By Eduardo Ferreira

Photo by Josh Hedges

One week before UFC 117, which happens on August 7 in Oakland, in California, all the lights are turned to the card which has five Brazilians. Between one training session and another, Demian Maia talked to TATAME and analyzed the confrontation between the champion Anderson Silva, who beat him on UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, and Chael Sonnen, who has been submitted by Demian with a triangle. Demian guaranteed that Sonnen has chances and revealed he cheers for the American. “He has chances of winning, the fight will be easier for Anderson, but he can beat him. If I had to chose, I’d cheer for Sonnen, making an exception because I always want the Brazilians to win, but this time I have to be at Sonnen’s side, because I don’t admire the other one”, explained the black belt.

On the same night, Junior Cigano will get into action against Roy Nelson. Demian has been training along with Cigano and guarantees the Brazilian’s ground game could make it hard for anyone on grappling competitions. “Cigano will be UFC’s next champion. On this fight he can knock him out or submit him, wherever the fight takes place he has chances of winning. Cigano would be a hard one if he competed Jiu-Jitsu or Submission. I brought him to Xande (Ribeiro) to train him with the kimono and the guys were surprised with his ground game. He’s very talented. He priories his boxing, but he trains a lot of Jiu-Jitsu too. And if you train Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, you are already good”, concluded.