UFC
Demian Maia to make welterweight debut at UFC 148 against Dong Hyun Kim; Fukuda-Philippou also announced
Mar 21, 2012 - 7:15:24 PM Demian Maia to make welterweight debut at UFC 148 against Dong Hyun Kim; Fukuda-Philippou also announced

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former UFC Middleweight Title challenger Demian Maia announced recently that he would be making a move down to the welterweight division, and he's now got his first booking. The UFC announced on Wednesday that Maia will meet Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 148 in Las Vegas this July.

Additionally, a middleweight bout between Riki Fukuda and Constantinos Philippou will come to the event as well.

Maia drops to welterweight after losses in two of his last three fights. Most recently, he dropped a very uninspired decision to Chris Weidman, prompting the move. Kim bounced back from his first career loss - a flying knee knockout by Carlos Condit last summer - in his last fight, defeating Sean Pierson by decision in December.

Fukuda picked up his first UFC win at UFC 144 in Japan last month, defeating Steve Cantwell by decision in a very solid performance. A week later, Philippou defeated Ultimate Fighter winner Court McGee at UFC on FX 2.

Penick's Analysis: Maia-Kim is a very good fight for Maia's welterweight debut, and a really solid addition to this card. Fukuda-Philippou is another good fight between mid-tier middleweights, and is also a good addition to this card. They're both highly competitive bouts, and make for good preliminary card action on what should be a really good card in Las Vegas on July 7.