The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organisation announced today that Chuck Liddell has been forced to withdraw from the UFC 85 event. Liddell tore his hamstring last week while training for his June 7 bout with undefeated light heavyweight Rashad Evans.
"Unfortunately, Chuck Liddell tore his right hamstring during training last week, and being the warrior that he is, he still wanted to fight, which is the reason why everyone in the world loves him," said Dana White, UFC President. "But I wouldn't let anyone fight with his leg looking that way. Let him heal and come back and fight when he is 100 percent."
White continued, "We're adding fights to the card and rearranging it so the UK fans won't have to worry, we'll still be bringing an amazing card to London and the O2 Arena. The UFC® always delivers."
The UFC® will announce a new main event shortly, along with a full lineup of 13 fights for the UFC® 85 card, making it the biggest UFC® event in over a decade. The event will include a heavyweight eliminator between Brandon Vera and Fabricio Werdum, a welterweight showdown between popular striker Marcus Davis and The Ultimate Fighter® alumnus Mike Swick, a middleweight battle between Nate Marquardt and Thales Leites, and a light heavyweight clash between Luiz Cane and Jason Lambert.
Plus, undefeated British heavyweight Neil Wain will make his UFC® debut against dangerous kickboxer Antoni Hardonk.
The remaining bouts for UFC® 85 will be announced shortly.
Chuck Liddell pulled his hamstring and is out of UFC 85. James Irvin will replace him in the June 7th main event against Rashad Evans. Irvin is on his way to Thailand, then oklahoma then big bear for a quick turnaronund between huge fights for him.
