Liddell Out to Prove that 205 is Still His Division

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By Dave Sholler

As 2007 came to a close, former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell heard the whispers. After two straight losses, critics circled “The Iceman” like vultures over a scorched desert. They said his loss to Quinton Jackson at UFC 71 was a sign that his reign as the sport’s best light heavyweight was forever over. Four months later, following Liddell’s split decision loss to Keith Jardine at UFC 76, the critics howled even louder. They said age had finally caught up with the heavy-handed striker from San Luis Obispo, California. They argued that years of fighting the likes of Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, and Jeremy Horn had finally taken its toll.

Above all, critics said 2007 would be remembered as the year Chuck Liddell’s mixed martial arts career died. After a decade of memorable victories, epic battles, and historic championship fights, “The Iceman” would leave the sport on a losing note.

As usual though, the critics spoke too soon. In his last fight of 2007, Liddell faced former PRIDE star Wanderlei Silva in a long-awaited bout between the two legendary strikers. With the taste of two straight losses fresh in his mouth and the sounds of hyena-like critics in his ears, Liddell knew his performance at UFC 79 could erase any doubt. Feeling as if he had plenty left in the proverbial gas tank, Liddell was confident that he was still among the best mixed martial artists on the planet.

He proved it against Silva, who was returning to the Octagon for the first time in seven years. For three spectacular rounds on that December night in Las Vegas, Liddell looked like the champion of old. His striking was flawless, with each one of his equally powerful paws bruising and battering “The Axe Murderer.” Much like it was during his title reign, Liddell’s takedown defense was impeccable. And to the surprise of many, Liddell, a former collegiate wrestler at California Polytechnic State University, proved that he was still a strong grappler, shooting in on Silva and corralling the Brazilian on the mat.

He punched. He kicked. He wrestled. After three dominating rounds, Liddell was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Silva. More importantly, he stuck a fist right in the mouths of critics. Chuck Liddell’s career was not dead. In fact, it was reborn.

“I still feel like I can compete and beat the best,” Liddell, recently recovered from a hamstring injury, said. “I have had to change my training as I’ve gotten older, but I still feel great. I have to train smarter now, but things are still going well and I’m ready to get my belt back.”

The road to reclaiming the light heavyweight title begins at UFC 88 on Sept. 6 when Liddell takes on the unbeaten Rashad Evans. A junior college national wrestling champion at Niagara Community College and former Division I wrestler for Michigan State, Evans (16-0-1) is considered a solid grappler with slippery takedown defense. The heavyweight winner of season two of The Ultimate Fighter series, Evans also boasts above-average striking and a developing submission game. Training under the tutelage of Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Evans has improved his conditioning by training in the mountains and is considered on the fast track to title glory. With that said, Liddell realizes that Evans poses plenty of problems.

“He has great athletic ability,” Liddell said. “He’s not afraid to strike. He is a good wrestler and defends takedowns well. He finds ways to win.”

While Liddell (21-5) is complimentary of Evans, he wonders if the 28-year-old will really be willing to stand toe-to-toe and trade with him. Even though Evans owns impressive knockout victories over Sean Salmon and Jason Lambert, Liddell was not impressed with the MSU graduate’s performances against other upper echelon contenders. Most notably, Liddell questioned Evans’ performance against Tito Ortiz at UFC 73 in July 2007, a bout that ended in a disputed draw.

Liddell, who knocked out Ortiz at UFC 47 and UFC 66 respectively, sat Octagonside for Ortiz-Evans and was not overwhelmed by Evans’ showing.

“I think Tito did enough to earn the victory,” Liddell said of the bout, which would have been won by Ortiz had he not been given a one-point deduction in round two for holding the fence. “I don’t think Rashad won. I think it turned into mostly a wrestling match. It was just a hard wrestling match.

“I know Rashad is a good wrestler,” Liddell continued. “And I think he will try to strike with me. I think he’ll take some shots (for takedowns) once he gets hit by me a few times though. I don’t tend to take any shots, so he won’t have to show his takedown defense with me. I am planning on striking. We’ll see how he responds.”

Although we will not know either competitor’s exact game plan until fight night, there are several certainties that will arise following the conclusion of this bout. For starters, the main event of UFC 88 will have huge implications as to who will be next in line to fight newly crowned light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. Next, it will determine whether Evans is a championship contender or pretender. And last, but certainly not least, it will prove whether the 38-year-old Liddell is ready for another run at the 205-pound crown.

“The 205-pound division is tough like it’s always been,” Liddell said of the light heavyweight class, which features the likes of Mauricio Rua, Lyota Machida, Brandon Vera, and the aforementioned Wanderlei Silva. “It’s a great division and I am ready to be on top again.

“I would like a title shot after this fight for sure. I think I deserve one after this.”

With 2007 behind him, Chuck Liddell is gearing up for yet another run at the light heavyweight title. Healed, honed, and ready to fight, Liddell knows that Evans is not one to be overlooked. Liddell has been in similar tight spots before. He understands the feeling of being passed over and written off. He knows that people will look at his losses to Jackson and Jardine and wonder if his career clock is winding down. But in the end, all Liddell can do is train and fight one day at a time.

Chuck Liddell has heard the whispers. He’s just not listening.

“I have always worked hard to get to where I am,” Liddell said, adding that trainers John Hackleman and John Lewis set the tone for his career early on. “It’s the reason I’m here and it’s the reason I’ve been a force in MMA for so long. Age won’t be a factor in this fight. I feel sharp and I’m ready for Rashad.”

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