Demian Maia Wants ‘Last Dance’ With Nate Diaz

Demian Maia is ready to call it a career, and he hopes fellow UFC 263 alum Nate Diaz will oblige him in one last fight.

Demian Maia prepares for his swan song and has a dance partner in mind — Nate Diaz.

Maia (28-11) lost a unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 263 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, June 13. Following the fight, Maia confirmed he would like to have one more UFC bout before closing the chapter on his legendary career.

“Last night I tried hard and unfortunately wasn’t able to put my best performance. As frustrated as I am, I kept trying until the end and that’s in the past now. I’m already looking forward as I know time goes by fast, and I won’t be doing this much longer,” Maia wrote Sunday night on Instagram. “Nate Diaz, I saw your quote [at] the press conference, and think you’re great too. You’re a great fighter who also represents Jiu-Jitsu and you’re real, I respect that.

“Regardless of last night, I know I still have one fight left in me, and it’s no secret that I feel like UFC is my home, where I want to finish my career,” he continued. “Now, I have no idea if they will give me another fight, but if they do, I would be honored to do my last MMA bout with you, someone who always comes to fight, who represents BJJ and whom I respect.”

Diaz, 36, is coming off a unanimous decision loss (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to Leon Edwards at UFC 263, the same card that Maia, 43, fought on.

“I have had a long career, fought pretty much everybody, and proudly represented Jiu-Jitsu the best I could. If I have one more, I don’t want to waste it with someone who I don’t respect. So If you want it, and the UFC wants to do it, it will happen, and it will be my last dance,” he concluded. “Much respect.”

UFC 263 took place at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, June 13. The pay-per-view card was headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Marvin Vettori for the UFC middleweight title.