Demian Maia might just be an audience member for the UFC middleweight championship fight this weekend, however soon he should be in a similar situation fighting for a UFC title.
The welterweight from Brazil is coming off six consecutive wins in the Octagon and, talking recently at the Q&A session at UFC 204, Maia made no secret of the fact that he aims to acquire the 170 pound belt.
Tyron Woodley will be defending his belt against Stephen Thompson at UFC 205, on November 12. Maia was asked whether he would be willing to fight at short notice, should either of these fighters become injured. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Brazilian said that he would jump at the opportunity.
Having competed before at 185 pounds, one fan then asked Maia whether he would contemplate stepping back up to that weight class. At this point, Maia had begun to repeat a recurring sentiment in his responses. Namely, that he was focusing on the welterweight championship, and nothing else, at this moment in time. Nonetheless, he did say that if he did return to fight at middleweight, then Anderson Silva would be his preferred opponent.
