UFC 138: Thiago Alves vs Papy Abedi possible for Nov. 5 in England

The UFC is loading up the boat that's heading across the pond later this year, as yet another fight has been added to the promotion's lone 2011 trip to England.

Thiago Alves has reportedly been booked to return to action against the recently scooped up Swedish specialist Papy Abedi at UFC 138: "Leben vs. Munoz" on Nov. 5 in Birmingham.

MMAWeekly.com passed along word of the pending bout a short time ago.

Alves has been itching to get back inside the cage to prove he's still the top contender he's been billing himself as since his promotional debut back in 2005.

"The Pitbull" was handing out knockouts left and right before he ran into the proverbial brick wall once he finally worked his way up to a title shot. He was easily disposed of by Georges St. Pierre and has since dropped decision defeats to Jon Fitch and Rick Story, with a three-round beatdown of John Howard mixed in.

Losing three of four isn't healthy for his career ... and certainly not for his hopes of fighting for the 170-pound belt again.

Don't know Papy Abedi? Don't blame you; even the hardest of hardcore mixed martial arts fans may have trouble conjuring up a face to go with the name.

However, the 32-year-old Swede, originally born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was signed to a four-fight contract with the world's largest fight promotion for a reason.

He's a sensational judo player with eight wins in as many career fights, all but one of them finishes. He'll also be dropping down from middleweight for this fight.

Sounds like fireworks for fight fans frothing for fisticuffs overseas.

UFC 138 was only recently announced for the promotion's sole trip to the United Kingdom this year. Headlining the card will be the very first main event non-title five-round fight with a match-up pitting middleweight title hopefuls Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this fight card as it comes in.