Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is calling for a rematch against Keith Jardine at UFC 96 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 7, according to a recent radio interview on The Tom Leykis Show.
Here’s a snip:
“There’s been a few names. We have Jardine listed. We want him in March.”
“The Dean of Mean” upset the “Iceman” at UFC 76: “Knockout” in September 2007. He beat the 38-year-old to the punch and strafed him with leg kicks en route to a unanimous decision win.
Liddell rebounded to defeat Wanderlei Silva in a thrilling three-round war at UFC 79: “Nemesis” in December 2007. However, he could not capitalize on the momentum and was most recently on the wrong end of a vicious knockout at UFC 88: “Breakthrough” courtesy of Rashad Evans.
His rumored fourth match up with Randy Couture appears to be all but dead. And another speculative showdown against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva also appears to have been sunk.
If he gets his wish to rematch Jardine it would be a great opportunity to avenge a loss and get back on track in 2009 before putting a ribbon on his illustrious career.
Jardine most recently locked horns with Brandon Vera at UFC 89: “Leben vs. Bisping” on October 18, winning an underwhelming unanimous decision. He rebounded from a crushing knockout loss to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 84: “Ill Will” back in May.
The “Dean of Mean” also boasts recent wins over Liddell and Forrest Griffin.
At this point a rematch with Liddell could be dangerous one for his career — Liddell has lost three of his last four fights and he’s no longer the same fighter who dominated the division for two years up until 2007.
Nonetheless, he still possesses the ability to win fights with just one punch.
Liddell is still a huge draw and a very popular fighter who is very capable of putting on a great show. It has the potential to be a big money match for both fighters, which could override any reservations from the Jardine camp.
UFC 96 is currently officially unannounced and does not have a main event. It will once again coincide with the Arnold EXPO — the largest health and fitness expo in the nation — for its annual convention.
56 Comments »
Id like to see Chuck go for broke against A. Silva but I guess a rematch with Jardine would be ok. Chuck wins the rematch easy if he uses his all around game. I dont think he will stand and trade as he has two knockout losses recently, and almost 3 when he was knocked down in the Jardine fight.
I really cant think of a good match up for Chuck besides A. Silva.
F this!!!!!! Jardine is not in any way one of my favorite fighters, but stop shafting him already! What would beating LIddell again do for Jardine’s career? NOT A DAMN THING!!!! its just not fair to him. He beat Liddell when beating Liddell still meant something and the UFC still Jerked him off! DO NOT TAKE THIS FIGHT KEITH!!!!!
i’d hardly say they jerked him off … he has been facing top class oposition since the chuck fight….. its his own fault for being inconsistant or else he would of had a title fight by now
If Forrest loses the title next week, I wouldn’t mind seeing Chuck vs. Forrest!
This fight is gonna happen. Liddell still has pull with Dana and Lorenzo. I think this might be good for Jardine too. If he can finish him then he gets back on track like never before with the damn split decisions.
let chuck fight jardine and then the winner of that fight can fight either the loser of evans/griffin or the loser of page/wand, while the winner of evans/griffin and page/wand can fight for the title
The problem with that scenario is that it leaves out Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva. But I like the idea of them fighting and then having the winner fight the loser of Evans/Griffin, although if Forrest and Chuck both win it would set up a rematch with Chuck-Rashad which seems a bit premature.
I could not agree more. I’m not a huge Jardine fan either, but it bugs me to see him used as the perpetual stepping stone for the UFC’s favored sons. Jardine’s next opponent should be virtually anyone well regarded in the division EXCEPT for Liddell.
Well tell him stop being inconsistent.
Oh and the Vera fight was a split decision.
Yaaawwwwwnnnnnnn. Who cares. One guy is past his prime - the other is the devil with califlower ears.
ionno bout this, if chuck goes for some takedowns and does something other than having his right hand ready and hands down maybe he will win. but jardine will probably beat him again
id rather see anderson silva fight kieth jardine. the iceman should retire or fight brandon vera.
I agree that Vera and Chuck makes sense. Both neeed a win and are coming off poor peformances. It would be an interesting match-up also. Veras kicks versus Chucks hands. Although, I am a huge Chuck fan I do believe his hand speed and power are less than what they used to be. I dont know if he has it anymore. I wish he did and I would love to see him win the title back, but I dont see it happening. If he did I think it would be the greatest comback ever, but with all the heavy drinking thats just not goona happen.
“A lifelong member of trainer John Hackleman’s “The Pit” near San Luis Obispo, California, Liddell recently has spent time with American Top Team in Florida to help improve his skills.”
by Sam Caplan FOP.
I’d be interested to see what Chuck’s changes are, this is a good thing for Chuck, he needed a change!
I bet he just dropped by during his vacation or something, so the word can get out and everyone will stop telling him to retire. I mean come on, can you imagine Liddell on his back or working for positions from the top?
LOL… u think Chuck stopped by wearing shorts n’ sandals with a Mickey’s in his hand, shooting the shit with the boys at American Top Team?… I dunno’ maybe’!
Chuck Liddell against Rich Franklin or Dan Henderson would be interesting.
i would rather see chuck fight vera
I guess this is what happens when you’re close to retirement eh? Sad day to see Chuck calling out a losing TUF fighter. Who cares if you lost to the guy Chuck….call out someone with a big name man…you only have so many fights left.
Chuck should in no way be calling for rematches with anyone. This is a ridiculous match only set up to stroke his ego because he feels he had an “off night” against Jardine. I hope Jardine and his camp refuse this rematch.
So who would you like him to fight?
Vera would be an interesting match-up for Chuck. Both are coming off of significant losses, yet still have some name value to market the fight, especially if the UFC’s still planning on expanding into the Philippines. And before his year off, Vera was calling out the Iceman hard.
Why would Jardine want this? Its a lose lose for him imo, but then again Liddell is UFCs goldenboy while Jardine is their trashcan.
I don’t think theres any fighter as good as Jardine and who have been in the UFC as long as him who gets such a complete garbage salary.
I bet it’s because he only wins boring decisions or gets knocked out spectacularly.
Jardine vs. Luis Cane. That is the fight that needs to happen, not Chuck/Jardine II.
I like the sound of that, it has the making fight. Cane was completely unfazed by the shots that Soko was landing so Jardine had better have something more potent in his fists and legs. I think that Chuck should have Vera or Houston, just like he got Jardine when he lost to Rampage. I picked him to lose against Jardine and Rashad and he did, so I really could care less for him fighting Anderson Silva no matter what he has done in the past. The novelty of watching him shuffle around waiting to land the big punch, wore off for me a while ago. Chuck normally gets what he wants though and Jardine may not have a choice loses. Chuck losing to Jardine will totally kill his selling power, that would be the only reason that the UFC would not put the fight on. There are a whole heap of fans out there that will pay money to see Chuck fight no matter how many times he loses, but there will definately be a few less if he loses to Jardine again.
fact!
C’mon Jardine is not a contender for the title. I like to watch him fight because he is a weird guy but you cannot put this guy with Anderson Silva. Silva would hurt him so much.
Even Lidell would be almost kill if he fight A.Silva
i do believe that at this point of chuck’s career he’s no longer thinking that he would get another shot at the title anymore and he knows that only few fights left are available in his book. so before he retires,he wants atleast a matchup that would make sense for him, fighting jardine again would make sense for him, he might regret it if he retires w/out a rematch at jardine,and keep thinking for the rest of his life (i should beat that guy if we done a rematch).
this fight is pointless to jardine
have jardine fight cane and lidell vs alexander or vera
if this fight does happen i will not go see it live when i saw it last year in anaheim
Actually, I believe this would be a good fight for Chuck. I thought the first fight was close, so a re-match could be exciting. I don’t think Anderson Silva is a good match-up for anybody, although I’d like to see him fight Bispin
I think Chuck will KO Jardine if they go again.
This match will happen for two reason’s.
One. I am a huge Chuck fan, but chuck gets what he wants with the UFC.
Two. I have been to both UFC events in Columbus and they put alot of big names on that card and none of the other big names will be ready for ufc 96. Unless Big Nog defeats mir easy then you could have Lesnar and Nog, or Anderson, but who is for him to fight at Middleweight to be able to market a big fight? Noone, and we know the UFC is about $$$$.
Chuck needs to stay away from greg jackson fighters and focus on anderson silva.
Or stay away from any fighters and focus on beer.
or stay away from beer and focus on fighting.
Chuck should never fight Anderson Silva, especially coming off of the brutal KO from “SUGAR” Rashad. I luv Chuck he has always been one of my top 3 guys that I enjoy watching but I think he is finished. He has only won one of his last four fights right and the losses must be taking there toll as they have been KO’s against him, the “Sugar” KO was one of the most brutal KO’s I have seen and you know he will be taking head damage in the fight before Anderson KO’s him.
This fight doesn’t make any sense. I don’t see how it would be appealing enough to pull a lot of ppv buyers. Also, neither fighter gains much with a win.
If I was Jardine I would tell them to Fu@$ off. What would be the point. Absolutely no point for him to fight Chuck. Maybe if the UFC promises Jardine 500K and a guaranteed title shot, but that won’t happend. Just plain stupid.
Jardine totally gets the shaft eh!!!
I want to see this rematch for sure, why not? If I put myself in Chucks shoes why on earth would I fight someone like Anderson Silva or Randy Couture or even Forrest Griffin, a loss would end Chucks career no doubt, if jardine loses no big deal, he’s not out but if chuck loses hes out for sure, jadine always wins then loses then wins then loses , I think jardine is a great fighter and I think jardine would take this match because chuck is going in with the mentality if I lose this is it for me, plus last time they fought chuck was not fighting at the top of his game, he has been off in left field somewhere, if jardine does not work out a brandon vera match up makes sense or houston alexander
By the way, Mania, Jardine won a SPLIT decision against Liddell, not a unanimous one. Just saying.
That’s a win/win situation for Jardine. He already beat him once & it would be a big ppv and main or co main event. Plus he should be confident since his teammate and him can go back and fourth beating on Liddell!
I fully expect this fight to happen. Chuck gets whatever he wants and I don’t think Jardine will turn down the fight. I’m not sure who to pick beceause you never know what your going to get out of Jardine.
Man I’m as big a Chuck fan as anybody, but we know it and I believe Chuck now knows it. He is past his prime, he lost speed and power and he can’t keep up with the top dogs at 205 anymore.
That being said I think avenging one of his losses before he goes makes sense. I think after this we might see him in one more huge PPV but then he’ll walk away.
It’s like the saying goes “every great fighter has one great fight left in him”- I believe that was the Wandy fight for Chuck.
Chuck hasn’t lost anything, he just gets sloppy.
In his fight with Evans he won the first round, and in the second he juss got caught.
That happens to alot of fighters. It wasn’t like Chuck was getting dominated and he was too slow to keep up with Evans. He was winning and he juss got caught thass all. If Chuck wouldn’t have got caught who knows what coulda happened. Chuck could very well be fighting for the title on the 27th if it wasn’t for that punch. It was juss one punch, it wasn’t like he got tired and Evans was executing combinations.
All Chuck needs to do is go back to countering and stop looking for the knockout.
Wouldn’t mind seeing them rematch. Jardine would have no room to complain unless he actually wins two fights in a row for once.
I would love to see Chuck vs. Shogun, Forrest (if he loses at 92)and maybe Vera. I would even pay to see Chuck vs. Rampage 3.
chuck jardine 2 is a good match up hope they make this one… chuck by tko
SHAVE YOUR HEAD BALD, MOHAWKS ARE OUTDATED LIKE U
So is using all CAPS!
jardine vs cane, liddell vs vera
I never want to see Brandon Vera fight again, has there ever been a more over rated fighter in the UFC, dudes all hype man.
Yes sir!
Once again I said ages ago that this was the fight for chuck!! Still is.
But why the f**k is this not on the 95 card, ufc have to be telling guys when to fight, guys like chuck have had months off and the card needs big fights!!
Chuck is my fav fighter but it annoys me that he wont fight on the 95 card, the uk fans should have had the privelage of him before his injury, and now hes not gony be ready for whatever reason, its just crap!!
I think that would a good fight for Chuck because Jardine didn’t really get anything off against Chuck in the last fight. This time Chuck will use his whole game and it should be very affective against Jardine. Jardines losses have shown that if you pressure him he kind wilts until he gets KOed. I think if Chuck comes out and pressures him with punches,kicks,and takedowns he should be able to knock him out somewhere in the transitions. Chuck might be a little older, but I still don’t think he’s showed what he’s really capable of doing in the octagon, and I think from now on you will see the evolution of the fighter Chuck Liddell.