(ADCC champion Demian Maia)
Former UFC middleweight title challenger Demian Maia has announced that he willdrop down to the 170-pound division. The grappling ace made the news of hismove to welterweight known through his Twitter page.
Maia made his UFC debut in 2007. He quickly earned a spot in the top of themiddleweight division with five-straight victories. During the streak, hesubmitted Chael Sonnen, Nate Quarry and Ed Herman. At UFC 112, he challengedAnderson Silva for the middleweight belt, but Maia was unable to corral thechampion and dropped a five-round decision.
Before ever fighting in the UFC, Maia made his mark in combat sports. He iswidely considered one of the best submission grapplers on the planet. Over thecourse of his career, he has won the ADCC Submission Wrestling WorldChampionships, the Pan American Championships, the CBJJ World Championships andthe Jiu Jitsu World Cup.
The welterweight division is currently ruled by two kings. Champion Georges St.Pierre is out of action with an injury. During his time away from action formerWEC champion Carlos Condit defeated former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz foran interim version of the belt.
