Rua Out! Who's In?

“Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3) has withdrawn from his UFC 85 matchup versus “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) according to a Thomas Gerbasi report posted at UFC.com.

Gerbasi reports Rua re-ruptured the ACL in his left knee, the same injury he had surgery for following his third round submission loss to Forrest Griffin.

The fight was scheduled as the main event for 7 June at 02 Arena in London.

A new opponent will be announced shortly; however, most of the UFC’s top 205-pound guns are tied up in announced bouts.

Two possibilities jump out.

“Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-7) is 0-2 in the Octagon and emerging from a disappointing submission loss to 185-pound phenom “Spider” Anderson Silva.

Regardless, his efforts in both UFC fights, versus Silva for the 185-pound title and “Rampage” Quinton Jackson for the 205-pound title, have kept him in the top of the rankings in both weight classes.

Liddell’s matchup with Rua was a path back to a title shot.  UFC President Dana White is loyal to his friend and the UFC’s biggest draw, Liddell.    Substituting Hendo keeps Liddell on course.

The question is whether Hendo has the desire to ride the yo-yo back to 205-pounds, where he prefers to fight, and enough time to prepare for a third top, but very different kind of fighter.

Since the rumored clash of 205-pound rising stars Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva hasn’t yet been officially announced, the UFC may consider reshuffling the deck to give Liddell a top 205-er.

The most likely candidate is undefeated Rashad Evans.  Evans comes off a split decision victory over “The Count” Michael Bisping, who has since left the weight class.

Evans (11-0-1) has less clout than Hendo among MMA faithful, but, because of his TUF victory on American cable TV, makes a brighter marquee among the general UFC public, who’ve only watched Hendo lose.

The outside shot to get the call is Wilson Gouveia.

Gouveia (10-4) is surfing a four-fight win streak, all by stoppage, since losing a decision to Keith Jardine in June 2007.  He last knocked out Babalu-beater “The Punisher” Jason Lambert in January.