Sergio Moraes was victorious over Zak Ottow at UFC Fight Night 100. The surging Moraes is now calling out Demian Maia to see who is the best grappler in the UFC.
“I have Demian as an example,” Moraes said to MMA Junkie. “A lot of people say I call him out. I don’t call him out. I say Demian is right up there and, for me, he could be fighting for the belt already. But it’s a matchup that if I continue winning, fans will want to know who’s the best ground (fighter) in the division. We’re from two different times in jiu-jitsu. Demian is an Abu Dhabi champion and I’m a three-time world champion and the fans will want to know that.”
Kamaru Usman recently called out Demian Maia for the same reason. Moraes said he was going to fight Usman in the past, but Usman pulled out of their fight with an injury.
“Kamaru Usman and I already had a fight scheduled and I wasn’t the one who had to drop out, he did because of an injury. The same with Peter Sobotta, and he was the one who had to withdraw with injury. I think it’s unfair that they fight ahead of me, that they ask for an opponent ahead of me,” said Moraes.
Moraes also says that a lot of fighters in the UFC are labeling themselves as the “best,” but he actually wants to step in the octagon to prove it.
“I think the UFC is becoming kind of a circus with a lot of fighters saying ‘I’m the best,’” Moraes said. “You’re not, it’s not how it goes, you need to prove yourself in there. A bunch of people say ‘I have the best ground game.’ They don’t. I have three world titles in jiu-jitsu. Which other grappler has a better history than I do in jiu-jitsu, in grappling, in the division? I speak with my history, not with my words. ‘I’m the best.’ I show it.”
Maia is awaiting to see what is lined up next for him in the octagon, but seems unmotivated by the Moraes and Usman call-outs.
