When Mark Munoz fell to injury, promoting Michael Bisping into the co-main event against Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia‘s position on the main card was uncertain.
Fans were quick to point to a potential matchup between Maia and fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Rouismar Palhares. However Palhares turned down the opportunity to face Maia on one week’s notice, especially after scoring a first-round victory this past weekend at UFC 142.
But it was Maia’s decision to pass up a bout with Palhares, as he felt a matchup between him and “Toquinho” would prevent the lack of Brazilians fighting at 185 pounds.
“It was rumored (a fight with Palhares), but I thought there would not be any possibilities (of it happening), because he just fought, it doesn’t make sense for him to throw himself into another fight right now,” Maia told SporTV (translated by Tom Mendes of BloodyElbow.com).
“To be honest, the Brazilian fans should be more worried about seeing us fighting foreigners. There are (only) a few Brazilian fighters in the division and I think that, aside of the title, since it’s Anderson who is the champion, the Brazilians should not face each other,” he added.
A step-up in competition is obviously in Palhares’ future, and a fight with Maia would be the most logical choice. However, it is doubtful Palhares would be physically able to compete on such short notice against a well-versed grappler of Maia’s caliber, and therefore, put a damper on any title aspirations the UFC would have for Palhares at this point.
Maia will meet Chris Weidman on the main card of UFC on FOX 2, scheduled for next Saturday at the United Center in Chicago.
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