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As the Ultimate Fighting Championship's recent popularity explosion was just getting under way, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell was the organization's biggest and most recognizable star.

Liddell has since lost his belt, and a handful of elite fighters now share the spotlight.

However, with a victory over Rashad Evans (11-0-1) in tonight's Sept. 6 UFC 88 main event, Liddell (21-5) could set up what could go down as the biggest fight in UFC history — all the while reclaiming his top-dog status.

That fight would be Liddell vs. current UFC light heavyweight title holder (and new UFC poster boy) Forrest Griffin (16-4). The UFC loves to stack its year-end pay-per-view events, and UFC President Dana White has already discussed the Liddell-Griffin title fight as a possibility for the Dec. 29 card if Liddell takes care of business tonight.

After a two-year reign as champ, Liddell lost the title in 2007 to Quinton Jackson, who was defeated by Griffin earlier this year.

"I don't want to say I want Chuck Liddell to win, but it would probably be better for me if he did," said Griffin, who knows a fight with the former champ could be extremely lucrative for the UFC and him. "OK, I want Chuck Liddell to win. There, I said it."

First thing's first, though. Liddell needs to get by Evans, a former Michigan State wrestler who's quickly improved his striking game. However, Liddell is a master at the sprawl — the ability to avoid takedowns — which will cripple one of Evans' biggest tools.

The oddsmakers have tapped the hard-hitting Liddell the clear favorite, but as his 11 wins in 12 pro fights tell us, Evans knows how to win.

Xenia's Brown

Co-main event fighters Rich Franklin and Matt Hamill aren't the only area fighters getting TV time tonight. Xenia native Matt Brown (8-6) has always made the most of his opportunities.

A welterweight bout between Judo experts Karo Parisyan (18-5) and Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2) was scrapped just 24 hours before fight time, and the UFC has slotted the night's Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim (10-0-1) fight in its place on the televised main card.

Brown, who splits training time in West Chester Twp. and Columbus, looks to extend a remarkable career turnaround. His career prospects were dwindling, but earlier this year, Brown used a remarkable run on the UFC's reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter," to relaunch his career.

A couple of impressive victories on the TV show — coupled with a recent win over Matt Arroyo in June — has Brown on the brink of stardom. A win over an undefeated opponent on UFC 88's televised main card would do the trick.

Beavercreek's Patt hopes to cash in

Speaking of opportunities, Beavercreek's Mike Patt (12-2) gets his big break tonight.

Patt, who runs the Beavercreek Martial Arts Training Center, is making his UFC debut against Tim Boetsch (7-2) on the preliminary card.

"He's a very skilled fighter," said Franklin, one of Patt's longtime training partners. "I hope Mike shines at UFC 88 because he truly deserves this.

"I spent a lot of time talking to him about how so much of this sport is about opportunity. Like me, his first fight in the UFC was (as a late replacement) because someone got injured."

Patt replaces James Lee, who pulled out of the fight with a torn bicep.

UFC 88: Breakthrough

What: 10-fight MMA event

When: 8 p.m. today

Where: Atlanta's Philips Arena

TV: Pay-per-view (main card only, 10 p.m.)