BUFFALO, N.Y. – Patrick Cote didn’t get the opponent he was aiming for, but it may just have worked out for the best.

For his return to the octagon after a 10-month layoff, Cote (23-10 MMA, 10-10 UFC) had originally called out social media foe Jake Ellenberger. But, now set to take on former title challenger Thiago Alves (21-11 MMA, 13-8 UFC) at today’s UFC 210 event, Cote said the audience will certainly benefit from him not getting his way.

“For the fans, it’s 10 times better, me against Thiago,” Cote told MMAjunkie during a media day ahead of the pay-per-view main card bout, which takes place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.. “Both are going to go forward, both are going to go exchange. It’s going to be fireworks everywhere. It’s 10 times better.

“Me against Ellenberger, it was more personal. That wasn’t about giving a good show, something like that. I just wanted to beat him. I still want to beat Alves, but I think it’s going to be a better fight.”

Alves is Cote’s chance to recover from a TKO loss to Donald Cerrone at last June’s UFC Fight Night 89. The setback, which snapped a three-fight winning streak that included TKOs over Joshua Burkman and Ben Saunders, served as a warning sign for a then “mentally tired” Cote.

The layoff since, Cote says, was beneficial in every aspect. Not only did he get elbow surgery, but he also took some much needed rest time amidst the birth of his baby. And now, feeling “better than ever,” the Quebec native is ready to do something to which he’s grown accustomed.

“I’m like the Cinderella Man,” Cote said. “Every time I’m going down, I go back on top. This is not a new situation for me. I’ve been there before. It’s OK. I’m taking one fight at a time – 37 years old. I’m in very good shape – physically, but more mentally, and that was the most important thing for me.”

Alves is in a tougher spot than Cote, as he looks to recover from back-to-back losses against Carlos Condit and, more recently, Jim Miller. A onetime welterweight title challenger, Alves has gone on a bumpy 4-5 UFC ride since that loss to then-champ Georges St-Pierre.

This will also mark Alves’ return to welterweight after a botched stab at the 155-pound division. As far as Cote can tell, however, the difference between their frames shouldn’t be a big factor unless the fight stretches on.

And he doesn’t see that happening.

“I know I’m probably going to be a bigger guy, I’m going to have a size advantage,” Cote said. “But at this point, with all the skills he has, I don’t think it’s going to make any difference. I have to beat him with my skills and with my good gameplan and with what I trained.

“If the fight goes a little bit later, in into the second or the third round, which I don’t think so, maybe it’s going to make a difference. But I don’t count on that.”

For more on UFC 210, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.