Former UFC middleweight contender Demian Maia (15-4) has his next fight scheduled but this time the Brazilian is dropping down to welterweight and will meet South Korean Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 148 this July.
Maia makes the move after going 1-2 in his last three bouts, losing to wrestlers Mark Munoz at UFC 131, and Chris Weidman at UFC on FOX 2. Both losses were via unanimous decision. The win in that short span came against Jorge Santiago this past October at UFC 136.
The former No. 1 contender spoke to Tatame.com about the new challenges he’ll face with the move to welterweight as well as his upcoming fight with Kim, noting that he expected a tough opponent for his first match at 170-lbs.
“It couldn’t be any different, I knew they’d give me a hard guy. I had many tough fights in the UFC and I can’t wait for anything other than tough guys too (in this new weight division). It’ll be a hard test but I’m hoping it all works just fine in this weight cut and that I do a good fight and win”, the Brazilian fighter said.
“I could tell he has good stand-up skills, a lined Boxing style, is left-handed like me. He’s not just good at Judo, which is his strong point, but his Boxing ain’t that bad, so we can go anywhere, and I’m guessing he won’t have a problem in fighting me on the ground because he’s a Judo expert”.