Matt Hughes to Fight Thiago Alves for UFC 85 Main Event

[I Heart Gambling Online]

Originally, the main event for UFC 85 was going to be a light heavyweight match between former champion Chuck Liddell (21-5) and former top-ranked 205-pound fighter Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (16-3).

Then, after "Shogun" re-injured his knee during training, the fight was changed to Liddell vs. Rashad Evans (11-0-1).

Now, with Liddell suffering a torn hamstring, the main event has been changed again.

According to a blog post on matt-hughes.com, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes (42-6) will face fast-rising welterweight star Thaigo Alves (14-3) in the main event, June 7th in London, England.

"The fight is confirmed," Hughes writes. "It will be the main event for the card. Dana [White] just called me with the news. Chuck [Liddell] got hurt and couldn't fight, so he needed a replacement and called me and I said yes. More news as I get it.

Fighting out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., Alves is next in line to face the winner of Jon Fitch (17-2) and current champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre (16-2) who will collide for the UFC welterweight title at a UFC event still to be determined. A loss to Hughes could de-rail that plan.

According to the Hughes blog, after the Alves fight, he'll be facing former champion Matt Serra (9-5) who recently lost his title to St. Pierre at UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2, April 19 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

"No matter what happens in this fight, I've got Serra next," he says.

Bet on UFC odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.