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UFC On Fox 2 Fight Card Breakdown: Demian Maia Vs. Chris Weidman

A detailed breakdown of every aspect of tonight's UFC on Fox 2 bout between Demian Maia and Chris Weidman. Nate Wilcox makes his prediction and previews the bout.

Photo by Esther Lin for <a href="http://www.mmafighting.com/photos/" target="new">MMA Fighting</a>.
Photo by Esther Lin for MMA Fighting.

Middleweights Demian Maia and Chris Weidman meet in the first fight on the Fox broadcast of tonight's UFC On Fox 2 fight card from Chicago, Illinois' United Center. Maia (15-3, 9-3 UFC) is a 34-year-old veteran who's been in the UFC since 2007 and fought for the title against Anderson Silva at UFC 112 in 2010. Weidman (7-0, 3-0 UFC) is a 27-year-old up and comer making a big jump from the UFC 139 preliminary card (streamed on Facebook) to American broadcast television.

Weidman is a short-notice replacement for Michael Bisping who moved up the card to face Chael Sonnen when Mark Munoz dropped out due to injury.

Maia is a multi-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion and also an Abu Dhabi (ADCC) submission grappling champ. He's one of the most successful pure grapplers to ever come to MMA and has managed to translate his grappling game to full-contact fighting very well.

Weidman is a decorated collegiate wrestler who trains BJJ under Matt Serra and has ADCC experience as well. Look for his wrestling to stymie Maia on the ground and force the fight to be decided on the feet. Who has the advantage there is a coin toss.

Aspect Maia Points Weidman Advantage
Range Fighting



Boxing Improving 0 Good Tie
Kickboxing Improving 0 Good Tie
Wrestling Very Good 1 Excellent Weidman
Clinch Fighting
Dirty Boxing Good 1 Solid Weidman
Thai Clinch Good 1 Ok Maia
Throws/Trips Very Good 0 Very Good Tie
Ground Fighting



Positional Control Very Good 1 Excellent Weidman
Scrambling Very Good 1 Excellent Weidman
Ground and Pound Very Good 0 Effective Tie
Submissions World Class 2 Very Good Maia
Intangibles Change of Opponent 1 Short Notice Maia
Overall No Win Situation 4/4 His Big Break Coin Toss