After earning a measure of revenge over former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman at UFC 93, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (17-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will now turn his sights to an April bout with former UFC light-heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell (21-6 MMA, 17-5 UFC).
UFC President Dana White announced the UFC 97 main-event matchup at Saturday's UFC 93 post-event press conference.
UFC 97 takes place on April 18 in Montreal, the organization's second foray into Canada.
The bout will be Liddell's first since a devastating knockout loss to Rashad Evans in September 2008. The former champion has gone just 1-3 in his past four bouts, including losses to Evans, Keith Jardine and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Liddell had been rumored for the organization's March trip to Ohio, but that slot was filled with the earlier announcement of a Jackson vs. Jardine main event.
The contest will be Rua's third for the UFC. The 27-year-old had a disappointing debut at UFC 76, suffering a third-round submission loss to Forrest Griffin in the September 2007 bout. It would be another 16 months before the Brazilian would appear again in his UFC 93 co-main-event victory over rival Mark Coleman. Knee injuries plagued Rua throughout his time off.
Liddell and Rua were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 85 in June 2008. Rua's aforementioned knee injury forced him off of the card in March, and Liddell would follow suit in April by bowing out after injuring his hamstring during a training session.
The two feared strikers were once considered by many as the world's top-two light heavyweights. Rua has earned 14 of his 17 career victories by knockout or TKO while Liddell secured 13 of his 21 career wins in the same manner.
