The problem with Maia vs Lawler is...

[The_Renaissance]

The problem is Maia is almost 40 and has only a hardcore following who love BJJ. That doesn't equal a marketable champion, and that's the bottom line sometimes for Zuffa.

Lawler would do very bad things to Demian. We've seen what Maia looks like when he's forced to stand, it's a rabbit in the headlights.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Maia gets his hands on Robbie against the cage; absorbing a few big shots in the process. Lawler successfully sprawls and defends the take down. Maia climbs Lawlers back and wraps him up. Lawler staggers around for 60 seconds before tiring and going down. Lawler defends defends for another 60 seconds. Lawler gets frustrated and tries to get free. Maia sink the choke in. New champ.

 

[DaveHilly]

Maia doesn't shoot that much any more. A lot of his takedowns are sweeps. Not sure that matters but it means that a sprawl won't help.

 

[OliverAtom]

Maia might die in this fight. Horrible stand up. He won't get Robbie down.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

 

[James Baller]

You don't need sprawl to avoid Maia's TD. Maia takes guys down from the clinch and with sing legs.

And Maia is very crafty at utilizing drags and trips.

I wouldn't be so sure Lawler would be able to avoid Maia's ground game. That's why this would be a good fight. A part of me thinks Lawler catches Maia at some point. But what if he doesn't? Suppose Maia drags his ass down, and we see Lawler on the wrong end of the ground.

 

[SuperNerd]

"I don't like.. he's not this.. "

Then complain when this isn't taken seriously like a sport.

Maia deserves it or not. Most of this conversation is nonsense to me. Implying Maia doesn't deserve a title shot because Lawler has a sprawl is silly.

 

[James Baller]

Let Maia bang bro

 

[Air Lats]

I really like this fight. I have to pick Lawler, though.

I think Lawler is substantially stronger than Matt Brown, his cardio is better and he's just more explosive and slippery on the mat. I know he's been subbed but I just think he's on another level of athleticism right now. I can see him shucking Maia off, if Maia even can get ahold of him, and demoralizing and finishing him in a stand up massacre.

Don't get me wrong, I love Maia. Dude has a unique style, heart for days and is more than classy outside the cage. He's effective as hell.

I would never say he couldn't win. If Lawler shows up less strong, injured at all, slightly out of his normal shape, he's likely fucked.

 

[politozx7r]

The sprawl of Robbie. Not only will Robbie defend Maia's takedowns, but he will refuse to be pulled into guard, where Maia will look to hit his awesome sweeps. Then he will get tired and knocked out

This is coming from a giant Maia fan, moreso than Robbie, but I think Robbie is an awful matchup. The Robbie whom was choked out in Strikeforce is long gone. This one has been sprawling with Hendricks, Koscheck, and Macdonald

Love Maia too and I know he will lose but you know what he deserves the shot win lose or draw, I hope he gets it.
I have a strong feeling he will not get the shot. I feel they (the UFC) will give the shot to wonderboy or Rory again. If wonderboy gets through Rory you can't argue that but if Rory wins you can argue that he faced Robbie and lost.

However what if lawler losses and Rory wins ?? How can you deny him.

Maia is awesome, good fight and great guy but will be tough for him to get the title fight in a stacked division and with the UFC mentality of just bleed lol

 

[samoajoe]

Maia takes high level wrestlers to the mat, Robbie would have to bring his A+ game to stop Maia.

Once on the ground Maia would likely make quick work of Robbie.

 

[Woliwo]

Matt Brown took Lawler down. Condit took Lawler down. Briefly, but still got him.

The biggest problem for Maia would be the cardio of Lawler. He can go 5 rounds no problem.

Totally agree.
Maia's lack of cardio is his biggest enemy.
The fifth round is there Lawler shines the most, and would be a nightmare for Maia.

 

[VAfan]

that's pretty much just an unknown until we see it. robbie's sprawl is very good but maia's TDs are close to automatic since he moved to WW. it's one of the fights i most want to see right now.

 

[CroCopsLHK]

I guess the next question now is: what's next for Maia?

The problem with him goes back to my last question: who was the last title contender he beat and how long ago? Sure maybe he could step in for an injured twood or wonderboy, like he stepped in to fight anderson.

But does he wait several months for a title shot (assuming they give him one) or fight a "top 5" opponent first?

 

[fortheo]

I agree, not to mention that Maia is generally smaller than Lawler too. I think Maia will fall in the second round.

What? Maia is a big man at 170lbs. He'll have the height advantage, too, which is paramount in the clinch.

 

[ArtemV]

What? Maia is a big man at 170lbs. He'll have the height advantage, too, which is paramount in the clinch.

Sorry, I meant by build. Lawler is more shaped (unsure if this is a good word to use), and I can imagine he would bully Maia around.

 

[fortheo]

Sorry, I meant by build. Lawler is more shaped (unsure if this is a good word to use), and I can imagine he would bully Maia around.

I disagree. Lawler does have a better beach body, though, but that means shit.

The problem is Maia is almost 40 and has only a hardcore following who love BJJ. That doesn't equal a marketable champion, and that's the bottom line sometimes for Zuffa.

Lawler would do very bad things to Demian. We've seen what Maia looks like when he's forced to stand, it's a rabbit in the headlights.

We've seen what Lawler is like when he's forced to grapple....

 

[dragovic]

Maia would probably get him down during the course of a 5 round fight, for sure, definitely. If Robbie sprawls the shot then Maia could probably turn that into a sweep somehow (i know some BJJ but i don't know Maia BJJ lol), and if he can't do that he will clinch against the cage and get the TD from there. Scary fight for Robbie.

 

[fortheo]

I guess the next question now is: what's next for Maia?

The problem with him goes back to my last question: who was the last title contender he beat and how long ago? Sure maybe he could step in for an injured twood or wonderboy, like he stepped in to fight anderson.

But does he wait several months for a title shot (assuming they give him one) or fight a "top 5" opponent first?

How is that a problem? Do you mean he might not get a title shot because of that?

the thread isn't about that; it's just talking about a hypothetical Maia vs. Lawler matchup.


Here's the ufcs top 15 with maia's victories circled. IF that's not enough elite wins for you, then damn you're strict.

 

[Mma Adiction]

Matt Brown took Lawler down. Condit took Lawler down. Briefly, but still got him.

The biggest problem for Maia would be the cardio of Lawler. He can go 5 rounds no problem.

I believe condit and brown TD were More of a surprise. I dont see Maia taking robbie down. Also both condit and brown are willing yo exchange in order yo close distance. Maia doesnt like getting punch as much