FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- When former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell lost to Shogun Rua at UFC 97 in April of 2009, it was supposed to be the end of his career.At least, that's what UFC President Dana White said at the time. But Liddell never wanted the loss to Shogun to be his last time inside the Octagon, and we now know that it won't be: Liddell will square off with Tito Ortiz for a third time this year, most likely at UFC 115 in June. And in a conversation with MMAFighting.com during Super Bowl week, Liddell said he can't wait to get back into the Octagon.
Liddell appeared to be in good shape physically, and he seemed sharp and in good spirits mentally. And he said he'll be in great shape by the time he fights Ortiz, whom he's already beaten twice, at UFC 47 and at UFC 66.
"I'm just getting back into camp right now, getting ready for that fight still a few months off," Liddell said. "I'm strong and healthy and I'm just excited to be getting another chance to fight."
In the prime of his career Liddell would fight two or three times a year, and he said his long layoff from fighting since that loss to Shogun 10 months ago has been difficult. But he also said it's been useful: According to Liddell, he's forced himself to approach MMA like a beginner, un-learn some bad habits and re-learn the correct way to fight.
"For me the most important thing I need to do is just getting back to basics," Liddell said. "There's some basic problems with my stand-up that I wasn't addressing, and that cost me. I need to make sure I'm not as open as I've been, leaving myself exposed the way I did against Shogun and Rashad (Evans) and Rampage (Jackson)."
Liddell said that from 2004 to 2006, he was fighting opponents who had deficiencies in the stand-up game themselves, and as a result he was able to win seven straight fights (two each against Ortiz and Randy Couture, and Vernon White, Jeremy Horn and Renato "Babalu" Sobral) even though he was making mistakes at times.
That seven-fight winning streak was surrounded by two losses to Jackson, one at Pride Final Conflict 2003 and one at UFC 71 in 2007. Both of those losses demonstrated that a hard-punching opponent could exploit Liddell's tendency to leave his chin exposed, and Liddell says now that he wasn't quick enough to correct that flaw in his game.
"I got away with things over the years and then I got caught, and now I need to go into fights knowing I can't get away with the same things I used to," Liddell said.
Liddell says he'll be a better fighter when he steps into the Octagon with Ortiz, and he's expecting to win again.
"I've already beaten him twice," Liddell said. "I'm expecting to beat him again."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chuck is a fantastic wrestler and has some of the best kicks in MMA. He should go back to using those kicks and try taking people down. He stands in that wide Kenpo type stance with his hands low, so he can throw those looping overhand punches that generate power, but leaves himself open to faster opponents. Look at the Rashad knockout again, Chuck threw his punch first but Rashad was quicker and landed right on the chin of Liddell. I think Chuck is still one of the most devastating strikers in MMA and can knock people out, he just needs to stop taking so many chances and he also needs to do more than just punching. If he gets back to throwing body kicks and getting more takedowns I could see him going on a nice run and sticking around. I doubt he could beat the Machida's, Shogun's, Jon Jones's and Rampages but I could certainly see him beating guys like Rogerio Noguiera, Brandon Vera, Forrest Griffin, Rich Franklin, Matt Hammill, Stephan Bonnar etc ... please just not another rematch with Randy Couture. No one wants to see that fight again. If Chuck wins a few in a row let's see him in a big fight with someone like Jon Jones or even Anderson Silva ... that'd be fun to watch but only if Chuck is serious about his training and has really changed his style up. If it's the same hands down, chin up only throwing wide looping punches he won't make it that far anyway. He'll probably beat Tito "excuses" Ortiz but thats about it.
I want Chuck to come back and succeed. I want him to show the world that he is back and he has made the necessary adjustments to fix the issues that have plagued him the last few years.
Anybody know if John Hackleman is still Chuck's head trainer? Chuck has been loyal to John up to this point, but if he seriously wants to make a title run I think he should mix things up.
Chuck is done as a serious contender. Sure he will beat Tito but he's washed up too. I like Chuck but his better days are behind him.
i was never really a fan of chuck lidell but i do respect him 4 his ability and strength never mind what he has done 4 mma as a major sport lets face it before ufc had the spider they had the ice man...i honestly hope he does switch his style up as tigre touched up on.
by the was great posting bro
very true
if LIDDELL does a better job and keeping his head covered and using his kicks and wrestling to ground n pound people
so he's an alcoholic :)
drink em up Chuck
j
look at chucks belly, he has always had a mini keg. but i wish him all the best, and should retire when he is ready, not when dana thinks he is ready or washed up.
Chuck's style was devastating for a long while but it became predictable and once the counter punch key to beat him got out there it was a swift decline. Chuck almost didn't have time to adapt before people were calling him washed up. I think Chuck still can be a somewhat relevant fighter if he uses his wrestling and works on his boxing and keeps that haymaker right hand on deck until he sees an opening rather than just constantly throwing it until it catches his opponent.
But what do I know? I'm no Greg Jackson.
As for Tito, that'll still be a walk in the park for Chuck. Tito sucks. He has one trick and he's not even good at it anymore. Anyone with decent take down defense beats Tito handily. Anyone with heavy hands or good boxing has a good chance of beating Tito since he hates getting punched so much that he just covers his face instead of shooting through a punch. Hell, I'd give Kimbo even odds against Tito these days.
I am fairly new to MMA, only been watching the last year/year and a half. I really wish I could have been around in the beginning when these guys were in their primes. Even though they may be old and irrelevant in terms of title contention, its still nice to be able to see them fight before they retire.
Kind of like seeing Ozzy in concert one last time - its cool to see him sing Crazy Train one more time, even though he may be using a cane to get around the stage.
chuck has about zero chance of changing his style. when he gets hurt or under a ton of pressure, he'll go back to what he's practiced most his life. that low handed circular motion on his jab is a big part of his loop; straight punches will always get there first. i can see chuck as a top 10 but not a 10 five.
Agreed, Richard. I doubt Chuck becomes a contender again by any stretch but the idea that the guy is washed up isn't fair either. He's already got really good wrestling and takedown defense. All he needs to do is work on his boxing (not leaving his hands low & chin exposed constantly) and save the Haymaker for when it counts... whether, he'll do that or just stubbornly keep doing what USED TO work for him remains to be seen but he has the potential to fix that and get back in the mix with some discipline, training & better strategy.
Everyone has good points.
Chuck certainly needs to change his style. Go to more of a kick boxing style as was mentioned would be good.
I think losing to Rampage got to him mentally. He hasn't been the same since.
I don't think he is too old. he is older but only 39. So he could come back.