Top 5 Forum Threads of the Week

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Demian Maia has the look of a potential title contender at 170 pounds.

Maia was virtually flawless in recording his third consecutive victory as a welterweight, cruising to a unanimous decision over the American Kickboxing Academy’s Jon Fitch at UFC 156 on Feb. 2 Las Vegas. Since leaving his 185-pound haunts, Maia has delivered wins over Fitch, Rick Story and Dong Hyun Kim.

For many, however, his performance against Fitch left a lot to be desired in the entertainment department. Maia delivered takedowns in all three rounds and kept the 34-year-old Fort Wayne, Ind., native either pinned on the cage or grounded hopelessly on the mat. Fitch had lost only one other decision as a professional, dropping a one-way verdict to reigning welterweight king Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87 in August 2008. Results aside, can Maia please the masses with his grappling-heavy attack? The debate has begun.

Items of interest on the Sherdog.net forums this week:

Grappling for Respect

Ranking the UFC

Fighters, Unite

Thumbs Down to Flyweights

Caught in the Crossfire

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