Former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell will return to action at UFC 88 to headline a pay-per-view (PPV) event at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, September 6, according to recent statements from promotion president Dana White.
No opponent has been named at this time.
The "Iceman" was supposed to challenge Mauricio "Shogun" Rua today during the main event at UFC 85: "Bedlam." However, Rua had to withdraw from the bout because he shredded his surgically repaired knee while training for the 205-pound tilt.
Liddell was then paired with Rashad Evans, but disaster struck again when he had to pull out of the match with a torn hamstring.
There has been some recent unofficial chatter that UFC Middleweight Champion has been approached about moving up to compete at light heavyweight. He is also expected to return to the Octagon at UFC 88. Whether or not those two items are related (highly unlikely) remains to be seen.
MMAmania.com first passed along news of the Atlanta show about three weeks ago. It will mark the first show for the promotion inside the "Peach State" in more than a decade.
UFC 11: "The Proving Ground" (September 1996) and UFC 13: "The Ultimate Force" (May 1997) were the only two shows ever held in Georgia, which took place at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta.
Get the latest gear
