BIOGRAPHY
Demian Maia's journey in the world of martial arts began at an early age. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, into a family of Brazilian and immigrant heritage, Demian grew up surrounded by a rich cultural mix. His mother was born in Brazil, the daughter of Ukrainian and Polish parents who immigrated to the country in the 20th century, driven by the devastation of wars in Europe. His father is Brazilian, with Portuguese and Native American ancestry. This diverse lineage shaped Demian's upbringing, instilling in him both resilience and a deep sense of identity.
He had his first contact with combat sports at just six years old, starting with Judo. By twelve, he was practicing Wing Chun Kung-Fu, which he continued for seven years, along with Shotokan Karate. However, it was in his late teenage years, with a vision of an MMA career, that he discovered his true passion: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His dedication was relentless, often training three times a day. In just four years and seven months, he earned his black belt—an extraordinary feat at the time in Brazil.
His commitment to the "Gentle Art" led to a decorated grappling career, with titles including ADCC champion, IBJJF World Champion, CBJJO World Cup winner, and multiple IBJJF Pan American, North American, and Brazilian Championship victories. A unique moment in his career came in 2001 when, as a brown belt, he reached the IBJJF World Championship final. An accidental head collision with his opponent resulted in both fighters being unable to continue, leading the IBJJF president to award them both gold medals—an unprecedented decision.
Alongside his Jiu-Jitsu success, Demian gradually transitioned into MMA. His first bout was in Vale-Tudo (NHB) in 1996 while still practicing Kung Fu. By 2001, as a BJJ brown belt and world champion, he faced an opponent 45kg (100lb) heavier in a Venezuelan Vale-Tudo fight. Over the next few years, he amassed an impressive record, including winning three fights in one night to claim the Super Challenge Championship title in 2006. His dominance earned him an invitation to the UFC in 2007, the world's premier MMA organization. His first twelve professional MMA fights—including five in the UFC—were all victories, with five consecutive UFC wins coming by submission. This streak earned him four "Submission of the Night" bonuses and the prestigious "Breakthrough Fighter of the Year" award from the World MMA Awards in 2008.
From 2007 to 2012, Demian competed as a Middleweight (185lb), even challenging the legendary Anderson Silva for the UFC title in 2010. In 2012, he moved down to the Welterweight (170lb) division, making an immediate impact with three consecutive wins. Despite two decision losses in 2013-2014, he rebounded with an incredible seven-fight win streak, becoming the all-time UFC leader in wins among Brazilian fighters. One of his career highlights was a victory at UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil, in front of 45,000 fans. This success earned him a title shot in 2017, but with only four weeks to prepare, he lost a hard-fought decision.
In 2019, he faced Olympic wrestler Ben Askren in UFC Singapore—a fight many considered the ultimate test of the best grappler in MMA. In the third round, Demian secured a submission using his signature "Maia-Leão" technique (a variation of the traditional “Mata-Leão”), earning yet another "Submission of the Year" award. His final UFC bout came in 2021 against Belal Muhammad, a future UFC champion. Although he won one round, he ultimately lost by decision. Demian retired from MMA with numerous records, including most UFC wins by a Brazilian, second-most wins in UFC history, most consecutive submission wins (five), and second-most submissions in the UFC history. He spent over 14 years competing at the highest level inside the Octagon, remaining a top-ten fighter in two divisions while standing among MMA's all-time greats.
Outside the cage, Demian has continued to shape the martial arts world. Holding a journalism degree from Faculdade Cásper Líbero, he began teaching BJJ in 2001, founding Demian Maia Jiu-Jitsu Brasileiro (DMJJB). Today, his mission is to expand DMJJB globally, believing that Jiu-Jitsu can positively transform lives. With over two decades of elite competition experience, he develops specialized training programs at his academy in São Paulo, refining techniques that he shares worldwide through his Affiliation, Seminars, and the Demian Maia Experiences (DMEx).
Beyond martial arts, Demian delivers keynote speeches to companies across industries in Brazil and serves as a commentator and host for UFC Brazil. He lives with his wife, Renata, and their children, Pietra and Lorenzo, continuing to inspire and educate future generations in the art that has defined his life.
FIGHTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
MMA Record (29-11)
LOSS Belal Muhammad - UFC 263 - Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 (Jun/12/2021) Decision
LOSS Gilbert Burns - UFC Fight Night 170 - Lee vs. Oliveira (Mar/14/2020) TKO
WIN Ben Askren - UFC Fight Night 162 - Maia vs. Askren (Oct/26/2019) Submission
WIN Anthony Martin - UFC on ESPN 3 - Ngannou vs. Dos Santos (Jun/29/2019) Decision
WIN Lyman Good - UFC Fight Night 144 - Assuncao vs. Moraes 2 (Feb/02/2019) Submission
LOSS Kamaru Usman - UFC Fight Night 129 - Maia vs. Usman (May /19/2018) Decision
LOSS Colby Covington - UFC Fight Night 119 - Brunson vs. Machida (Oct/28/2017) Decision
LOSS Tyron Woodley - UFC 214 - Cormier vs. Jones 2 (Jul/29/2017) Decision
WIN Jorge Masvidal - UFC 211 - Miocic vs. Dos Santos 2 (May/13/2017) Decision
WIN Carlos Condit - UFC on Fox 21 - Maia vs. Condit (Aug/ 27/ 2016) Submission
WIN Matt Brown - UFC 198 - Werdum vs. Miocic (May/14/2016) Submission
WIN Gunnar Nelson - UFC 194 - Aldo vs. McGregor (Dec/12/2015) Decision
WIN Neil Magny - UFC 190 - Rousey vs. Correia (Aug/01/2015) Submission
WIN Ryan LaFlare - UFC Fight Night 62 - Maia vs. LaFlare (Mar/21/2015) Decision
WIN Alexander Yakovlev - UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale (May/31/2014) Decision
LOSS Rory MacDonald - UFC 170 - Rousey vs. McMann (Feb/22/2014) Decision
LOSS Jake Shields - UFC Fight Night 29 - Maia vs. Shields (Oct/09/2013) Decision
WIN Jon Fitch - UFC 156 - Aldo vs. Edgar (Feb/02/2013) Decision
WIN Rick Story - UFC 153 - Silva vs. Bonnar (Oct/13/2012) Submission
WIN Dong Hyun Kim - UFC 148 - Silva vs. Sonnen 2 (Jul/07/2012) TKO
LOSS Chris Weidman - UFC on Fox 2 - Evans vs. Davis (Jan/28/2012) Decision
WIN Jorge Santiago - UFC 136 - Edgar vs. Maynard 3 (Oct/08/2011) Decision
LOSS Mark Munoz - UFC 131 - Dos Santos vs. Carwin (Jun/11/2011) Decision
WIN Kendall Grove - UFC - The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale (Dec/04/2010) Decision
WIN Mario Miranda - UFC 118 - Edgar vs. Penn 2 (Aug/28/2010) Decision
LOSS Anderson Silva - UFC 112 - Invincible (Apr/10/2010) Decision
WIN Dan Miller - UFC 109 - Relentless (Feb/06/2010) Decision
LOSS Nate Marquardt - UFC 102 - Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug/29/2009) KO
WIN Chael Sonnen - UFC 95 - Sanchez vs. Stevenson (Feb/21/2009) Submission
WIN Nate Quarry - UFC 91 - Couture vs. Lesnar (Nov/15/2008) Submission
WIN Jason MacDonald - UFC 87 - Seek and Destroy (Aug/09/2008) Submission
WIN Ed Herman - UFC 83 - Serra vs. St. Pierre 2 (Apr/19/2008) Submission
WIN Ryan Jensen - UFC 77 - Hostile Territory (Oct/20/2007) Submission
WIN Ryan Stout - GFC - Evolution (May/19/2007) TKO
WIN Fabio Nascimento - Super Challenge 1 (Oct/07/2006) Submission
WIN Gustavo Machado - Super Challenge 1 (Oct/07/2006) Decision
WIN Vitelmo Kubis Bandeira - Super Challenge 1 (Oct /07/2006) Submission
WIN Lukasz Chlewicki - The Cage Vol. 4 - Redemption (Dec/03/2005) Submission
WIN Raul Sosa - Tormenta en el Ring (Sep/21/2001) TKO
WIN unkown opponent - Campeonato Contato Total Portugues (1996) TKO
BJJ TITLES
ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships
2007 ADCC Champion (under 87 kg)
2005 ADCC 2nd place (under 87 kg)
IBJJF World Championships
2001 Brown Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
2000 Purple Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
1999 Blue Belt 2nd Place (Medio)
CBJJO Copa Do Mundo
2005 Black Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
2003 Black Belt Champion (Absoluto)
2003 Black Belt 3rd Place (Meio Pesado)
2002 Black Belt Champion (Meio Pesado)
2002 Black Belt 2nd Place (Absoluto)
IBJJF Panamericano Championships
2006 Black Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
2005 Black Belt 2nd place (Meio-Pesado)
CBJJ Brazilian Championships
2006 Black Belt 2nd Place (Absoluto)
2006 Black Belt 3rd Place (Meio-Pesado)
2002 Brown Belt 3rd Place (Meio-Pesado)
2001 Brown Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
2001 Brown Belt 3rd Place (Absoluto)
CBJJ Brazilian Team Championships
2003 Brown/Black Champion (Pesado/master team)
2002 Brown/Black 2nd Place (Pesado/Alliance team)
2001 Brown/Black Champion (Pesado/Alliance team)
2000 Purple Belt Champion (Pesado/Alliance team)
North American Championships
2005 Black Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
2005 Black Belt Champion (Absoluto)
State Championships
Circuito Paulista Open 1999 Blue Belt Champion (Medio)
2000 Purple Belt Champion
2001 Brown Belt Champion
2002 Black Belt Champion
2003 Black Belt Champion
2004 Black Belt Champion
2006 Black Belt Champion
Copa Alliance Championships
2002 Copa Alliance Sao Paulo Black Belt Gi Champion (+80kg)
2002 Copa Alliance Sao Paulo Black Belt No-Gi Champion (+80kg)
2000 10th Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt Champion (Meio-Pesado)
2000 10th Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt Champion (Absoluto)
1999 8th Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Tournament Blue Belt Champion (Medio)
1998 7th Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Tournament Blue Belt Champion (Medio)
BJJ SPECIAL FIGHTS
WIN Spyder championship NOGI (12/fev/2023) vs.
WIN Polaris NOGI (25/jun/2022) vs. Ben Henderson
WIN BJJ Stars NOGI (30/apr/2022) vs. Alex “Cowboy” Pereira
WIN Desafio GI (jan/2007) vs. Delson Heleno)
WIN 1st Desafio Bandsports GI
WIN 1o Desafio Black Belt black belt GI (vs. Erik Wanderlei)
OTHER TITLES
2007 Naga Miami Champion (Absoluto)
2002 1st Copa Paulinia Cup Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Champion (Absoluto)
2001 Copa Núcleo Brown Belt Champion (Absoluto)
1999 Copa Fla-Company Blue Belt Champion (Pesadíssimo)
1990 Copa Kung-Fu Garra de Águia Champion (kids)