Demian Maia targeting Aug. 3 UFC return, wants to fight Nick Diaz

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former UFC Middleweight Title challenger Demian Maia saw his stock slip in that division in 2011 and the early part of 2012, losing two of three fights which led to a drop to the welterweight field. That move has proved worthwhile, as Maia has scored three straight wins at 170 lbs.

That run started with an unfortunate injury stoppage against Dong Hyun Kim, but his destruction of Rick Story in half a round and his 15 minute domination of Jon Fitch in February have him quickly into the top end of the division.

Now that he's gotten past another former title challenger in Fitch, Maia's camp is eying one more in Nick Diaz.

That's the word from Ariel Helwani on Tuesday's edition of UFC Tonight on Fuel TV. Per the report, Maia's hoping to return to action on August 3 in Brazil, and he would "be honored to fight" Diaz, who lost to Georges St-Pierre just last month in Montreal.

However, Diaz stated after the fight that he was likely retiring, unless he received a second fight against St-Pierre or a bout against Anderson Silva. Given Maia's neither of those names, it's not a bout he's likely to receive.

Penick's Analysis: There are more options for Maia than Diaz at this stage, especially if he's not coming back until August. At the top of that list is Carlos Condit, even though he's lost two straight. He's a more realistic option given Diaz's stance that he's retired for now. And given Condit also wants Diaz, and isn't likely to get that fight, I like the idea of both of them facing one another instead.

[Nick Diaz art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_16487.shtml

Jai Bradney  Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito  Rob Broughton