Yet another sign that the sports media are finally recognizing the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a legitimate sport: UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is the cover boy of the upcoming issue of ESPN the Magazine. Liddell, who has become the most popular athlete in the sport of mixed martial arts, will fight Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on May 26 at UFC 71 in one of the biggest fights of the year. Although Liddell is a heavy favorite, the fight is heavily anticipated because Jackson is the last person to defeat Liddell.
We previously noted that SportsCenter showed UFC highlights when Matt Serra beat Georges St. Pierre. That was just a few fleeting moments on the Worldwide Leader, though. A cover story in ESPN Magazine is a huge statement that UFC is getting the respect it deserves.
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