Chuck Liddell fights in April, Brock Lesnar fights Frank Mir in May

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Southern Californians headed to UFC 94 this weekend in Las Vegas have been spoiled by the close proximity of the fights, this being the third major Ultimate Fighting Championship card in three months at MGM Grand.

The UFC offers a double-belt fight on Saturday, as lightweight champion B.J. Penn takes on welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre at 170 pounds. The card also boasts a battle of unbeaten light-heavyweights -- Lyoto Machida against Thiago Silva, and North Hollywood’s Karo Parisyan (26-5) in a welterweight battle against undefeated Dong Hyun Kim (11-0-1). The card also features Parisyan’s Hollywood neighbor Manny Gamburyan (10-4) vs. Thiago Tavares (17-3).

San Luis Obispo’s Chuck Liddell will be headlining an April 18 card in Montreal against Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. Those fighters each lost in the most recent UFC card in Southern California.

Then, on May 23, UFC is planning a return date in Las Veags with Brock Lesnar’s first heavyweight title defense against Frank Mir, who beat Lesnar early last year, then became the first to stop Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira last month.

But fans still are waiting for another date in California.

-- Lance Pugmire