Demian Maia floats possible retirement fight against Diego Sanchez

MINNEAPOLIS – Despite not taking home a submission victory over Anthony Rocco Martin, Demian Maia was in good spirits as he picked up another octagon win.

With one fight remaining on his contract, Maia is undecided on whether he’ll continue to compete. But he has an idea for a possible curtain call.

“Maybe (his next fight) will be the last one – I hope to do that in Sao Paulo in November,” Maia said on the post-fight show on ESPN. “Diego Sanchez is asking to fight, so it would be a good fight, two veterans.”

It’s not the first time Maia has entertained the idea. He’s previously said Sanchez broached the possibility prior to his loss to current champ Kamaru Usman in May 2018.

As for what happens next, Maia isn’t sure.

“After that, maybe I do a couple more,” he said. “But for sure, this year or next year, I’ll stop and retire.”

At 41, Maia is putting in a good word for the veterans every time he steps into the octagon, which he’s done 30 times now.

And with another win, Maia has eclipsed ex-champs Michael Bisping and Georges St-Pierre for the No. 2 spot in all-time wins with 21. Only Donald Cerrone has more with 23.

“I feel pretty well, and I feel that in training,” Maia said. “That’s why I keep going, because I love what I do. If I start to feel my body, then I will stop. Because I feel so well, I keep going. But I have other projects that I want to do, and that’s the only thing that makes me think about stopping. It’s more about the other things I want to do.”

Maia has now won two straight since a three-fight skid that had him contemplating retirement for the first time. Sanchez also has won back-to-back fights after a second-round stoppage of Mickey Gall in March at UFC 235.

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