A man lies dazed and unconscious on the canvas; a
referee and medical team are standing over him. Another man charges backwards,
his arms out to his side, an angry expression on his face, a sense of intensity
and relief fills his pacey surge across the cage. It is an iconic picture, one
that MMA viewers have seen many times over the reign of the once dominant Chuck
‘The Iceman’ Liddell.
Whether it is the kick to Renato Sobral, the
combination on Tito or the good night Vernon White fight, Liddell will go down
in MMA history as one of the most devastating strikers in the Business. After
becoming the UFC champion after Knocking out MMA legend Randy ‘The Natural’
Couture, the Mohawk KO artist defended and dispatched opponents from the
caliber of Jeremy Horn and pride veteran ‘The Axe Murderer’ Wanderlei Silva.
Liddell will return to the ring at UFC 115 against
former middleweight champion Rich Franklin, whose coming off the back of a
brutal KO loss to one of Liddell’s former victims Vitor Belfort.
With both fighters being big draws in their
respected divisions, the fight will naturally make big money on Pay Per View
sales. But is the UFC overlooking the health of an aging fighter for the value
of financial gain? Is this Liddell’s final pride before the disastrous fall?
Recent pictures leaked from the Iceman’s training
camp are hinting that I will eat my words. Images of a toned and much leaner Liddell
show that he is taking this comeback very seriously, but at 40, is Liddell’s
promise of a last title run an unrealistic dream by a fighter not ready to let
go?
Loosing 4 of his last 5 fights, the last being to
the current Light Heavy Weight Champion Shogun Rua, many believe Liddell’s
latest comeback to be ill advised for a fighter who has looked half the athlete
he was. His reactions and reflexes aren’t what they were, and his once reliable
granite chin has worn out its resistance.
Others will point to Randy Couture for inspiration.
Being written off for being to old has been a current theme through his late
career, but just ask Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga how tough the old man
really is, after he regained the Heavy Weight Title at the ripe old age of 43.
Liddell is already considered a legend, who holds
the longest consecutive knock out streak in the UFC (7 fights), but for
Franklin, this is a chance for a big scalp of a big name, and will well and
truly get his career back on track with a victory over ‘The Iceman’.
It’s a big fight for both men.
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