UFC 131: Damian Maia Vs Mark Munoz – BREAKDOWN
By Siri Karri
In this feature, Ringside Report continues its analysis on the 2nd fight of the card where the lithe Jiu-Jitsu ace Damian Maia takes on Mark “Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz in a battle for contender status at 185 lbs.
What Damien Maia brings to the table
I genuinely believe that Damian Maia is the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in the UFC’s middleweight division, if not across all the divisions. There are many talented ground specialists in the UFC; virtually every fighter who earns his due knows how to submit his opponent on the ground. Maia, however, is in a class of his own.
Maia is part of a special creed of BJJ specialists who are so dangerous that people who to the ground with them are guaranteed to get submitted. He is among BJJ gods such as Royce Gracie and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira whose mesmerizing submissions have become something of legend. He easily submitted his first 5 opponents in the UFC which included BJJ specialist Jason MacDonald, hard-hitting Nate Quarry, and the only legitimate threat to Anderson Silva . . . Chael Sonnen. The man has little muscle or fat to speak of, literally the Nicole Richie of 185. His BJJ is all technique, slippery baits and transitions that are so fast and smooth that his opponents often seem surprised when they are being choked out.
Maia has also improved his striking by leaps and bounds. He is by no means a knockout artist, but he’s improved it to the point where he can paw with jabs and straights to back an opponent up until he lands his takedown. He showed this against lengthy striking specialist Kendall Grove, whom he kept at bay with strikes until swarming all over him on the ground. There are some obvious flaws in his footwork and technique, but beating Damien Maia on the feet is no longer a given.
His UFC record stands at an impressive 8-2, his only losses coming from a lucky flash knockout at the hands of Nate Marquardt and a drubbing at the hands of Pound 4 Pound King Anderson Silva.
That’s nothing to be ashamed of.
What Mark Munoz brings to the table
Mark Munoz is similar to Damien Maia in that he has a superb grappling game supplemented by rapidly improving striking.
That’s where the similarities end.
While Damian Maia specializes in BJJ, Mark Munoz specializes in good ol’ American wrestling, winning a national championship in 2001 for Oklahoma State University. After his UFC debut in which Matt Hamill knocked him out with a head kick, he has gone 5-1 with a “Fight of the Night” performance against former Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove. Since he’s dropped down to middleweight, his thick tank-like physique has aided him well as he is one of the physically strongest men at 185 which aids him in taking down foes and keeping them there while unleashing his horrific ground and pound.
Just like Maia, Munoz has improved his striking to where he can rely on it until he can take an opponent down. UNLIKE Maia however, his stand up relies less on technique and more on power, as evidenced by his recent knockout of C.B. Dollaway. Against Yushin Okami and Aaron Simpson, he was willing to utilize his stand up when his wrestling didn’t work and ended up losing a close decision to top 5 middleweight Okami and beating Simpson handily.
X-Factor
Maia and Munoz have never fought opponents like each other. While Munoz has fought submission specialists, he has never had to fight someone who absolutely rules the ground. Maia has fought wrestlers on the level of Chael Sonnen (best wrestler in the division), but has never fought someone with ground-and-pound as ferocious as Munoz. It’s worth remembering that Munoz was being BADLY choked out by Kendall Grove before he shook him off and viciously TKO’d him with his ground and pound.
Prediction
While Munoz has the tools to do damage to Maia, I don’t think he has the tools to finish him. He doesn’t have the hand speed to catch Maia like Anderson Silva and Nate Marquardt does, and Maia his smart enough to avoid Munoz’s wrecking ball of a hook. There’s only so long that Munoz can keep the fight on its feet before he either gets taken down or takes Maia down. Unlike Kendall Grove however, Maia won’t let go so easily.
Maia by 3rd. round Submission