UFC 131 – Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz Prediction

DEMIAN MAIA vs. MARK MUNOZ

Fight Overview:  In a very compelling Middleweight matchup, jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia will try to topple bruising wrestler Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz.  Maia is the best grappler in the world at 185 pounds, but he is going to have his hands full trying to survive Munoz’s boxing and getting this fight to the ground.

Maia’s Strengths:  Maia has decent technical boxing, but his main attribute is definitely his Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is arguably the best in the world at any weight.

Maia’s Weaknesses:  He lacks the kind of wrestling he needs to effectively set up his ground game and his offense is extremely one-dimensional.

Munoz’s Strengths:  Munoz has very good boxing with a lot of punching power.  He is also very good at neutralizing opponents in the clinch, and he has very good wrestling and takedown defense.

Munoz’s Weaknesses:  He depends on his wrestling a lot, and taking Maia down would be a recipe for disaster.

The Verdict:  This is as tough a style matchup as Maia is likely to face.  He is not going to have an answer for Munoz’s boxing and he is going to have a really difficult time forcing this fight to the ground.  I think Munoz’s superior size, strength, and wrestling are going to give Maia fits, and as Maia struggles to get Munoz down and fails he will wear out, and eventually Munoz will put him away.  Munoz by T/KO.