Demian Maia does not rule out retirement after duel against Belal Muhammad at UFC 263

D. Maia (photo) faces Belal Muhammad | No. UFC 263. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @demianmaia

Close to completing 20 years of career, Demian Maia may be close to retiring from professional MMA. The welterweight division athlete (up to 77,1kg) is going to the last fight of his contract with Ultimate in the duel against Belal Muhammad | No. UFC 263 and doesn't rule out hanging up his gloves after the fight. The statement was given in an interview with 'Combate'.

See too

Seeking rehabilitation in the UFC, Marreta tells how he plans to defeat Johnny Walker in September

Even with a fight scheduled, Belfort says he can beat Logan and Jake Paul: 'I'll finish them quickly'

Dana blasts Borrachinha for complaining about the scholarship offered by Ultimate: 'Are you mad after the horrible fight you had?'

Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul earn more than R$600 million in boxing fight

“I'm actually trying to abstract as much as possible so I don't carry this into the fight and eventually get upset. But I coldly have two plans in my head: one is to fight this fight, that's the main thing, and I may or may not retire after that. But if I do well, if I feel good especially, I would like to have one last retirement fight. If not this one, it will be the next one. It won’t be much more than that”, declared Maia.

Asked if the result of the fight could change his mind, the fighter from São Paulo declared that his level of performance will be more important when evaluating whether or not his career will continue.

“I think it’s more the level of performance than the result. Of course, 'a victory is a victory', but let's say it's a 'pussy' victory, that I don't feel good, maybe it will influence me not to fight anymore. Even if it was a defeat, it was a struggle, they both overcame each other and I felt really good, with a good performance, I might want to do one more. More important than the result will be the performance”, said Demian.

If he chooses to retire, the fighter from São Paulo declared that he does not intend to sign for another MMA event but that he is interested in returning to compete in jiu-jitsu.

“Actually, what I would like to do is fight in some jiu-jitsu event, with or without the gi. My sponsor, they hold the biggest grappling events, would interest me. MMA, I don't think so. I spent most of my competitive life here in the UFC', concluded the fighter.

With a record of 28 wins and 10 losses, Demian is considered one of the biggest names in UFC history. The Brazilian fighter has already challenged for the Ultimate belt on two occasions. In 2010, Maia was defeated by Anderson Silva in the duel that won the middleweight title (under 83,9kg). Seven years later, the 43-year-old fighter lost the welterweight title fight to Tyron woodley.

Mike Tyson fires back at criticism about age and sends a message to Jake Paul: 'I like…'