Bluecifer
03-29-2004, 01:03 PM
I took this from MMAWEEKLY
Chuck Liddell has heard all of the critics. Saying he's getting "a little older", he's not the fighter he once was, he throws the looping punch too much, etc. Chuck has a simple message to those who have jumped off the Iceman train. "Let them keep thinking that, I will make my point soon enough."
Liddell after going through an undefeated string of three years has seen a couple of losses on his resume the past 12 months. You can look at it two different ways. To the nay-sayers he's lost 2 out of 3. To the Iceman fans he's won 12 of his last 14. Either way you look at it, Chuck is getting the fight he wanted....finally facing Tito Ortiz.
Liddell has been working very hard on his ground game. His timing for this fight has been perfect as far as training goes. Liddell has spent part of his training time with Division I college wrestling team Cal Poly. The Mustangs had a couple of wrestlers make it to the semi finals of Nationals last week in St. Louis, Missouri. "They are in-season right now, so I have been working very hard on takedowns and some basic wrestling stuff..." Liddell said.
Chuck has focused on getting back to the basics for this fight with Tito as well. Liddell is back to his "regular" training splitting at "The Pit" with John Hackleman and "SLO Kickboxing" with Scott Adams. (SLO is short for San Luis Obispo) You won't see Liddell working with new coaches like he did before Quinton Jackson fight. He had Muay Thai and Boxing instructors coming and and doing different drills for his fight.
"It was o.k. to hear what other instructors had to say about Muay Thai and Boxing, but I need to get back to the basics which made me very successful, instead of going with three different schools of thoughts from three different instructors." Liddell told MMAWeekly.
Liddell has spent the majority of time with his head trainer in John Hackleman, as well as John Lewis who have been in his corner for years. The Iceman has also brought in many training partners as well, like Matt Lindland, Carlson Gracie, David Terrell, Jake Shields, and Cesar Gracie among a few of the names.
One other aspect going into this fight is the health of Liddell. Chuck didn't want to speak publicly about his health, but many people close to Liddell thought he was crazy actually fighting Quinton Jackson with a torn quad muscle. An injury that no one even addressed because Liddell publicly wouldn't talk about it.
Liddell simply told MMAWeekly "Everybody's banged up going into fights, I never make excuses and I won't start now." Yeah, but a torn quad? Maybe this starts to explain why Liddell didn't look like himself against a very aggressive Jackson and explains why he didn't kick much in the fight..... but the Iceman won't have any of it. "A fight is a fight. Quinton was the better man that night, it's as simple as that."
Health issues aside, both fighters know what is on the line, both fighters know the loser of this fight won't sniff a title shot for many months, possibly years. A scenario that doesn't really phase the 34 year old. "A title isn't as important to me as fighting the best in the world. I've wanted to fight Tito for a long time and I finally get my shot." He gets that shot on Friday April 2nd. And what does he expect in this fight?
"He better not stand up like he is telling people or he will be knocked out, I can guarantee that." Liddell feels Tito will try to grind out a ground n pound victory and if that is Ortiz's game plan, then Chuck still likes his chances. "I 'm a better wrestler that Tito..." Liddell told MMAWeekly with a stoned cold look. "I really believe that. I proved that back when we trained together and I will prove it again when we fight in the Octagon."
If he is a better wrestler, then Tito has no chance of winning this fight. However the one big advantage Ortiz has over Liddell is excelling in the big fight opportunities. Ortiz was able to not only win a championship belt, but defend it frequently, until losing to Randy Couture. Some Liddell supporters will say, Tito did win a fair share of title fights, but he never fought the quality opposition of Liddell. That could also be true overall, but maybe not in the five biggest fights of their careers....
Compare Ortiz's five best opponents vs Liddell's Top 5....
TITO ORTIZ VS CHUCK LIDDELL OPPONENTS
1. Randy Couture - loss 1. Randy Couture - loss
2. Frank Shamrock - loss 2. Quinton Jackson - loss
3. Ken Shamrock - win 3. Vitor Belfort - win
4. Vanderlei Silva - win 4. Kevin Randleman - win
5. Guy Mezger - loss and win 5. Murilo Bustamante - win
Looking at these five fights, it's interesting to note their opponents ability when they met. Take out the Couture fights and then it's interesting to break down. Frank Shamrock was at the height of his career against Ortiz. Quinton Jackson is just reaching his prime now. Ken Shamrock is at the end of his career, while Vitor Belfort is now the champion. Vanderlei Silva isn't the fighter he was against Ortiz three years ago. Kevin Randleman was probably better two years ago against Liddell than he is now, for the simple fact he was the Heavyweight Champion coming down in weight when he fought Liddell. Guy Mezger split with Ortiz in two fights, while Bustamante lost a controversial decision to Liddell.
Basically you see why this fight is so tough to call, because it's so even on so many levels. Bottom line, if Liddell is able to grapple with Ortiz, Tito is in big trouble in this fight. Tito does not have the stand up of either Jackson or Couture, even though his stand up game has improved. Notice we didn't mention cardio in this fight. It's because in a three round fight I don't see it coming into play. Quinton Jackson looked good in a 10 minute first round under Pride rules, not the five minute round the UFC uses. If this was a five round fight, you might have an argument. Liddell with a win, sets up a possible rematch with Belfort, with a loss, he waves good bye to main event status as a fighter. So much on the line in this one fight and all we can say is....It's finally on.
Chuck Liddell has heard all of the critics. Saying he's getting "a little older", he's not the fighter he once was, he throws the looping punch too much, etc. Chuck has a simple message to those who have jumped off the Iceman train. "Let them keep thinking that, I will make my point soon enough."
Liddell after going through an undefeated string of three years has seen a couple of losses on his resume the past 12 months. You can look at it two different ways. To the nay-sayers he's lost 2 out of 3. To the Iceman fans he's won 12 of his last 14. Either way you look at it, Chuck is getting the fight he wanted....finally facing Tito Ortiz.
Liddell has been working very hard on his ground game. His timing for this fight has been perfect as far as training goes. Liddell has spent part of his training time with Division I college wrestling team Cal Poly. The Mustangs had a couple of wrestlers make it to the semi finals of Nationals last week in St. Louis, Missouri. "They are in-season right now, so I have been working very hard on takedowns and some basic wrestling stuff..." Liddell said.
Chuck has focused on getting back to the basics for this fight with Tito as well. Liddell is back to his "regular" training splitting at "The Pit" with John Hackleman and "SLO Kickboxing" with Scott Adams. (SLO is short for San Luis Obispo) You won't see Liddell working with new coaches like he did before Quinton Jackson fight. He had Muay Thai and Boxing instructors coming and and doing different drills for his fight.
"It was o.k. to hear what other instructors had to say about Muay Thai and Boxing, but I need to get back to the basics which made me very successful, instead of going with three different schools of thoughts from three different instructors." Liddell told MMAWeekly.
Liddell has spent the majority of time with his head trainer in John Hackleman, as well as John Lewis who have been in his corner for years. The Iceman has also brought in many training partners as well, like Matt Lindland, Carlson Gracie, David Terrell, Jake Shields, and Cesar Gracie among a few of the names.
One other aspect going into this fight is the health of Liddell. Chuck didn't want to speak publicly about his health, but many people close to Liddell thought he was crazy actually fighting Quinton Jackson with a torn quad muscle. An injury that no one even addressed because Liddell publicly wouldn't talk about it.
Liddell simply told MMAWeekly "Everybody's banged up going into fights, I never make excuses and I won't start now." Yeah, but a torn quad? Maybe this starts to explain why Liddell didn't look like himself against a very aggressive Jackson and explains why he didn't kick much in the fight..... but the Iceman won't have any of it. "A fight is a fight. Quinton was the better man that night, it's as simple as that."
Health issues aside, both fighters know what is on the line, both fighters know the loser of this fight won't sniff a title shot for many months, possibly years. A scenario that doesn't really phase the 34 year old. "A title isn't as important to me as fighting the best in the world. I've wanted to fight Tito for a long time and I finally get my shot." He gets that shot on Friday April 2nd. And what does he expect in this fight?
"He better not stand up like he is telling people or he will be knocked out, I can guarantee that." Liddell feels Tito will try to grind out a ground n pound victory and if that is Ortiz's game plan, then Chuck still likes his chances. "I 'm a better wrestler that Tito..." Liddell told MMAWeekly with a stoned cold look. "I really believe that. I proved that back when we trained together and I will prove it again when we fight in the Octagon."
If he is a better wrestler, then Tito has no chance of winning this fight. However the one big advantage Ortiz has over Liddell is excelling in the big fight opportunities. Ortiz was able to not only win a championship belt, but defend it frequently, until losing to Randy Couture. Some Liddell supporters will say, Tito did win a fair share of title fights, but he never fought the quality opposition of Liddell. That could also be true overall, but maybe not in the five biggest fights of their careers....
Compare Ortiz's five best opponents vs Liddell's Top 5....
TITO ORTIZ VS CHUCK LIDDELL OPPONENTS
1. Randy Couture - loss 1. Randy Couture - loss
2. Frank Shamrock - loss 2. Quinton Jackson - loss
3. Ken Shamrock - win 3. Vitor Belfort - win
4. Vanderlei Silva - win 4. Kevin Randleman - win
5. Guy Mezger - loss and win 5. Murilo Bustamante - win
Looking at these five fights, it's interesting to note their opponents ability when they met. Take out the Couture fights and then it's interesting to break down. Frank Shamrock was at the height of his career against Ortiz. Quinton Jackson is just reaching his prime now. Ken Shamrock is at the end of his career, while Vitor Belfort is now the champion. Vanderlei Silva isn't the fighter he was against Ortiz three years ago. Kevin Randleman was probably better two years ago against Liddell than he is now, for the simple fact he was the Heavyweight Champion coming down in weight when he fought Liddell. Guy Mezger split with Ortiz in two fights, while Bustamante lost a controversial decision to Liddell.
Basically you see why this fight is so tough to call, because it's so even on so many levels. Bottom line, if Liddell is able to grapple with Ortiz, Tito is in big trouble in this fight. Tito does not have the stand up of either Jackson or Couture, even though his stand up game has improved. Notice we didn't mention cardio in this fight. It's because in a three round fight I don't see it coming into play. Quinton Jackson looked good in a 10 minute first round under Pride rules, not the five minute round the UFC uses. If this was a five round fight, you might have an argument. Liddell with a win, sets up a possible rematch with Belfort, with a loss, he waves good bye to main event status as a fighter. So much on the line in this one fight and all we can say is....It's finally on.