UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell isn’t looking past his upcoming fight with Renato “Babalu” Sobral, according to an article today in The Calgary Sun.

Here’s a snip from Liddell:

“I’m not counting on that fight even happening yet. I have to get past Babalu and I think Babalu will be a tougher fight than Wanderlei. But don’t get me wrong, I think I’m going to knock Babalu out again.”

Babalu tougher than Wanderlei? That’s a helluva statement. Is it true or just window dressing?

Don’t forget, Liddell iced Babalu back in November 2002 with a vicious head kick. To his credit, however, Babalu recovered in amazing fashion, winning 10 straight bouts since he lost that fight.

Maybe that’s the reason he thinks Wanderlei won’t even make it out of the first round, and Babalu will pose a more difficult challenge.

As always, we’ll just have to tune in to UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral on August 26 to find out.