(Big Dog is planning to eat Matt Hughes‘ country breakfast August 7.)

According to an MMA Weekly report, a bout between former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes and Renzo Gracie disciple, Ricardo Almeida is in the works for UFC 117, August 7 in Oakland, CA.

Almeida will be looking bring a “W” and honor back to the Gracie academy while seeking revenge for Renzo and his other UFC-employed black belt, Matt Serra – both of whom were defeated by Hughes in the past year. Serra shared “Fight of the Night” honors in a unanimous decision loss with Hughes at UFC 98, while the aging Gracie was crippled with leg kicks by the Hillsborough, IL native who eventually pulled the trigger on a TKO victory in the third and final frame of their fight at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, UAE earlier this month. Hughes also holds a win over Renzo’s cousin, UFC legend Royce Gracie.


Defeating Matt Brown decisively in his first fight as a welterweight this past March, Almeida proved that he made the right choice to drop down to compete in the 170-pound class. Following his longtime mentor’s loss in the UAE, "Big Dog" made no secret of his desire to square off with Hughes and it sounds as though he will get his opportunity to do just that in August.

Unnamed sources close to the situation told Damon Martin that negotiations are ongoing, and that although no bout agreements have been legitimized, both fighters have verbally agreed to the fight.