Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell

 

Born	Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Fighting out of	San Luis Obispo, California
Age	38
Height	6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight	205 lbs. (93 kg)
Overall MMA Record (W-L-D)	21-5-0
Strengths	Excellent striker, well-rounded grappler

 

Making his UFC debut back in 1998, Chuck Liddell began tentatively with a decision win over Noe Hernandez followed by a submission loss the Jeremy Horn. Liddell put that early disappointment behind him going a devastating four year, ten fight win streak including wins against Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort & Renato Sobral. During this time, then Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, refused to fight Liddell who grew noticeably frustrated at the situation as did UFC management. In June 03 the UFC decided to force the situation and muddy the waters, making a match between Liddell and former Heavyweight champion Randy Couture for an Interim title and insisted that Ortiz face the winner for the undisputed title soon after. It was agreed and against popular belief, Liddell was out thought against Couture, who used his footwork & superior wrestling ability to take Liddell off his feet and finish him in the third round. The title had slipped from Liddell’s grasp again.

After a brief spell overseas with Pride, Chuck returned to the octagon, getting the match he had craved for so many years, a match against the now former champion Tito Ortiz, who had lost his title to Couture. Finishing the fight in devastating fashion in the second round, Liddell refocused his sights on the title and after one more fight, got a rematch with champion Couture. In April 05 his second chance came, and this time a new champion was crowned with Liddell brutally knocking out Couture in round 1. The era of “The Iceman” had begun. Liddell, now on a three fight win streak, increased this to seven over the next three years, avenging his earlier loss to Horn and re matching Couture, Sobral and Ortiz knocking all of them out.

In May 07, Liddell faced former Pride fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a fighter he had lost to in his brief spell in Pride. Things didn’t turn out any better for Liddell on this occasion, with Jackson knocking him out in 90 seconds of the first round and his long rain as champion was over. He took a number of months to recover from the shock of losing and many believe a match against well prepared and dangerous striker Keith Jardine came too early for Chuck, who suffered back to back losses for the first time in his long career. With the acquisition of Pride and signing a number of fighters including long time nemesis Wanderlei Silva, the UFC gave Liddell, Silva and the fans the fight that everyone had wanted to see for years, the long time UFC 205lb champion against the long time Pride 205lb champion. This fight was scheduled for Dec 07, being put on the biggest card of the year and relit the fire under Liddell he lost in May. A three round, back and forth war ensued which ended up with Liddell coming up on top and looking for a run back at the title he craves so badly.