Move over hamburger, it’s time for something meatier.
Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell was robbed of his chance to fight for the light heavyweight title on December 27 at UFC 92 when he was knocked out at UFC 88 ‘Breakthrough’ by “Sugar” Rashad Evans.
That Evans, what a party-pooper.
Liddell will remain on the card (assuming he’s cleared medically), but he’ll have to watch from the sidelines as someone else tries to deforest ‘Griffin’.
Will it be the 12-0-1 Rashad Evans?
Dana White confirmed today at the UFC 88 post-fight press conference that Evans next fight will indeed be for the light heavyweight title, though an exact date has yet to be determined.
I’m sure there are some finer details to be worked out, since the UFC brass is probably just as shell-shocked as the rest of us over Saturday’s developments.
In his post-fight interview, Evans seemed content to continue fighting fellow contenders, but apparently Dana and Co. are willing to reward him for such a significant victory.
Whether it’s against current champ Forrest Griffin this December or another competitor in early 2009 remains to be seen, though I would imagine whoever the champion is will be paying close attention to the outcome of Evans fight with Chuck Liddell.
As will everyone else: It’s bound to be played on highlight reels for years to come.
133 Comments »
This should be an interesting fight. Forrest had better work on his takedown defense.
Oh no, come on. Surely Rashad has done enough to dispel comments that he’s ‘just a wrestler’. Doesn’t knocking out Chuck Liddell kinda prove that you’re stand-up’s pretty good?
Hahaha, I completely agree…it wasn’t even just a knock-out, it was a beheading!
As soon as I saw Liddell’s gut in the weigh-ins, I knew he was done. lol yeah! Liddell gets KTFO by a wrestler!! I LOVE it! So much for revenge at Rampage, I hope I never hear their names together again.
Also, would anyone else like to see Franklin vs Shogun?
I think if Shogun gets back to form, he would whip Franklin, and I’m a big fan of Franklin’s.
I think that Rashad should pass through the gates of Machida first before gettin’ that title shot. But I ain’t complainin’ because someone has to keep Forrest busy to get our money’s worth…Well I guess if Rashad happens to clip Forrest too, then that would be the perfect set up to get beat up by one of my faves, Thiago Silva[who I believe is back in shape by then].
Hahahaha I am not saying that he is one dimensional by any means. I just think that he didn’t want to shoot on Chuck because he has a great sprawl. I think that he will want to shoot in on Forrest because Forrest loves to stand and trade. Forrest went 5 round with Rampage so I think that Rashad will want to take Forrest down. The comment wasn’t meant to be insulting. I was just indicating that he should prepare for what Rashad will likely attempt to do.
Forrest has pretty good takedown defense anyway. And when he is on the ground he is good at avoiding damage (see the Rua fight). AND just like for this fight- they have Jardine who can give great insight on how to get the W. Granted Forrest has improved quite a bit since then, but he was made to cry like a girl once, it can happen again.
Forrest vs. Rashad…. 2 counter punchers.
Whatever!
Great KO oby Rashad. The UFC should use this opportunity to give a title shot to Machida who truly deserves it.
Forret isnt a counter puncher. See his fight with rampage.
how does Machida deserve it ove Rashad? Atleast Rashad beat Chuck who is a top 5 LHW… Machida’s best win is vs Tito who isn’t even top 10
Kory, Liddell had his chance to get beat by Machida, and he rightfully backed down.
your a douche bag chuck has never ducked anyone.. chuck would kill machida
Sorry, but the Ice Cream man definately ducked Machida. The fight was offered to him a while back and his camp said no.
Tom’s Bombs is correct. While I do not believe by any means that Chuck is afraid of Machida, he said publicly that he did not want to fight him b/c it is impossible to find a training partner who fights Machida’s style to help him prepare. Chuck isn’t the only one, a lot of LHW’s feel the same way.
MANIA,
Why doesn’t the box stating what comments have appeared where exist anymore?
they turn it off on PPV nights. it just hasn’t been turned back on yet.
Rashad got lucky Chucks my favorite fighter and all Rashad did was dance around like a little girl den landed a lucky punch.
I am a giant Chuck fan, but that was not a lucky punch. It may have been practically his only punch, but it was not lucky.
I agree. Besides, I’ve never been convinced of the concept of the ‘lucky punch’. If your intention is to knock someone out, and you succeed, is that really just luck? Or is it just achieving what you set out to do?
That all really depends. If you are just swinging wildly in hopes of landing a knockout punch, then it is lucky to some extent. I can see what you are saying, but basically saying that it was lucky is saying that it wasn’t technical.
Good point zulu. That was not luck at all. That was a well timed, solid punch. Rashad was avoiding an upper cut and executing a beautiful over hand right at the same time resulting in the near death of Chuck Liddell.
zulu, well put
Yeah zulu, way to quote matt serra. thats exactly what he said when he was crying “IT WASN’T LUCKY!!”
That was skill but with some luck. It’s like a golfer getting a whole in one. He is going for the hole, but you can’t deny that there’s no element of luck involved.
DrHarry-
very well put.
He had landed that same punch a little bit earlier in that round as well. It obviously wasn’t as solid as the second one, but you could tell he knew to go for that punch like he said in the post fight conference.
It ain’t a lucky punch. It’s a culmination of the confidence that Rashad was gettin’ when he realized that he could stand and bang with Chuck!
Chuck couldn’t even be interviewed after… that was one of the cleanest shots ever. Rashad chose to stand and threw Chuck off his game. Chuck started his usual back-peddling, counter punching style but Rashad had Chuck chasing him in the 2nd RD. I figured Rashad would give Chuck some trouble but man I didn’t think that ending was possible. I have a whole new respect for Rashad. AND, Dana did not look happy having to congratulate him.
lol, so true. Dana normally really congratulates winners, yesterday he just said a quick, regretful, “well done”, shook Rashad’s hand and walked of. I found it funny. Both Dana and Lorenzo were secretly thinking “damn Rashad, there goes my money”
HaHa! Hilarious! There goes my money you fucker!
Yeah, they’re probably going to pocket Rashad’s KO of the Night bonus money to make up for what he just cost them.
LMFAO at Dana….It goes to show that you can’t cook the books forever, eventually you’ll get caught out. Suck shit Dana, the fighters are gonna keep making you honest man.
Props to Rashad, he is now a genuine contender at LHW and i NEVER thought i’d say that. He looked so fast and clean out there he was inspired. Chuck is looking older and slower with every fight, he should retire before he gets really damaged. Poor old Chuck has had his day.
I can’t believe i’m gonna say this but Rashad could be a really good matchup for Machida??? Both are evasive and fast and a little unorthodox….
With one clean punch the LHW division has regained it’s legitamacy. WAR RASHAD!!
I can’t stand the way Rashad dances around the cage,but it’s effective (he HASN’T lost) and that wasn’t a lucky punch. He timed it perfectly and got another REAL KO (out before they hit the mat and out for minutes afterwards). That boy has some serious KO power in his hands and feet. He is a threat to ANY LHW.
lucky eh it took skill to land it but yeah it was kinda lucky since it was all the offense he had all night, i wanna see rashad and rampage
I agree, I hate Rashad. All he did was run around, do his stupid dances, and got lucky with one of his only punches in the fight. His previous fights were all the same, showboating, and has no respect.
Take it like a man Joe. Chuck got knocked the HELL OUT!!!! No one has ever knocked Chuck like that even the Rampage knockout wasn’t that clean. Luck or no luck he got beat. Take it like a man.
Rashad vs. Griffin for sure
Not only has noone knocked out Chuck like that, I do not recall anyone every getting knocked out like that with a punch. Think back! Has anyones head ever been snapped like that? He looked like an Effen Bobblehead! That KO was straight out of the movie Friday when Debo ko’s Red, and Smokey screams; “You got knocked the F@*K OUT!” I have never heard a crowd silenced that way; other then Rashads wife screaming like a banshee off camera, you could hear crickets. All I kept thinking is lets get back to the main menu on this ppv, we must have played the Alternate Ending version, lets get the real Chuck winning ending.
Either way I would like to see Rashad take on one more top 10 before going for the title. MAchida or Rampage come to mind. That is just my opinion though….
Yeah Chuck went flat and woke up within seconds in the Jackson fight. ‘Rashad vs. Griffin for sure’- poor Machida
beleive machida should be in front of evans for title shot but i dont make the desicions lol
I would like to see Machida vs Rashad with the winner getting a title shot. Two unbeaten fighters going at it for a shot at the title. Only thing is, you let these two fight, then who’s left to fight Forrest in the meantime?
F machida! i believe if you want and title shot you should have to fight for it not run from losing.so thats why i say F machida.
Why?? He has beat Sokodjou (I know I spelled that wrong at not looking it up) and Tito lately. Earlier in his career he has some big wins. If the Thiago Silva fight went off and he won he would deserve it. Rashad is unbeaten in the octagon in 8 fights. That is pretty impressive by any standard.
What a way to answer one’s critics.
Good for Rashad. I guess he really is good enough. Just think - 3 of the top LHW in the UFC came from The Ultimate Fighter! Forrest Griffin, Keith Jardine and Rashad Evans. I guess there really is a changing of the guard underway.
I don’t know if Jardine is still up that high after he got crushed so bad by Wanderlei.
I don’t think that that’s fair, especially since the blow that really caught Jardine was to the back of the head.
Did it? I thought it was one of those right behind the ear shots ala Serra v GSP. All I know is that Jardine died and was revived in the cage- that knockout was sick. Jardine has some good/solid wins under his belt- it’s a rare animal that can avoid being knocked out by Wandy. There is no shame in losing to him. Jardine is in the UFC top 7-8. The division is just so stacked with Rua, Rampage and 3 undefeated fighters in Silva, Machida and Evans.
So he lost to Silva, have you forgotten that he beat BOTH Liddell AND Griffin? Jardine is a top LHW for sure.
Yet Dana will never pay Jardine more than $15K to win a fight, what an asshole. I love jardine & would like to see him fight a little more in the UFC
jardine is going to be fighting brandon vera
Dana will pay him when his TUF contract is up.
If Chuck would have been patient and worked as a counter striker, he could have won.
Chuck went blindly into the trap that Rashad and his team had designed for Chuck. He walked right into it.
What time is it for you up there?
It’s 2:30 am. I could tell that Rashad was planning on making Chuck the agressor pretty quickly into the fight. I have witnesses haha.
do you guys think Chuck maybe didnt have any respect for Rashad’s punching power? I mean damn…I thought the way Chuck was rushing in, like maybe he wasnt worried about Rashad;s power, then BOOM, my fav fighter is dropped face down arms down on the canvass.
but nobody has really ever seen rashads punching power, kicking power yes but rashad has never really dropped anybody with his punches. hes just so damn fast, now people will bge a lil more worried by getting caught by rashad. rashad is my man n i never knew he had that kinda power, but i knew he could stand with chuck bcuz rashad can take a beating. rashad will beat forrest
I think so too, but I think he was getting so pissed off at all the dancing he couldn’t take it anymore.
First can i just say lol at idiot who said Hendo was going to be taken down at will……
As for this topic No WAY none that he deserves title shot over Machida I assumed that after this fight he would be fighting him guess not…..Then again the ufc as of lately has been giving title shots away, so i guess i shouldve expected this shit.
One more thing OMFG cant believe he KO’d chuck, i mean sure i was like wtf is chuck doing off the get go when he was being to damn aggressive but seriously i never thought id see chuck get KO’d so badly by Rashad of all people!
Only fair, Chuck would have got one if he would have won. Wonder what is next for Chuck as he is 1-3 in his last 4 fights.
He would get a title shot because he has been there before, he has been tested and been at the top for several years. maybe or maybe not but it is what it is. Rashad is climbing the mountain that Chuck helped build. Big difference. Why did Couture get an instant title shot when coming back, It is the same reason people consider Couture the number 2 or 1 HW in the world even though his only real win against a top 5 opponent was Tim Sylvia(and most people do not consider Tim a top 5). In the last 6 years Couture has only won 6 of his last 11 fights. We would be dogging anyon else with that record, yet he is considered #1 or #2.
Yes but Randy lost to Chuck twice in Chucks prime, a juiced Josh Barnett and doctors stoppage due to a glove cutting an eyelid with Belfort whom he beat in the rematch.
If Chuck wins one more match is he due a shot over Machida or Thiago Silva just because he is Chuck?
no
Almost all of Randy’s fights were TITLE fights and he has WON FIVE belts, so don’t you think he beat some TOP guys?LOL. He doesn’t have the best record, because when you always fight top guys you lose some.
What I am saying is that Chuck has always fought Prime Fighters. Just like you are defending Randy that He won the belt 5 times, because he lost 4. Chuck held the belt and defended it succesfully 4 or 5 times, he railed of 7 wins against top conteders as well. Yes he lost to Jardine(who is his only crap loss and even that is subject to debate, how crappy jardine is subjec, not the lost). All I am saying is that he has earned a spot on top. Obviously this low drops him lower on the totem pole. I personally do not think Chuck or Rashad should get a title shot. I was saying Chuck would have gotten a title shot because he is who he is. Just like Randy, Chucks place in the UFC is equal or better then. You can not defend Randys status and the way he gets title shots without defending Chuck.
Personally I believe nobody but Rampage should be getting a crack at the title. That fight was to close and in my opinion-as well as others-Rampage had that 3 of those 5 rounds, but thats me. While that happens, Machida, Rashad, and Silva can workout next contender up…
and Chuck said he’d win against Fedor? what a clown…
Wow, here you go with your Fedor crap again. You my friend have a bigger crush on Fedor than Jean Claude Van Damm. Chuck is anything but a clown. One day Fedor will get old and start falling off and nobody will call him a clown. Everyone will remember all the good about him so why don’t you show some respect. If it weren’t for Chuck I probably wouldn’t even be an MMA fan today. He has done a lot for the sport in America and he is a big reason MMA has gotten so huge in this country.
Sure Fedor is and has been the most dominant fight for a while now but what has he done for the sport in America. I don’t like Fedor but I do respect him and for you to refer to Chuck as a clown, you are just showing everyone how shallow you really are.
CHUCK SUCKS
first, I’ve been watching PRIDE since 2004. Second, Fedor doesn’t have to do anything for America. Third, Chuck was talking trash alot and he got what he’s deserved. Peace!
First off I do not think that he was saying Fedor has to do anything for America. He is stating that was has he done for the sport in America. Big difference. He owes us Americans nothing but the Sport eveything because thats what lines his pockets and bed sheets green-or whatever the color of the money he gets paid in is. Chuck has done a ton for the sport in western cultures, while Fedor is still a virtual unknown to the common fan. Chuck has been making fans in the UFC in 1998. He has been a consumate ambassador for the sport and has taken it were ever possible. You must respect what he has done for the sport.
Chuck talked trash! Umm that is what all fighters do, either respectfully or disrespectully it what you have to do to be the best, from Dan Henderson and Randy Couture to new comers like Urijah Faber and Tyson Griffen. You can not walk into a fight questioning your ability. You go in to a fight as the best especting the best. You do not second guess you skills or you get KO’d. The other part of trash talking is marketing. Why does Tito Ortiz still sell more PPV then guys like GSP, ANdesrson Silva, or BJ PEnn-even though they are 99times the better fighter then Tito is? Because of all the trash talk. You pay to either see him back up his mouth or get Knocked the F@#K Out! He is the MMA King of Trash Talk Promotion…
WHAT IS NEXT FOR CHUCK? THE NEW CHUCKY NURSERY HOUSE IN VEGAS WITH TANK ABBOT AS CARETAKER.GOOD BYE MY LOVE GOOD BYE MY FRIEND
Maybe now he can get that fight with Fergie Slice.
No, Chuck is fighting the winner of Kimbo and Shamrock…So he’s fighting Kimbo next…I kid, I kid.
Um, Fergie Slice, or Fergie, is the preferred MMAMania.com nickname of the mixed martial arts super-duper-ultra-mega star Kimbo Slice, a.k.a. Kevin Ferguson.
i’d rather see rashad v wanderlei. and it wasn’t a “lucky” punch. it was a perfect punch that would’ve ko’d any LHW. Chuck should move upto HW for a couple more paydays then retire. 38 isn’t young.
Bisping hasnt fought anybody? Ask Evans who gave him a tougher fight! Bisping or Chuck.
Rashad Evans doesn’t deserve a title shot. I find him the most annoying fighter around due to his nipple twisting, stupid dancing and idiotic fight antics. I’m a Chuck fan but he should retire and a win over him shouldn’t mean u get a title shot. Rashad needs to fight a top 5 LHW…so he get a beatdown that he deserves
If Chuck beat Rashad he would have got a title shot, but Rashad beats Chuck and he doesnt deserve one.
I see.
Chuck is more entertaining. Evans is a f**cking clown.
Chuck WAS more entertaining. UFC needs to open a veterans division for Chuck, Hughes and Tito et al.
u guys are just made bcuz your fav fighter got KTFO
rashad doesn’t deserve a title shot because his last few fights include a win of bisping and a draw against a washed up tito…hardly championship material i’m sure u’d agree
chuck would have been deserving if he’d beaten rashad as he had a convincing win over wanderlai (a top LHW).
However given the sarcastic tone to ur post i can only assume u think that a win over bisping (at 205) is just as credible as a win over wandy??
he wouldn’t be deserving because he just lost to rampage and then jardine, so just because hye had 1 win or wandy doesn’t mean u get a title shot
but his idiotic fighting antics throws people off, and since he’s so fast he can catch anybody from anywhere, and he will beat forrest and i will be laughing at all you people again
Evans KO of Liddell reminded me of this drunken scotsman i saw in the high street one time hurling rasicts remarks at this stocky black gentlemen.
I’m a Chuck fan but I have to give Evans his props. He reversed roles with Chuck tonight and made it work. Chuck is a great counter striker but when Evans took that role he made Chuck become the aggressor and “BoomShackAlacka”!
Yeah I agree, Evans beat him at his own game, counter punching.
Maybe if Randy gets past Brock and Nog, we will get to see Chuck vs Randy again. That fight would sell and don’t think it hasn’t crossed Dana White’s mind. I think at this point and time randy would win but I am fans of them both and I wouldn’t really care who won.
They wouldnt do Chuck/Randy 4 because Chuck has already won 2-1. And they have btought out boxsets saying the “Complete Liddell/Couture TRILOGY”, so why would they book a 4th fight? Randy wouldnt want it, neither would Chuck probably
The bottom line is that it would sell. What else is Chuck gonna do? He can’t keep getting knocked out in this stacked LHW division. I read an interview about a month back and Chuck was saying he thinks Randy has really evolved as a fighter and he wouldn’t mind fighting Randy again in the future. He said he thinks the fans would want to see it.
after last night, I’m sure thats the last thing on Chuck’s mind….I dont know what he will do, but I hope he doesnt tarnish his legacy any further….what a shame to see him KO’d like that at the end of his career.
he needs to lose the gut and cut down to 185 and be silva’s highlight reel
You would think, Evans would go up to check up on his opponent.
lol r u kidding? Rashad was moving in to land some more bombs on Liddell who was face down arms down out cold lol Rashad doesnt care…..this is cage fighting. If Chuck had KO’d Rashad he would have done the same thing.
I see some whiners b**tching about Rashad doing the “Fred Sanford” move after the fight. Get over it. MOST fighters have victory celebrations after their fights, even when their opponents are crumpled up on the ground unconscious. Chuck himself has done his dance after crushing Randy, Tito, and Vernon White. Chuck didn’t “check on” any of those guys after he destroyed them. Even nice guys like Rich Franklin do a celebration after a great stoppage.
Being unhappy that Rashad won (if you are that) is fine. Whining about a standard fighter celebration that virtually all fighters do is ridiculous. Shut up about that.
Yes, Rashad deserves a title shot. It doesn’t matter if he lays and prays all over Forrest for the whole five rounds—he deserves the shot based on this win and being undefeated against other tough opponents. People need to get over it. Guys like Lyoto and Rashad win fights, so they deserve title shots. Chuck should strongly consider retiring.
Deserving a title shot is one thing, getting it is another. Watch the interview Dana White gave to MMA Live on ESPN. He said “At the end of the day we put on fights people want to see.”
So the person who gets the first shot at Forrest Griffen is the one that is going to make the biggest, most porfitable fight. Sorry I just don’t think that is Rashad, and I don’t really want to see him fight. Yes part of it is the reaction he had after the fight, and the way he carries himself, and part of it is I don’t think he is very exciting to watch. Not like Forrest Griffen or Anderson Silva, who are not only the champions, but they are fighters the majority of people like the most, and like watching fight the most. Sorry that isn’t my opinion, that is facts. Look at the ppv buys for their fights, and the fans reactions.
I agree, but I’m curios as to how you felt after Brocks post fight celebration? Just looking for consistency.