Is Chuck Liddell Finished?

[Frank the Frowner]

I think it's a question that begs to be asked in the fallout of UFC 88. Look at Liddell's last few fights. He lost to Rampage. It was a major shock, due to the fact that at this time, Chuck was being built up as the best in the UFC. He was getting mainstream notoriety, and a lot of people really underestimated how awesome Rampage truly was.

Then came the Keith Jardine fight. Jardine was basically supposed to be a matchup where Chuck was in the main event, and was meant to re-establish that Chuck is still the best and needs to be given another shot for the light-heavyweight title. He lost to Jardine by decision.

Wanderlei vs. Chuck was brought up to basically make sure that both fighters could have the dream match while both men had something left. Chuck won by decision in what was a classic. Chuck's stock went up immediately, and once again, he was being looked at as a possible contender for the light-heavyweight championship again, until Rashad Evans knocked him the fuck out at UFC 88.

Where do you think Chuck goes from here? He's now going to be looked at as over-the-hill whenever his next fight takes place, and if he loses, that's it. I think the best thing he could do is jump up to the heavyweight class and have one last matchup with Couture.

 

[jmt225]

Liddell’s best days are definitely behind him. However, jumping up to heavyweight where the competition is much slower and there’s nowhere near as much depth as the 205 weight class would let him retire with some dignity. Maybe he can do well enough and earn a shot at the title and win, lose or draw... that can be his last bout. I know Joe Silva could book that properly and if Liddell actually worked and not party 24/7 and didn't under-estimate people, I think he would do fine.

 

[Marquis]

I agree moving up to heavyweight is a good idea. Because face it its to late for him to change his game hes been fighting the same for years now hes to old to fix that. Everyone knows his weakness how he waits to counter with his right when you move or strike. On top of that rahshad evans said recently that jardine told him he bites his underlip when hes gonna use is right. Face it hes completely exposed now just because they know his weakness doesn't mean everyone can take advantage of it you gotta have skill to take advantage of it. And seeing as how the HW has like what? 11 figthers more then half not even top 10 it would let him end his career on a high note. 205 is to stacked for him.

 

[Kasey]

If Chuck can't re-organize his methods....yes, he is finished. His first order of business should be to train with some other people. If you are losing your battles (as The Iceman has lost three of his last four), then it's possibly time to search for other avenues. Greg Jackson and Juanito Ibarra both understood exactly how to gameplan against Chuck and those were the fights that Chuck lost. Rampage is Liddell's Kryptonite, but with the scheme they used, Rampage just drove the point home in a fraction of the time it took for Quinton to dispose of him in the GP back in Pride. Jackson understood that and planned accordingly, thus Jardine and more recently his stablemate Evans reaped the benefits.

The biggest thing is that Chuck has to move backward to catch his opponents off guard and then unload on them when he can effectively force the pressure. All three of the guys who beat him didn't run head on, but made Chuck come to them. Chuck also has a weakness at target punching on the inside. He's a distance fighter, and these guys know that. This is why Wanderlei had problems. He, like Chuck Norris, has two speeds: walk and kill. This is how Chuck was able to engage and keep Wanderlei off balance. In a rematch, I think Wanderlei would take it if he just followed the paint-by-numbers scheme that three other fighters employed to topple the once-invincible LHW champ.

I don't dump the blame squarely on Chuck's shoulders, as this is really Hackelman's department and he should know better than to have his top fighter developed into a one trick pony that can't even effectively throw kicks anymore. If I were Chuck, I'd either hang up the gloves or switch camps and try to bring something new to the table. For a proper example on how to re-invent yourself as a fighter when approaching (or past the age of) 40, then he should look no further then the man he punched into semi-retirement in 2006. Couture switched up his strategies and changed his boxing game around to focus on more lateral head movement instead of his old scheme of planted feet and plodding, linear movement.

I think Chuck can rebound...but it's going to take some serious dedication, less partying, and a new camp. Let's face it...plan A is sucking ass for him right now and his division is getting no easier (especially since Hackelman even admitted to his wish to avoid a fight between Liddell and Machida...which was wise). Either that or Chuck can move up to heavyweight and take his chances against guys like Lesnar.

 

[Final Form Snyper.]

Chuck Liddell needs to remember why he became a fighter rather then living the Rock Star life he needs to train hard and expect results, because I have never seen a more sloppy and dis heartened Ice Man then I did in the Evans - Liddell fight.

If Chuck can't fix this problem he is going to lose alot and he will get hurt. Chuck ofcourse can re-bound a with an impressive fight and win (Even with a decision against a good fighter might sway the critics abit) he wasn't the LHW giant for nothing, he has gone on the defeat the who's who of the MMA Light Heavyweight Division.