– Chuck Liddell has pulled out of his UFC 85 bout with Rashad Evans, according to UFC.com. Despite fighting through injuries in the past, a tear of his right hamstring was enough to force Liddell out of a fight for the first time in his career. MMAWeekly.com is reporting that James Irvin will step in to face Evans. Irvin recently knocked Houston Alexander out in eight seconds. The UFC will also add two more fights to the card to make up for the loss of Liddell, bringing the total number of fights to 13.
– MMAWeekly.com is also reporting that BodogFight is no more. The company is under new ownership and they plan to focus exclusively on gaming, leaving the mixed martial arts branch of the company to fade away.
– From EliteXC.com, Hector “Shango” Lombard has signed a long term contract with EliteXC. Lombard is the current middleweight Cage Fighting Champion and was also an Olympian in 2000 for Cuba in judo.
– MMAJunkie.com reports Matt Lindland will appear on the HDNet undercard that features Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia in the main event. His opponent is yet to be named. Lindland is currently in a different kind of battle as he is seeking the vacated Oregon State Representative seat in District 52. Not quite an Olympic Silver Medal but I guess you take what you can get.
