UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell will appear on the cover of ESPN The Magazine — one of the largest and most-read sports publications in the nation, according to the Boston Herald.
The “Iceman” edition, which is dated May 21, comes directly on the heels of professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s appearance on the front page.
And of course, UFC President Dana White was more than willing to share his two cents in the article about the super fight that wasn’t so super between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya.
Here’s a snip:
“I’m not bashing boxing, I love it. But all these people have destroyed this sport, I’m just being honest. A lot of guys want to act like it’s not. They got something like 2 million (pay-per-view) buys, they did a $20 million gate. Imagine what they could have done with an undercard and if they had done it the right way. That was their biggest mistake…. Saturday night is what pisses everyone off. It’s crazy. It just drives people further from boxing. You get one fight for 55 bucks. One fight for a $2,500 ticket. You get people all excited for the buildup and then the fight ends up sucking. Both guys try to outpoint the other and win a decision. In the UFC, we give you eight or nine fights, they’re all good, and the guys are fighting their asses off trying to finish it. There’s tons of energy.”
Unfortunately, an article about a UFC fighter gracing the cover of a major sports magazine has to turn into another mixed martial arts vs. boxing debate.
I can only hope that the feature, which was written by Allison Glock, doesn’t travel down that same over-beaten path.
42 Comments »
Dana’s got to throw it out there. He’s right entirely. I also feel that they put that fight together wrong. It should of been called a draw just to keep the crowd pumped for a potential 2nd fight. It already sucked and the pro De La Hoya crowd left with the loss. This will hurt boxing even more.
I think he makes a solid point about the undercard — It uned in at 11 because I knew the rest of the show would be a snooze-fest. I just want the argument to be put to rest — both can co-exist.
The crowd was pro De La Hoya throughout the whole fight, even after the fight. Boxing chose Mayweather to be the franchise face. Pumping him up as one of the best of all time and possibly the best pound for pound of all time. Well most of the crowd didn’t show up to see Mayweather win although he was favorite. De LA Hoya is the last boxer to bring in the crowd. There is no one else. That fight was close enough to call either way, but with boxing’s slow ass tempo and shitty scoring rules you get a guy like mayweaher pulling the win with a performance like the one he gave. Dana’s right about the undercard also. All the hype and it wasn’t even close to potential
whos the little boy???
What’s not to love about Chuck Liddell?
Uh, Nyquil, hookers, Ross Pointon, …
Nah, I just hope his sudden fame and resultant big head have been gotten under control by John S and DW. I was a big fan until about 9 months ago. His recent behavior has just soured me. He’s still #1 until someone knocks him off. I think Rampage is being rushed to give Chuck a better chance, but sooner or later he is gonna have to face either Wandy or Shogun or Soko. And then we will see. That’s if he gets by QRJ.
I’d like to see Iceman retire when he’s at the top maybe at the end of this year or next. He’s crushed everyone lately. He does have Matt Hughes’ title defense mark to try to break (how many.. 7 or 9 straight?) but other than that, he has nothing to prove and should go straight into the hall of fame.
Hookers? I have yet to read about hookers. Do tell MoreThanUFC.
Nice find but you left out Couture!
http://www.ufccountdown.com/news/randy-couture-will-grace-the-cover-of-sports-illustrated/
That fight just proved a long standing point. Yes, both can co-exist because they are completely different. Boxing is the NASCAR of combat sports. All the top fighters are just about identical in skils, and it turns into a battle to see who can throw the most punches. To continue with my analogy, MMA is like Formula 1. Every fighter is unique in trainning and development. As was proven over the last few title matches, anyone can win in MMA. If boxing can get rid of the rotten entrenched management, it will be able to thrive again and MMA and boxing will be able to co-exist, but until then, MMA will continue to crush boxing.
Good that he is getting publicity…
MtUFC… hookers? Fill me in!
[quote comment="51873"]Hookers? I have yet to read about hookers. Do tell MoreThanUFC.[/quote]
Anyone remember what thread I posted those pictures on? I doubt they were hookers, though one is definitely a pornstar. Hmmm, anyone remember for the new memebers? The server has gotten dirt slow in the last ten minutes making my search nearly impossible.
If that Fight can take in that kind of $$ of course both sports can co-exist! Just need some one to fix up boxing… Some one with lots of $$ to buy up some the shows and consolidate 1 title in each weight class.
Dana is right, I paid $55 for the oscar fight and I felt ripped off, I don’t think I will ever paid for another boxing PPV.
For some reason, my posts are showing up after I refresh, can anyone see this?
i just posted them, and it wouldnt work
http.//i16.tinypic.com/316nbrr.jpg
I think it is unavoidable for this article to go down the whole boxing vs. mma deal. I dont know who started this whole thing with the comparisons, but now that its started, I dont see it ending until MMA trounces boxing in terms of dollars. Then, people will hopefully stop caring and just appreciate the sports.
Its good to see Chuck getting even more recognition for the sport.
yeah they wont post for me….mtu posted them after them after chuck was on the show on nyquil, you can go look it up, 3 pages back if you click on Chucks name to the left
Chucks the man I hope he keeps throttling people but I would like to see him actually have to try. If anyone has seen the overeem fight I would like a repeat of that
What’s not to like about Chuck??? nothing, I still love the guy. He’ll knock your ass out.
It’s good to see Any UFC guy on the cover of ESPN megazine.
This rocks.
Never been a Dana White fan. He should just be quiet about it and act like a bigger person. Let the people be the judge. They can see. I agree with “Mania”.
i agree if you dont like chuck theres something wrong with ya
I watched the boxing last weekend. The only thing entertaining about it was listening to Larry Merchant go confused old man every few minutes like the Harry Caray of boxing. As bad as the Sylvia-AA 3 and O’Brien-Herring fights were, this was 10 times worse. Neither was making any effort to dominate the other or finish the fight. It looked like they conspired to put on a boxing demonstration rather than a fight. But hey, why should they risk injury when they’ve already been guaranteed a payday that will keep them living well for five lifetimes.
You guys see Fedor on aol front page today? They did 15 baddest men in their sport, Fedor was 3rd & Liddell was 1st. It’s a big step with the way they’re starting to be recognized by the world.
Good info Tommy…
Funny thing is, I watch the Contender almost daily on ESPN…
Its like Ive said before, I watch more boxing now that Im an MMA fan… fills in the gaps. But pay to watch boxes? Definately not…
so does anyone know who this little boy is with chuck…son??i didnt know he had a son if so
Its his son Cade.
I think the coloring on my computer might be off cause it looks like Chuck is wearin’ a thong or a man-kini. Oh well, even if he is wearin one and holding a very young boy, I still love the guy.
first chuck on espn’s mag. then randy on sports ill coming this summer. this is all great for mma but i am posting this just after reading the ufc 72 is on ppv now. dana sounds a little hypocritical now saying they didnt do dlh vs pbf ppv any justice. what does he call 72? at least that was a championship bout.
CHUCK NEEDS TO SUCK IN THAT BEER BELLY..
Dana White is a genius.
Chucks a good man, no matter what they say…Hes the champ with an almost elite record…
Chuck is one of my favorite fighters.Is it true that he does alot of coke?
I dont think he dose coke he gets tested before alot of his fight. Well i hope not anyway.
Someone should do a poll somewhere and see what people like best boxing or mma.
[quote comment="52217"]Someone should do a poll somewhere and see what people like best boxing or mma.[/quote]
good call just not on an mma site
[quote comment="52206"]Chuck is one of my favorite fighters.Is it true that he does alot of coke?[/quote]
[quote comment="52206"]Chuck is one of my favorite fighters.Is it true that he does alot of coke?[/quote]
hell yeah he does, I heard he once did 10 grams in 10 minutes… wait or was that george Jung?…
[quote comment="52000"]so does anyone know who this little boy is with chuck…son??i didnt know he had a son if so[/quote]
[quote comment="52026"]Its his son Cade.[/quote]
yeah I stole thats kids milk money so I’m kinda on the run from chuck… He cant catch me though, cause i’m a runner and he has a beer belly…
[quote comment="52218"][quote comment="52217"]Someone should do a poll somewhere and see what people like best boxing or mma.[/quote]
good call just not on an mma site[/quote]
yeah i was thinking that after i typed it but at least mma would win.
Chuck is the Man…I say After he wallops Rampage, he should look at a rebounding Cro Cop who now seems very vulnerable, either way that would be a SPECTACLE! Wandy, Shogun, maybe even Hendo! Hey Hendo has earned it! I think Sokodoujo would be sweet but he’s too green for Chuck, as well as Vera.
by the way Chuck is 37 he’s entitled to a beer belly, hes still all-around fit, most 37 yr olds can’t touch him!
Boxing has died in the arse, both boxers had no idea, after watching UFC, boxing seems in slow motion.
[quote comment="52422"]Chuck is the Man…I say After he wallops Rampage, he should look at a rebounding Cro Cop who now seems very vulnerable, either way that would be a SPECTACLE! Wandy, Shogun, maybe even Hendo! Hey Hendo has earned it! I think Sokodoujo would be sweet but he’s too green for Chuck, as well as Vera.
by the way Chuck is 37 he’s entitled to a beer belly, hes still all-around fit, most 37 yr olds can’t touch him![/quote]
i dont think he has a beer belly. that’s just the way he’s built.