Chuck Liddell and the late TapouT co-founder, Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr., will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on Friday. UFC president Dana White confirmed the news via his Twitter account Monday night. Liddell and Lewis will join Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Ken Shamrock, and Randy Couture as the only members in the UFC Hall of Fame. White also mentioned that the induction ceremony will take place during the UFC Fan Expo at the Mandalay Bay Events Center at 6:30PM PT.
When the UFC announced that it would be adding two new members to its Hall of Fame in May, most expected Lewis to be one of its new inductees. Lewis, 45, died tragically on March 11 in an automobile accident in California. Along with Dan "Punkass" Caldwell, he founded TapouT in 1997 selling T-shirts out of the back of a car. More than a decade later, the company is considered to be the leading MMA apparel company, and reportedly grossed over $100 million in 2008 alone.
The 39-year-old Liddell (21-7) made his UFC and MMA debut at UFC 17 in May 1998, defeating Noe Hernandez via decision. "The Iceman" defeated Randy Couture at UFC 52 to win the organization's light heavyweight title, and successfully defended the belt four times before losing it to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 71. Liddell is tied with Matt Hughes for the most UFC wins (16). He also holds the record for most UFC wins via knockout (10) and is tied with Karo Parisyan for most UFC wins via decision (6).
Liddell most recently lost to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 97, prompting White to proclaim that his fighting days were over. However, Liddell never officially retired, and recently told SI.com that he plans on deciding whether he will continue fighting sometime in 2010.
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NO TABLOIDS! Laura Croft and Holly Madison attend UFC The Ultimate Fighter bouts at the Pearl at The Palms on June 20, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finale Pearl at The Palms Las Vegas, NV United States June 20, 2009 Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com To license this image (57739964), contact WireImage.com
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France's Cheik Kongo (below) and Cain Valasquez of the US fight at the "Mixed Martial Arts" cage fighting event in the western German city of Cologne on June 13, 2009. The event is the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to take place in Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP / HENNING KAISER GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images)
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France's Cheik Kongo (below) and Cain Valasquez of the US fight at the "Mixed Martial Arts" cage fighting event in the western German city of Cologne on June 13, 2009. The event is the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to take place in Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP / HENNING KAISER GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images)
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France's Cheik Kongo (L) and Cain Valasquez of the US fight at the "Mixed Martial Arts" cage fighting event in the western German city of Cologne on June 13, 2009. The event is the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to take place in Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP / HENNING KAISER GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images)
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TOPSHOTS Germany's Peter Sobotta (L) and Britain's Paul Taylor fight at the "Mixed Martial Arts" cage fighting event in the western German city of Cologne on June 13, 2009. The event is the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to take place in Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP / HENNING KAISER GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images)
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A ring girl announces the first round of the fight between Croatia's Mirko Cro Cop and Britain's Mustapha Al-Turk at the "Mixed Martial Arts" cage fighting event in the western German city of Cologne on June 13, 2009. The event is the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to take place in Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP / HENNING KAISER GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images)
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Good for you Chuck. You are very deserving. On a totally different subject, why isn't Don "The Predator" Frye in the UFC Hall of Fame??? He is as good or better than some of the guys in there. Is it because he called Dana White a certain four-letter word to his face??? Don Frye deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, period.
Oleg Taktarov got into the Hall of Fame and Even Tank Abbot got in and what did he really ever do. Like ypu said Don Frye she be in there too. He's one of the first guys who really made you beleive that he was a tough S.O.B
As Far as Liddell Making it in there It makes all the sence in the world. Yes he's been losing fights but if it weren't for him the UFC may have never gotten off the ground and make it mainstream. Without "Mask" and Tapout I probably wouldn't have gotten so into MMA, so he's deserving as well.
@STONER4LIFE
Ah Oleg Taktarov and Tank Abbott ARE NOT in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Mask is a great add to the Hall of Fame, he & Tapout have put their stamp on the UFC & MMA & fans all over. Chuck deserves & is a great UFC Champ, his loses are just part of the gig they sign on for. I think we will see him fight again 2010 & it will be against a fighter of his past & win or lose it will be his send of, just a little fan prediction.
chuck liddel and mask deserve to be in the ufc hall of fame. sad day when mask died. hope iceman doesnt retire. he still has fight in him
Anyone who thinks that Mask "deserves" to be in the UFC Hall of Fame needs to step back and look at things logically. NO he doesn't.
This is ridiculous and just shows what a joke the UFC "Hall of Fame" is.
If he wasn't dead his name NEVER would have come up for discussion and if anyone thinks otherwise they're living in denial.
It was a given that Chuck was going in. If this Hall of Fame was legitimate Pat Miletich, Tito Ortiz or Matt Hughes not Mask (the guy who Dana should really call "T Shirt Guy") would be inducted, but it's a sham.
After he's inducted I'm sure that the internet will be full of fans saying what a great guy Dana is for putting Mask in but those are the same fools who don't give a second thought about the UFC Clothing and Sponsorships bans. They just think everything's cool because the UFC put Mask in their ridiculous Hall Of people who we want to recognize. If he didn't think he'd lose was little credibility his Hall of Fame has Dana would take Shamrock out, but that would be a little too much.
Tito before Chuck has down...
Everybody in the UFC deserves to be in the
Hall Of Fame if Chuck made it...
Got knocked out -- came to -- into hall of fame! Is it just me, or does it seem like maybe a few years should pass before a guy is inducted into the hall of fame!?
>> Chuck Liddell to Be Inducted Into UFC Hall of Fame >>
He wasn't in there already?
Some of the above comments are legit. There are guys that belong for sure, but like all Hall of Fame that are out there for each sport, they guys who rub the club the wrong way, or don't just play by the rules are stepped over. It suck's because those guys above should be in...Tito will not until two things happen, he is a old man & Dana is dead, or Dana set's up a one more battle between Tito & Chuck. Has a fan it is sometimes tough to hear the crab that happens behind close doors, so I watch the fights & say its a business like others, money feeds the beast, & the beast is always hungry!!!
Jim & Betty said the right thing...Chuck way too so!!!!
soon!!!
There are about 20 guys that should be there first
everyone has great points! but there should be a certin amount of time that you are out before you get in chuck will fight again so why go in now?plus mark colman come on thats a joke plus you must have a winning record not almost one they just throw people in to easily in all sports! but if you helped put the sport on the map and have a WINNING record you should get in cause dana should just pencil him self in now oh and wait mark brock down also when he beats the crap out of frank he'll have 5 fights hes in too!! out bros!!
Mask tells the story behind Chuck Liddell and his Bentley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2gczfbccxo
Helio Gracie should be in there before either Chuck or Mask.