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.

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