Demian Maia

Demian Maia, born in 1977 in Sao Paulo, is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler and fifth degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He trained in judo as a child and later took up kung fu and karate before a cousin introduced him to jiu-jitsu at nineteen, and he earned his black belt after four years and seven months while also completing a journalism degree. In the Ultimate Fighting Championship he fought at welterweight and middleweight and challenged for the middleweight title in 2010 and the welterweight title in 2017. In submission grappling he won gold medals at the ADCC World Championships, the World Jiu-Jitsu Cup and the Pan-American Championships.