Chris Weidman
With the shuffling of the UFC on FOX 2 card in Chicago, Brazilian middleweight Demian Maia (15-3) was left without an opponent, temporarily.
UFC president Dana White announced on Twitter (@danawhite) that undefeated fighter Chris ‘The Hangman’ Weidman (7-0) would be stepping in to face Maia on just eleven days notice.
– 3rd fight in the FOX Jan 28th is Maia vs Undefeated Chris Weidman!!!
The shuffling of the UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis card was caused after an injury to Mark Munoz forced him to withdraw from his No. 1 contender bout versus Chael Sonnen. Maia’s original opponent, Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping was given the chance to face Sonnen and jumped at the opportunity. Now Sonnen and Bisping will co-main event the FOX show in a top contender match.
As a note to Dana White’s Twitter account, many fans were calling for Maia to face recent winner Rousimar Palhares, but the UFC pres said that the recent “Submission of the Night” winner turned down the fight.
UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis (aka UFC on FOX 2) is scheduled to take place on January 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Maia vs. Weidman bout will stay on the main card which will be broadcast live on FOX television.
Weidman has made three Octagon appearances in his short career so far, all of which happened in 2011. The former NCAA Division I wrestler earned his last win in November at UFC 139, chocking out Tom Lawlor with a D’arce choke at the San Jose event. ‘The Hangman’s’ previous wins include a submission win over Jesse Bongfeldt at UFC 131, and a decision victory against Alessio Sakara at UFC on Versus 3 in March.
Maia is 3-1 in his last four matches, which have all gone the distance. The Brazilian earned a decision victory over Jorge Santiago at UFC 136 in October, while losing a controversial unanimous decision to Mark Munoz at UFC 131. Many felt the score should have been much closer than the 29–28, 29–28, 30–27 scores handed out. Previous wins in the four bouts include wins over Kendall Grove and Mario Miranda.