UFC Quick Quote: Demian Maia hoping for return fight at UFC 136 in Houston against 'top 10 opponent'

"The idea is to have him back at Houston's card, but we're still finalizing the talks. The expectation is for a top 10 opponent. Demian is a great athlete and did a great fight against Mark Muñoz., losing in the details. Unfortunately, every loss is a step back, and only way to move forward again is fighting a top 10. We're seeing the rumors, fighting being confirmed, like Vitor against Akiyama and Anderson vs Okami, so the division is busy. Anderson stays reigning, but the challengers are coming up and down all the time. Everything can change, a whole other picture by the end of the year. To put Demian back to the mix, he has to fight ranked opponents."

-- Eduardo Alonso, manager of middleweight submission deity Demian Maia, talks to Tatame.com and spills the beans on the potential plan for his fighter. According to Alonso, the current idea being bandied about is to get the Brazilian back inside the Octagon at the upcoming UFC 136 fight card on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas. And despite his recent loss to Mark Munoz at the "Dos Santos vs. Carwin" event this past June 11, the Maia camp hopes matchmaker Joe Silva will find them a top 10 opponent. A cursory glance at the 185-pound rankings shows that would be a difficult task seeing as most of the division is already busy with fight bookings of their own, specifically the top 10. There is, however, one fighter on the list currently without a date and on a similar path as Maia -- Jorge Santiago, anyone? Or is there a better match-up out there? Sharing is caring, Maniacs.