Demian Maia: "Roger and Jacare have all the tools to be UFC champions"

Demian Maia, 35, keeps an eye out to the panorama of Jiu-Jitsu MMA linked to high level.
In recent conversation with GRACIEMAG superstar welterweight had only praise for old acquaintances Ronaldo Jacare and Roger Gracie, who fought in times of Jiu-Jitsu.

"The Alligator is already struggling in major MMA events for almost as long as I do not have or what I speak. Roger, after a while undecided between gi and MMA, made his choice and, for me, has everything to be one of the best 84kg, and perhaps even the champion. He and the Alligator, both. Roger has less fights and not so experienced, but has all the tools in my view: it has a lot of weight to height, is strong compared to the opponents, has a wingspan that disrupts the guys, and tips and your Jiu-Jitsu is out of the ordinary. Just the distance he hit him on foot, knowing fight away and fight closely, you will barely take a beating, since most opponents will be much lower than it, "says Demian Maia, who prescribed the prescription for the Gracie who makes his octagon debut against Tim Kennedy at UFC 162 on Saturday to get his ground game flowing.

"Roger will need to always be reinforcing the practice of boxing, as I did. Hopefully he does not neglect the Jiu-Jitsu, a mistake that I made in quotes. The bid is to seek to balance the two modalities. The best way is to fix the phases of each training, and in the final fight for the sharpening quite positions in Jiu-Jitsu and adjust the submissions, which is what saves us time H. Another silly he should avoid is to get in fights too relaxed. Jiu-Jitsu is not, if we do not go there just tuned a blow, and it was. This was a feature of it in the cloth, but the UFC has to be linked since before the fight begins. If it does not falter, will munch "advises Demian, for whom the black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr can surprise even if it can not rival the takedown.

"When the fight goes down, then it will be time to fight Roger calm because there is immense superiority. And I think Jiu-Jitsu so good that in some fights he can even pull guard he will find a way to scrape or pick. Above or below whatever, for it will not be much danger, no "beats the Paulista.

To tell the truth, I would like to see Roger in 93, facing Jones in a possible situation in which it would under and finishing what Vitor tried to start ...