Former welterweight champion Matt Hughes announced today that he is likely to return to the Octagon in April 2010.

"I have a possible date for my next fight, they tell me that it is April 10th," Hughes wrote yesterday on his personal website.  "I'll tell you later who and where when I find out for sure if it is confirmed."

While an April 10 event has not been announced, MMAJunkie.com has speculated that the organization's April event will most likely be UFC 112.

Last month, it was discussed that Hughes would face Renzo Gracie at UFC 109.  However, with UFC 109 taking place in February, that fight is unlikely to happen.  In addition, this fight was spoken of when Hughes had an earlier return date and was expected to come back in the earlier months of 2010.

There had also been rumors that Hughes would fight Matt Serra in an anticipated rematch.  However, Serra, whose return date was set for February, is slated to face Frank Trigg at UFC 109.  While the fight has not yet been officially announced, its tentative date is set for Feb. 6.

The Miletich product has not fought since his unanimous decision win at UFC 98 over Serra in May 2009.  The fight was awarded Fight of the Night honors.

Hughes (43-7) is a two-time welterweight champion who was first earned the belt by KO-ing Carlos Newton in 2001.  He defended his belt five times before eventually losing it to B.J. Penn in early 2004.  However, in late 2004, he fought Georges St. Pierre (who was then the title holder) and came out victorious, winning the welterweight title again.  He then defended his belt twice before before giving it back to St. Pierre at the end of 2006.