UFC announced Thursday that Rashad Evans will step up in class and go up against Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell at UFC 85, to be held at The O2 Arena in London on June 7.  Evans, whose current stats read 16-0-1, is coming off a split decision win over Michael Bisping at UFC 78: Validation last November.  Liddell, meanwhile, was last seen at UFC 79: Nemesis, where he beat Wanderlei Silva via a unanimous decision.

"Chuck showed in his last fight against Wanderlei Silva that he's regained the fire he needs to win back the UFC light-heavyweight title," UFC president Dana White said in a statement.  "But to earn that opportunity he now has to do what no one else has been able to do - and that's defeat Rashad Evans."

Chuck Liddell was supposed to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the ring at UFC 85, but the Brazilian is currently facing surgery after again rupturing a ligament in his left knee.

Evans was preparing for a May fight against Thiago Silva, but did not hesitate to replace Rua for the bout against Liddell.

“I think he's a legend,” said Evans of Chuck Liddell.  “No one has dominated a weight class for as long as he did, and when he went on that seven fight win streak, just knocking people out, that was very impressive and you can never take that away from a fighter.  I think he solidified himself in the sport by doing that.”

The upcoming fight is a welcome challenge for Evans, who intends on facing the best of the sport in the hopes becoming a top fighter.

“I've always said that I wanted to be the best and that I wanted to leave my mark in this sport,” he said.  “The only way you can do that is by facing the best. I'm not a fighter who wants to fill himself with false hope that I'm something that I'm not.  I think I'm the best, so I'm gonna go out there, fight the best, and test myself.”


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Yahoo! Sports, ufc.com  
(Image Courtesy of ufc.com)