With the UFC 76 showdown between Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva officially squashed (the latest official write up on UFC.com being the final nail in the coffin) the former light heavyweight champion is still eager to fight in September and November, according to Yahoo!Sports.
Here's a snip from the "Iceman:"
"I love to fight, so I'd like to do both [September and November] if they want me for both. Bottom line, there aren't any problems for me to be ready for (November) if I have a fight in September, so I'd like to see them do it."
The last time Liddell competed twice in such a short timeframe was back in 2003, when after his loss to Randy Couture in June, he participated in PRIDE FC: "Total Elimination" in August of that same year.
Without question, the UFC would love to accommodate his request -- Liddell is hands down the biggest draw for the promotion.
The problem is, who the hell does he fight in September, let alone again in November?
When the deal fell through with "The Axe Murderer," White indicated that there was now a scramble to find a main event for the show in Anaheim, Calif., on September 22.
The extraordinary talent of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will already be on display. However, the Brazilian is up against the ultra tough Ryoto Machida in his Octagon debut.
Jason Lambert, according to MMAWeekly.com, is slated to appear at UFC 76 and his opponent has not been determined.
Regardless, a fight between Liddell and Lambert is hardly the attraction -- or the test for Liddell -- that fans are going to pay to see.
And rising 205-pounder Rashad Evans is already lined up to rematch Tito Ortiz in his next contest thanks to a disappointing draw at the recent UFC 73 event. In addition, Michel Bisping is booked to face Matt Hamill at UFC 75.
Keith Jardine is available, so too is fan-favorite Forrest Griffin -- two popular contestants from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) series.
Those are the only two options on the table as far as this fan can see it. And Griffin -- despite his loss to "The Dean of Mean" -- seems like the more favorable option.
Unless I'm missing something, this seems like an uphill battle for the UFC and its matchmaker, Joe Silva.
It makes the prospect of a November return for Liddell seem that much more likely.
Even then it's a tough call -- perhaps the loser of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Dan Henderson at UFC 75 on September 8? Or, the loser of Rua-Machida on September 22?
Time will tell, but the prospect of Liddell fighting in September against a worthy opponent seems highly unlikely now that Silva is out of the picture.
Unless, of course, as some readers have intelligently pointed out, UFC heavyweight standout Brandon Vera decides to return from hiatus at 205.