Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

Chuck Liddell and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua were originally scheduled to be the main event of UFC 85, but now, neither man will participate in the event.

Last month, Rua ruptured his left ACL, and was forced to withdraw, and now Liddell has torn his right hamstring, forcing him out of the London card.

The UFC confirmed the news last night.

“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.”

The injury leaves Rashad Evans without an opponent for the June 7 card. Evans was originally scheduled to fight Thiago Silva this spring, but that fight was scrapped when he stepped up to face "The Iceman" in Rua's absence.

The fight would have been the biggest in the career of the undefeated Evans (11-0-1). He most recently defeated Michael Bisping in a split decision at UFC 78 last November.

Liddell (21-5) is the ultra-popular former light-heavyweight champ, who reigned over the division for more than two years until losing to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. In December, Liddell rebounded with an energetic unanimous decision win over longtime rival Wanderlei Silva.

The UFC plans to announce a new main event shortly in a 13-fight card. As of now, other matches include heavyweights Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum, welterweights Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick and middleweights Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites.

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