben and the impending Denis Kang, Now 36 years old, Quarry is seeking to re-establish himself as a player in a division that sorely needs some depth and some reason for people to believe that there’s a chance Silva might have some competition in the near future.

On Maia

If you’re not familiar with the undefeated Maia, think submissions and think big submissions. In three UFC fights, he has three submission wins and all earned Submission of the Night honors. The 31-year-old (seen above) has been fighting professionally since December 2005, mainly competing in Brazil and won fights via armbar and a variety of chokes.

He has been on UFC fans’ radar since October 2007 when he made his Octagon debut, defeating Ryan Jensen via 1st round submission (rear naked choke). He followed it up in April 2008 with a 1st round triangle choke victory over Ed Herman and then, a rear naked choke third round win over Jason MacDonald in August of 2008. In case you couldn’t figure it out, the Brazilian native is a second degree black belt in BJJ.

Breakdown

Yeah, it’s a cliché but this is...wait for it…the classic striker vs. submission expert matchup. Maia’s fights have been trending longer and longer, but they all end the same way: via someone tapping due to some sort of choke.

Quarry has to keep this standing if he’s going to have a chance and I worry about his inactivity being a factor. Maia is coming off a win against a veteran in MacDonald and has momentum on his side. The only way he loses is if he gets sloppy and leaves his chin out for Quarry to connect with. Quarry is an easy guy to root for, but there are too many factors going against him here.

RRC Prediction

Maia via second round submission.

Josh Nason has written and maintained Ropes, Ring and Cage since 2007 and can be reached at [e-mail]. If you are using any content or recapping from this site, please include a link to www.ropesringandcage.com. Thank you for your support!