Demian Maia Wants GSP or the Diaz Brothers for One More Big Grappling Match

At 48 years old, Demian Maia isn’t necessarily looking for just another match.

At this point in his career, it has to mean something.

The former UFC title challenger and ADCC champion hasn’t competed in MMA since losing a decision to Belal Muhammad in 2021. Since then, Maia has remained busy. He runs his jiu-jitsu academy in São Paulo, teaches seminars around the world, works as a UFC commentator and continues coaching fighters including Ian Machado Garry and Charles Oliveira.

But apparently, the competitor in Maia hasn’t completely disappeared.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Maia revealed that he continues to receive offers from grappling promotions. The problem isn’t finding someone willing to book him.

It’s finding the right opponent.

And Maia already has a few names in mind.

GSP or the Diaz Brothers?

According to Maia, potential matches against Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz or Nate Diaz would immediately get his attention.

And really, it’s not difficult to understand why.

All three bring something beyond simply being recognizable former UFC stars. Each has a legitimate connection to jiu-jitsu and grappling.

The Diaz brothers have been black belts under Cesar Gracie for years and have built much of their fighting identities around their willingness to engage on the ground.

Then there’s GSP.

St-Pierre has continued training since retiring from MMA and has spent years working with John Danaher and some of the best grapplers in the world.

For Maia, the combination of skill and name recognition makes those matches particularly interesting.

“A really fun match would be against Nate or Nick Diaz,” Maia told MMA Fighting, pointing to both their jiu-jitsu ability and the audience either brother would bring.

As for St-Pierre?

Maia called the former UFC champion an incredibly tough competitor and outstanding jiu-jitsu practitioner.

The interesting part is that we’ve almost seen that match before.

Maia and St-Pierre were scheduled to meet in a grappling match at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 in 2023 before the matchup ultimately fell apart.

Three years later, Maia apparently hasn’t lost interest.

The Arman Tsarukyan Match That Almost Happened

Perhaps the most interesting revelation from Maia’s interview was another match that came surprisingly close to happening.

Maia said he was approached about facing UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at a Hype FC event in Rio de Janeiro this past March.

There was one problem.

Maia was outside the country teaching seminars and was given less than a week to prepare.

He declined.

Tsarukyan eventually faced Muhammad Mokaev instead and won by submission.

Maia didn’t dismiss the possibility of facing Tsarukyan in the future, but he made one thing pretty clear.

The money would have to be right.

“He’s seriously impressive, his grappling is top-notch,” Maia said. “It would’ve had to be for a lot of money because that guy is tough as hell.”

Fair enough.

Could Maia Actually Fight in the UFC Again?

Here’s where the story gets even more interesting.

Maia also admitted that he hasn’t completely closed the door on one final MMA fight.

His last UFC appearance against Belal Muhammad was never supposed to be his retirement fight. Maia had hoped to compete one more time and properly close the book on a UFC career that included 33 fights, 22 victories and 11 submissions.

That opportunity never came.

Maia admits that another UFC appearance is unlikely, but if the promotion called with the right opponent and the right location, he would at least consider it.

Rio de Janeiro and Las Vegas were two possibilities he specifically mentioned.

At 48 years old and more than five years removed from his last MMA fight, another UFC appearance certainly feels like the less likely scenario.

A grappling match?

That’s a different story.

Maia has already competed three times since leaving the UFC, earning submission victories over Alex Oliveira and Sang Wook Kim while also defeating Benson Henderson by decision.

And apparently, the offers haven’t stopped coming.

One More Big Match?

At this stage, Demian Maia doesn’t have much left to prove.

He’s an ADCC champion. A UFC title challenger. One of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu practitioners to ever successfully transition into MMA.

Maybe that’s exactly what makes these potential matches interesting.

Maia doesn’t need to work his way through the rankings.

He doesn’t need another championship.

He just needs the right opponent.

Georges St-Pierre?

Nick Diaz?

Nate Diaz?

There are worse ways to spend one more night on the mats.