Demian Maia has the fourth most submission wins in UFC history. He wants to top the list when all is said and done.

Maia (21-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) has been one of the sport’s great submission threats since he joined the UFC roster in October 2007. He earned his first five UFC wins by submission and is still the only fighter in modern history to force five consecutive opponents to tap out.

Over the years his high-level opponents have become privy to Maia’s tactics, and the rate of submission victories has slowed. He’s earned just two finishes by submission since 2009, the most recent a second-round rear-naked choke of fellow welterweight Neil Magny at UFC 190 earlier this month.

The stoppage marked Maia’s seventh overall submission win in UFC competition. Only Royce Gracie (11), Frank Mir (eight) and Nate Diaz (eight) have earned more such wins inside the octagon.

Maia believes he can catch up with those ahead of him on the list. That includes Gracie, who has stood alone at the top of the category since 1994.

“That’s a good goal to chase,” Maia told MMAjunkie. “Now that’s one of my goals.”

At 37, Maia should be slowing down and looking at the end of his career. His performances haven’t showed much indication of decline, though. The former middleweight title challenger is currently on a three-fight winning streak and has won six of his past eight overall.

Maia said he doesn’t know exactly why he’s found success at an advanced age.

“I feel in my prime,” Maia said. “It’s something that’s very strange. A lot of people this age start to slow down, but every fight I feel better. I’ve never been so ready for a fight.”

Maia has long been considered one of the top grappling specialists in the sport. His record backs up that claim because he’s fought the biggest and best athletes in the UFC’s welterweight and middleweight divisions for nearly nine years.

The Brazilian said he has the ultimate goal of becoming UFC champion. If he can submit his opponents as he pursues that goal, he said it would make his road to the top far less turbulent.

“When it’s a submission in a fight or a knockout, it always puts you in a different spot,” Maia said. “People see you from different eyes. I need to train like I did for this fight and I will submit more guys.”

For complete coverage of UFC 190, check out the UFC Events section of the site.