Where does a win over Chris Weidman put Demian Maia in the UFC middleweight rankings?

by Jesse Holland on Jan 24, 2012 5:58 PM EST in Upcoming UFC Events

Photo of Demian Maia courtesy of jiu-jitsutechniques.com.

Former UFC middleweight number one contender Demian Maia was hoping to eventually inch his way back into a 185-pound title fight against reigning division champion Anderson Silva.

And beating Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2 would have been a great way to do it.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) wizard, "The Count" was called upon to fight Chael Sonnen when Mark Munoz withdrew from the Jan. 28 fight card in Chicago due to injury.

So what happens to his plans for getting back "in the mix?"

According to Maia (via MMA Heat), not much, as his new opponent, undefeated wrestler Chris Weidman, is "the real deal" and beating him should be seen as an accomplishment on par with defeating Bisping.

"I think now, fans are much more educated about fighters and they know how tough people are. Bisping has a great name and he's a tough guy but Weidman, people don't know him so well but they know he's the real deal, very tough, so I think it puts me in the same spot if I win this fight."

Maia breaks down his fight against the "All American" and a whole lot more, after the jump.

For more on the UFC on FOX 2 event click here.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

This is a big fight on network tv

If Maia wins it will at least help him establish more name recognition. Is he ready for another crack at Anderson, no, but I think he moves within a couple wins of another title shot with a win over Weidman

"If guns cause crime then all of mine are defective."

by detroit_fan on Jan 24, 2012 6:06 PM EST reply actions

Palhares is off for a while.

Set the winner of this fight (hopefully Maia in this scenario) up with him.

You have been banned from Bloody Elbow.
I don’t know what you said, but I don’t like you.
12/22/11
"You actually got banned 3 times in 2 minutes by 3 different people"

by *Californication* on Jan 24, 2012 6:06 PM EST reply actions

I say give Munoz to palhares , and the winner of this fight gets loser of chael bisping

209stk is the smartest poster on mania i will never doubt him or anyone from stockton ever again them boys out there are BEASTS
….nick and nate diaz will b champs this year and all the haters can elat a bloody vag…ultimatehuggingchamp is the biggest dumbfuck around and licks the sweat of my balls….STOCKTON 209…..y u mad 4 suckas!

by wooly shambler on Jan 24, 2012 6:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I love Munoz/palhares. We"ll be able to see if paul Harris can outgrapple a big powerful wrestler

occupy my pants

by theoregonduck on Jan 24, 2012 6:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

i like a Palhares vs Maia match up..

And it would be one of the few match ups involving Maia that would be interesting to me. But Palhares already turned down this fight before Weidman stepped in, understandable as he had already broken camp….but more depressingly, in turning down Palhares as an opponent Maia said unless its Anderson, he wouldn’t fight another Brazilian… so there goes that..

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." George Bernard Shaw

by Fat Daddy Doobs on Jan 24, 2012 7:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

naw Dana will make them fight..

I think he just has trouble making someone fight if they are champions.

I devise a plan,
I'm in the trunk as she drives the van,
Aint no disguise, Imma die as a man-- Tupac

by Roger81 on Jan 24, 2012 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

i hope so...but...

I’m STILL waiting on Koscheck vs Fitch.. and we’re all waiting on Evans vs Jones. And that’s just “team mate vs team mate” match ups. I do get the impression that there is a little more emphasis placed on avoiding that sort of thing for BJJ practitioners in Brazil.

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." George Bernard Shaw

by Fat Daddy Doobs on Jan 24, 2012 9:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

casuals don't know what Weidmans about

there have been plenty of fighters with a bright future n then all the sudden the real deal title goes away. Saying that a win over Bisbing and Weidman puts him in the exact same position is like saying beating Hamill puts him in the same position as if he beat Vitor
Maia got screwed on the fight switch

by KCmmaBadBoy on Jan 24, 2012 6:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions