UFC 88 - Breakthrough
On the 26th May 2007, Chuck Liddell fought Quintin “Rampage” Jackson, the only fight on his list left to avenge. This was Chuck’s opportunity to regain his unbeaten status so to speak. Unfortunately Rampage didn’t seem to know about Chuck’s plan and delivered a KO almost half way through the first round. As ever Chuck Liddell was down but not out. His first fight back from that loss was to Keith Jardine, a match that many people looked past believing Chuck would walk through the TUF alumni. However Jardine would survive long enough and score enough points to take a decision victory. Chuck looked in a bad way. But then, on December 29th 2007, Chuck fought the man people had been waiting to see him for years, Wanderlei Silva. Coming into the fight Chuck looked like the good old Chuck. Focused, determined and ready to enjoy the fight. At the end of the three rounds, having got the best of the fight by far, The Iceman’s hand was raised. Step in Rashad Evans.
Main Card
Chuck Liddell vs Rashad Evans: Light-Heavyweight
The next step in Chuck’s quest to regain the title comes in the form of the unbeaten New Yorker. Many people are looking past this fight and looking at Chuck’s potential title contention, but Evans is no push over. He has never been beaten, and holds victories over Stephan Bonnar, Michael Bisping and a KO win against Jason Lambert. 4 of Evans’ 6 victories come from decision, but this is not Chuck’s style! Interesting fight overall, especially if we see the old Chuck at least one more time.
Rich Franklin vs Matt Hamill
Both Rich Franklin and Matt Hamill have been considered forces at 185, enjoying unbeaten streaks of 3 for Hamill and an awesome 7 for Franklin. However following his two losses to Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin was struggling to find his place in the middleweight division. Then at UFC 83 in Montreal, Franklin beat Travis Lutter in impressive fashion. And Matt Hamill having lost a decision to Michael Bisping, won his last fight against the impressive Tim Boetsch. Both men are looking to add one more win to their streak in order to establish themselves once again in the 185 category.
Karo Parisian vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida: Welterweight
Karo Parisian will be looking to take out relative UFC newcomer Yoshiyuki Yoshida in style come September the 6th following his brutal KO loss to welterweight title contender Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night – Florian vs Lauzon. Parisian who is widely known to feel extremely unhappy if he doesn’t put on a show for the crowd, and was publically disappointed following a number of his decision victories and very disappointed following his loss. In Karo’s mind, he has something to prove against Yoshiyuki Yoshida who won his first and only fight in the UFC by choke in under a minute.
Dan Henderson vs Rousimar Palhares: Middleweight
Dan Henderson was on top of the Pride tables holding the titles at middle and light heavy. However on his return to the UFC after some 9 years, he has not only lost twice, both of those was a unification fight, meaning he lost both of his Pride belts in the process. Hendo is starting back on the long ladder to regaining his middleweight title in a fight against Brazilian Top Team’s Rousimar Palhares. Rousimar has only had one fight inside the UFC, winning against Ivan Salaverry inside the first round, but has only lost once in his 18 professional MMA fights.
Nate Marquardt vs Martin Kampmann
Both Nate Marquardt and Martin Kampmann have their work cut out for them. Coming off a controversial to Thales Leites, the 7 time king of pancrase Marquardt wants to chalk one up in the win column against Martin Kampmann, but I’m sure the Danish kick boxer has other ideas, having not lost a fight in the UFC yet, and coming off an impressive submission win in the first round against veteran Jorge Rivera.
