With one of the biggest punches in the history of mixed martial arts, Rashad Evans knocked out Chuck Liddell at UFC 88 last night, earning himself a shot at the light heavyweight title.But what about Liddell, who held that title for two years and would have gotten another shot at it if he had beaten Evans? What is the future of The Iceman, who for years has been UFC's most popular fighter? Here are four possibilities:
Fight Anderson Silva: Silva is the middleweight champion and widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Assuming he successfully defends his middleweight title against Patrick Cote at UFC 90, Silva will have cleared out the middleweight division to such an extent that there really aren't any interesting fights left for him at 185 pounds.
Silva's manager has said that Silva would like to fight Liddell, and the fight would make big money for UFC. The only reason not to do it would be the fear that Silva would absolutely destroy Liddell. Which leads us to another option...
Fight a tomato can: The UFC might want to rehabilitate Liddell's image a little bit by setting him up for a quick knockout. The problem is that hard-core MMA fans will see right through that ploy -- just as we can see right through EliteXC giving Ken Shamrock to Kimbo Slice. And, of course, the bigger problem is that if Liddell were to lose, it would be devastating. That's why a better option would be ...
Move to heavyweight: Liddell is 38, and it's common for fighters to move up in weight class as they get older. Adding Liddell would do more to beef up UFC's heavyweight division, and it could set up a lucrative fourth fight with Randy Couture some day. Might Liddell fight Fabricio Werdum in his first heavyweight fight, with a stipulation that the winner gets first crack at the Brock Lesnar-Randy Couture/ Frank Mir-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira winner?
I'd enjoy seeing Liddell give it a go at heavyweight, but there is one other option...
Retire: Liddell has now lost three of four fights since beating Tito Ortiz in the UFC's biggest main event ever in 2006. I'd like to see Liddell keep going, but after last night's knockout, it would be hard to blame him if he decides he doesn't want to set foot in the Octagon again.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The smart thing would be to retire but I really doubt it. He can still make big bucks
That was disappointing and who could blame chuck if he retires but i think he needs to stay in the l heavy division and win a few fights and then retire on a good note. I dont think he has it in him to move up and dominate the heavy weights before he is too old to fight anymore randy is a one of a kind fighter and we cant expect the same from chuck.
I do not write this lightly and I love The Iceman, my all time favorite!!!
I am no expert but how do you go from champ to not even winning. He needs to take a good look inward and the need a thorough neuro workup to make sure there are no medical reasons for his inability to win.
if it not that stuff and he is not having family or drug problems (NO DISRESPECT INTENDED)
hahahah, when these guys try to fight standing up they look like girls.
any boxer would have smoked both these fools last night.
who leads with an uppercut from 4 feet away.
Oh for that matter,What would happen if ALi fought Randy in the octagon.I would bet a mill that Ali will lose by TapOut in his prime.Yes I am a boxxing fan to,Well fightingsports.Now Randy would lose in a boxxing match.They are two dif sports not the same.They really can't be compared cause they what?They are not the same.It's like Rugby and Football Same idea but dif in the end.The two should never be in the same topic.I also wonder how many people Blog that have been in a fight.Had the jaw hurt for like two weeks had blkeyes,cuts and so on.I would say not to many.Well all and all enjoy each sport for what it is known for.Don't compare anymore people.
icnickell of course a boxer would out strike them but if they went up against someone with kicks they would be knocked out so quick all they know how to do is punch and block punches not kicks or take downs
I love Chuck but it is time for him to take a seat right next to Joe Rogan. I think he would make a great play by play guy, since his chin ain't there no more.
Good to read all the interesting and insightful comments. I'm not even a bid Liddell fan but last night was a huge disappointment. Tony and GomiDiaz2 I whole heartedly agree.
MDA and MMA fans mark my words, (Hello Mr. White) the winner of Silva/Cote will/should fight the WEC middleweight champ when the UFC/WEC upper weight divisions merge. BJ Penn for President.
Chuck is done.I predicted Evans would knock him out.He has lost 3 of last 4 fights,he did not deserve to fight Evans.Dana's poster boy is washed up.He was a spectacular champ,but his reign is finished.Dana needs to stop this bullshit marketing and let the best fight the best.His posterboy marketing crew of liddell,couture,and griffith is not going to work much longer.I questioned the integrity of the ufc with the griffith/jackson fight if you catch my drift.If White puts Liddell on a big fight card without having him redeem himself in lesser events with ranked fighters I will really know what the ufc is all about.Dana had better be careful with his marketing strategies because the fans are on to it.Let the best fight the best, not the crowd favorite fighting a scrub he stands a 70/30 chance on beating just for ticket sales.
yea seriously iceman might be the worst MMA fighter in ufc..too one dimensional. his boxing is horriable,deplorable. makes any boxer want to barf. and his ground game is....well almost non-existant. the fact he was champ of ufc for 2 yrs speaks volumes of the talents UFC has...anderson silva--nobody comes close to even kissing his toes.
lidell would do good not fighting spider Silva...since Silva will get so motivated , and he is at his best when he faces great opponents... no question lidell will get absoluted destroyed if he fights the SPIDER. there is one more guy Lidell would loose against > the brazilian Machida