Demian Maia's Manager Says He'll Return at UFC 136

Demian Maia's hopes at another title shot took a huge shot when he dropped unanimous decision to Mark Munoz at UFC 131, but he will be returning fairly soon. In fact, he's targeting UFC 136 on October 8th in Houston, TX. Maia's manager Eduardo Alonzo talked with Tatame about when we'll see Maia back in the cage:

"The idea he to have him back at Houston’s card, but we’re still finalizing the talks," Alonso said, expecting a tough opponent next. "The expectation is for a Top 10 opponent. Demian is a great athlete and did a great fight against Mark Muñoz., losing in the details. Unfortunately, every loss is a step back, and only way to move forward again is fighting a Top 10".

Alonzo believes Maia can be competitive again soon, if he is given the right opponents (and defeats them, of course):

"We’re seeing the rumors, fighting being confirmed, like Vitor against Akiyama and Anderson vs Okami, so the division is busy. Anderson stays reigning, but the challengers are coming up and down all the time. Everything can change, a whole other picture by the end of the year. To put Demian back to the mix, he has to fight ranked opponents".

Who will Maia meet on that card? It seems like the only top guy that's currently unbooked is Jorge Santiago