DaytonDailyNews.com

LAS VEGAS — The Ultimate Fighting Championship last week officially announced UFC 96, which takes place March 7 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Although no official main event has been determined, UFC President Dana White hinted that former UFC light heavyweight champion and mixed-martial-arts superstar Chuck Liddell could get headline status.

"We're kicking around who we want in Columbus," White said. "It could be Liddell. We don't know. We're still working on it."

UFC 96 will be the third consecutive event to coincide with the Arnold Sports Festival, a three-day sports and fitness exhibition held in Columbus each March. The past two years of the partnership have garnered the UFC staggering attendance figures (35,480 combined) and gate totals ($5.2 million total).

As for Liddell, he'd return for the first time since a devastating knockout loss in September to Rashad Evans, who beat Forrest Griffin this past weekend at UFC 92 in Las Vegas to win the UFC light heavyweight title.

Although Liddell (21-6) has lost three of his past four fights, he remains one of the UFC's top draws.

White gave no hints of a possible opponent for Liddell, though a rumored rematch with Keith Jardine, who beat Liddell in 2007, appears off the table. Jardine is instead expected to fight another opponent.

Other likely UFC 96 bouts include Brandon Vera (9-3) vs. Beavercreek's Mike Patt (12-3) and Gabe Gonzaga (10-3) vs. Shane Carwin (10-0). Area fighters Dustin Hazelett (12-4) and Matt Brown (8-7) are also likely to be added to the card.

Tickets to UFC 96 are on sale.

Mir vs. Lesnar II in Ohio?

With a shocking upset victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 92, Frank Mir now will meet UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar in a title-unification bout.

Mir, who barely defeated Lesnar earlier this year, delivered Nogueira — one of the world's most dominant heavyweight fighters in MMA history — the first knockout loss of his career.

Lesnar knew he would face the winner of the Mir vs. Nogueira bout, and he made no secret of his desire for a rematch with Mir. After claiming the interim title, Mir shouted something to Lesnar, who was sitting ringside.

"I told him to be careful what you wish for," Mir said in a post-fight press conference.

White said Lesnar vs. Mir II will happen in the spring. UFC 96 remains a possibility, though the turnaround time could be too short for Mir.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content partner site of Yahoo! Sports. For the latest MMA news and rumors, go to www.mmajunkie.com.