It is hard to imagine that a man that paints his nails and loves to dance is one of the most feared strikers in the world of MMA. “I will dance anywhere, anytime” is what Chuck Liddell told ESPN for an interview last May. This summer he will be dancing in the octagon again as he faces outstanding wrestler Rashad Evans. This fight will be the main bout on the June UFC 85 event in London. Liddell was penciled in to fight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, but after sustaining a training injury, Rashad steps in to take Rua’s place.
Rua re-injured his right ACL that he had previously had surgically repaired after his loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 76. The ACL is a ligament that joins the upper leg bone with the lower leg bone, and keeps the knee stable. For UFC fighters or other professional athletes this injury almost always requires surgery. Without the full use and strength of a fighter’s knee, they can’ explode into takedowns, generate leverage to keep their opponent against the cage, as well as they are susceptible to other serious knee injuries.
Chuck Liddell at one time was one of the biggest names in the UFC. He was the reigning champ, and was being marketed everywhere. He was on ESPN, talk shows, magazines, and almost everywhere imaginable a fighter could be. He seemed unbeatable until being beaten for the second time by Quinton Rampage Jackson. After that fight, he suffered another loss to underrated fighter Keith Jardine. This was the first time Chuck suffered back to back losses since joining the UFC. Since the loss to Jardine, Chuck fought the Pride superstar Wanderlei Silva and won via decision. This at one time was the most anticipated fight in MMA history and even with the losses, Chuck is still a highly feared opponent. He has bricks for hands, and is an amazing wrestler.
Rashad Evans stepped up to the challenge. This former Michigan State wrestling standout is currently 11-0-1 with his lone draw thanks to former UFC champion Tito Ortiz. Some feel that Evans did enough to win the fight and should be 12-0-0, but the judges felt otherwise. Luckily, Ortiz was penalized a point for grabbing the fence to avoid a takedown. In his career 11 wins, he only has only been able to stop a fight early 5 times. To this point he has been able to control his opponents and continue to win fights and fans feel that Rashad matches up with Chuck very well, but I disagree. Rashad is another wrestler that Chuck will expose. Evans is an athletic fighter that is always moving, and for that reason many fans feel that he will be able to put Chuck to the test.
This fight will be one comprised of two great wrestlers, and one with great hands. Rashad Evans is more of the traditional wrestler. He takes people down, and has very good mat presence. On the other hand, Chuck uses his wrestling different than most in the game. Instead of concentrating on takedowns, he uses his wrestling sprawl to prevent others from taking him down. This allows him to throw his hands of stone. These are the same hands that have stopped 13 people along his career. I believe that during this fight, Chuck will be able to neutralize Rashad’s wrestling and will finish him sometime in the first two rounds.
This fight could be the next stepping stone for a title shot. Currently the next person to get that shot will be Forrest Griffin. After that, the next contender will either be the winner of this fight, or the Wand vs. Jardine fight. Either way, there is suddenly a circle of talent that will be ready to test the champ at any time. Not only is this the deepest weight class in the UFC, but it is the deepest weight class in the sport. Where else can rival with names like Rampage Jackon, Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, and Keith Jardine? The Chuck vs. Rashad fight will be exciting and full of unknowns, but two things are certain; Rashad’s chin and Chuck’s wrestling will be put to the test. If Chuck loses it could signal the beginning of the end for a future Hall-of-famer, and a rise of a young superstar to the top level.
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I do still love MMA and have...
March 8th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I disagree that the winner of this fight will be next in line for a title fight, but I understand why people are saying that (you’re not the only person I’ve heard this from).
It’s important to remember that Liddell is 1-2 in his last three fights. To give him a rematch against Page (or a fight at Forrest in the case of an upset) when he’s only 2-2 would be a mistake, at least in my mind.
The same goes for Wanderlei, who would be 1-2 if he beats Jardine.
Evans makes sense, but I still don’t think he’s put on an impressive show against a serious contender. People will say that he destroyed Lambert, and that’s true, but I don’t think that the fight with Ortiz shows that he deserves to be called a serious contender (especially given Tito’s current position in the division). Still, I can see Evans getting a shot, as the big name with the best record.
Jardine is similar, but I think that Keith is weighted down pretty heavily because of his win over Forrest and because Forrest was granted the position of top contender, despite that.
Frankly, I’m a little pissed that no one is talking about Thiago Silva, because the guy has destroyed everyone he’s fought, and all of his opponents thus far have been good fighters. I mean, Drwal was the only one without a UFC win (in fact, he was the only one who didn’t absolutely kill his first opponent in the cage, like Alexander and Irvin did), and he had won 13 fights in a row when they fought.
Silva is a warrior, and he’s stopped three very tough guys. He destroyed Alexander, and many thought (myself included) that Houston deserved to be called a contender. The only reason Silva hasn’t taken his place is because he hasn’t beaten a TUF guy yet, and so I’d like to see him fight either Jardine or Evans, depending on if either of them win their fights.
We’ll see, though. I have a feeling that the UFC is thinking that your possibility will make its fans happier, even if it doesn’t make as much sense to me. Well, I guess the UFC doesn’t cater to me.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Josh,
I could see Evans getting a shot if he beats Chuck. I think he would earn a shot if he does. Thiago Silva is a monster but I am not convinced he can hang with the top contenders, let alone the champ in this division. Especially if Hendo comes back up.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:29 am
You guys have completely forgot about Machida…..he certainly deserves to be thrown into the mix.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Rashad Evans does little if anything once he has an opponent on the ground. fails to let his hands or feet go and appears to be afraid to get hit.
Exciting fight? Not really. While Rashad may be able to take Chuck down and control him, I don’t see that happening for long without him running out of gas. I think Liddell has to simply land a number of counter-punches and that’s lights out Rashad. To his credit, Evans has appeared to withstand some punishment but I just don’t see him going past the 2nd round unless he is able to frustrate Liddell like his training partner Jardine was able to do with the vicious leg kicks.
Thiago Silva vs Rashad Evans, would have been way more exciting and full of unknowns than Liddell-Evans.
Frankly I don’t really care who’s next up for a title shot. In all UFC divisions except the middleweight the champion has not fought as often as fans would like. Sherk out due to steroid controversy. Serra spent time away with TUF, then got injured. Rampage broke his hands during a title match, and scheduled to face Griffin. And the heavyweight title was up in limbo when Randy left, but it is currently held by Big Nog.
How about either giving the champ exciting fights OR have the champ TRULY face everyone in the division every 3-4 months. While many consider Silva the top gun, let him face Okami, Cote, Kampman, Almeida and everybody else. Let Rampage mix it up with Machida, Jardine, Thiago Silva, etc., before rematches with Wanderlei, Rua, etc.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I think of the three upcoming heavy weights (machida,thiago, and evans) thiago is looking like the toughest. I mean the mans idol is wanderlei, who destroys people (or did.) People wnated chuck to fight one of the other two, but i think chuck could do the same against wither. Thiago is a younger Wanderlei in a sense, chuck just needs to keep him off with jabs. Chuck has beaten aggressive, powerful, and tactical fighters before (corture in his prime.) Machida has only three knockouts, all on no names. sure hes great at submissons, only problem is hes going to have to keep chuck on the ground to do it. I think chucks heavy hads would get to machida, and chucks abillity to stay off the ground will get him a win. Rashad is the worst of the three for the match up because he hardly is a good striker, and only a slightly better wrestler compared to the others in the weight class. Chuck has prevented and/or gotten back up from takedowns from corture, tito, rampage (in the first fight one time,) and others. He KNOWS how to keep on his feet. Rashad goes to the fence a lot, and when chuck fought wanderlei, he was throwing elbows from the cage. Rashad i dont beleive has anything on chuck except maybe youth.