After confirmation of fight, Durinho lavishes respect on Demian Maia: 'I will honor the opportunity'

G. Durinho (photo) in victory in the UFC Fort Lauderdale. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter gilbertdurinho

The welterweight (up to 77kg.) Gilbert Durinho I couldn't be happier with the confirmation of your next appointment. The athlete was confirmed as an opponent for Demian Maia in the co-main event of UFC Brasilia, which takes place on March 14, and guaranteed a respectful attitude when dealing with the challenge of facing a legend of the sport. In an interview with 'Combate', the Niteroi native spoke about the joy of exchanging forces against the São Paulo native.

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“I think it’s an important fight, very difficult. Anyone who doesn’t respect Demian is very stupid, and I respect and admire him a lot”, said Durinho.

Although he recognizes his compatriot's achievements within the sport, Gilbert sees that a positive result is essential to continue his climb towards the top of the category. Against Maia, who is currently sixth in the rankings, the Niteroi native may be able to reach the division's elite once and for all.

“A victory against him would make me grow a lot in the category, it would put me in the top 6. Everyone sees me as a fighter, and, in my mind, Demian is a lion, but he doesn't have that old lion attitude. Leo is lion. I have all the respect for Demian, I will honor this opportunity that he and his team are giving me, and I will work hard. I'm confident of victory, but the work is already being done. I'm not there by chance and I want to show that I reached the category”, said the fighter.

In addition to confirming the challenge against his compatriot, the fight in UFC Brasilia There's another motivating factor for Gilbert. According to the Brazilian, the opportunity to act in the first quarter of the year opens up opportunities for him to carry out more fights throughout 2020.

“Fighting at the beginning of the year is great. I always try to do this, but I don't always succeed. I just renewed my contract with the UFC, I have five fights under my contract and I want to do as many fights as I can this year. If the fights go in my favor, if I have good victories, I can qualify for the belt, but the objective is to always be as active as possible”, he concluded.