Is a Demian Maia title shot inevitable?

With numerous top ranked welterweight contenders, is a Demian Maia title shot inevitable? the ranked welterweight has been on a tear of the UFC’s welterweight division over the course of the past two years as he has put together a 6-fight win streak. Following back to back decision losses, Maia bounced back just three months later as he picked up a decision win over Alexander Yakovlev in May of 2014. Following that, Maia picked up three straight wins in 2015, including a submission win over Neil Magny and a unanimous decision win over Gunnar Nelson at UFC 194. Maia carried the momentum into 2016, where he picked up back to back rear-naked choke wins over Matt Brown & Carlos Condit to cement his place at the top of the welterweight division.

With Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson currently set to fight Tyron Woodley at UFC 209 on March 4th, Maia believes that after that fight takes place, there is no one who can match his claim to a welterweight title shot.

He spoke to MMAFighting:

“You cannot be certain about nothing in life, of course, but I don’t see nobody that can be there besides me. I don’t see nobody. The welterweight division, I don’t see nobody that can build something, can keep winning in this three weeks and can be the next contender. There’s not too much besides me.”

“Three more weeks for the fight (between Woodley and Thomspon), it’s pretty close. I want to wait, no matter what,” Maia said. “It’s hard to wait. Like, for me its much better to be active, to be fighting, because I’m an athlete and its always good to be active, but I know there’s a risk.”

“I built my path here, I think I gotta be patient. With all my team, I will wait this three-and-a-half weeks that last for the fight.”

on 2/10/2017.