UFC NEWS: Thiago Alves vs. Rick Story in the works for May 2011 bout

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Following his victory over Johny Hendricks at The Ultimate Fighter 12 finale earlier this month, Rick "The Horror" Story and his management expressed a desire to face only top 10 talent in the welterweight division moving forward. The UFC appears to be obliging them.

According to a report from MMAWeekly.com, Story is tentatively slated to meet Thiago Alves on May 28 in Las Vegas.

Alves posted on Twitter this week that he'd be returning to action in May, though he didn't have info on an opponent. The former title challenger picked up one of his most impressive wins at UFC 124 earlier this month, defeating John Howard in a one sided decision in Montreal.

Story has won five straight fights in the Octagon since losing a decision to John Hathaway in his UFC debut. He holds a 12-3 record overall in his career.

The May 28 event is expected to be the UFC's annual Memorial Day Weekend card, though what number event it will be has not yet been set.

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Penick's Analysis: This may wind up being a case of "be careful what you wish for." Story's not just getting a top ten welterweight, he's getting a top four welterweight who may just be the most dangerous fighter in the division not named Georges St. Pierre. This will be by far the biggest opportunity of his career, and if he can find a way to win this fight he'll prove he belongs in the mix at the top of the 170 lb. class. That said, this is also a chance for Alves to get himself right back into the title mix with another win over a legitimate guy in Story. It's a great piece of match making either way.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7937.shtml

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