few years back, a showdown between Chuck Liddell and Mauricio “Shogun?Rua would have been a fight fan’s dream matchup. Liddell was the defending UFC light heavyweight champion and at the top of his game while laying out opponents like kitchen tile. Rua was on a meteoric rise through Pride Fighting Championships?ranks, rivaling Liddell’s fistic floor masonry in Japan. Before Zuffa bought out Pride, it seemed like a full-scale tilt between these two explosive knockout artists would never materialize.
Thankfully the fight will finally come to fruition this Saturday at UFC 97 in Montreal, but like Liddell’s stellar conquest of Rua’s former Chute Boxe teammate Wanderlei Silva, the matchup is being purchased off the shelf a few years after its expiration date. Looking at his most recent bouts, Liddell’s age appears to be catching up to him and the 39-year-old icon just might be a bit past his fighting prime.
Rua, 27, has had a rocky transition to the cage, where his stamina has been harshly tested. Once feared for his heavy, looping punches, Liddell has been knocked out at the hands of Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans in the last two years. Rua was soundly beaten by Forrest Griffin and nearly suffocated in a near hilarious, though triumphant, scuffle with fighting fossil Mark Coleman.
Luckily for the fans though, Liddell-Rua should still be an all-out war, a skirmish that could wind up being a “fight of the year?candidate when all is said and done. Will Liddell’s experience and hunger to recapture his title, along with a new striking coach, earn him another highlight-reel knockout? Will Rua have made the necessary adjustments to avoid exahaustion and finally get on the tear that UFC fans expected from him from the start?
Many professional trainers and fighters think they have the answer to those questions. Sherdog.com recently polled dozens of the pros in an attempt to get a read on the pulse of the MMA elite. Some were a little hesitant to comment on the fight, but the brave ones put their names and reputations on the line and boldly picked a winner.
Nate Marquardt: I think Liddell by TKO at the end of round two or in round three. He will hit harder, [has a] longer reach, better wrestling and better cardio.
Luigi Fioravanti: Liddell by KO. I like Chuck and he’s been working with Howard Davis Jr., so I think working with Howard will only improve his standup.
Vladimir Matyushenko: If Liddell uses his old school skill, like his kickboxing, it would actually be a great battle. I would love to see how he handles the ground game, though. No prediction [from me].
Cub Swanson: I think Chuck will both tighten and mix his game up. Shogun has looked a little flat lately and Chuck will capitalize on that.
Ron Frazier: This is an interesting fight. Maybe the battle of what’s left in the tank, [which is] a little odd since Shogun is still young, but has not looked good in the last three years. [He] was beat down by Forrest Griffin, then pushed to the limits by Mark Coleman. Maybe the psyche is not what it used to be? Once gone, it’s a hard thing to get back. On the other hand, “The Iceman?has lost three of his last four fights, with two devastating KO losses. [Chuck was] once known as having a sturdy chin; is it still? Thus my reasoning for vacillating?I want to see Shogun rise again, but he has not given me anything to hang my hat on lately. So I pick Chuck. Why? Because power is the last thing to go and I like the fact that he is working with Howard Davis Jr.
Duke Roufus: Chuck is going to knock out Shogun. Shogun’s style is made for Chuck.
Din Thomas: I’m definitely going with Chuck in this one. Chuck has always had the ability to simplify a fight and make a guy fight his fight. But in the past his defense has suffered and he paid for it. I’m sure that he has been tightening up in those areas and [we] will see the Chuck of old emerge. And afterwards, every redneck in America will be back in the barber shop getting their Mohawks tightened up.
Mike Whitehead: Chuck by second round KO.
Stephane Vigneault: I am a huge fan of Shogun since his debut in Pride. I see Shogun being more explosive and have way more stamina and beating a slow Chuck Liddell, who I think [will] have to maybe retire. But Chuck is still a legend and one of the best of all time. Shogun defeats Liddell -- TKO in late round two.
Thankfully the fight will finally come to fruition this Saturday at UFC 97 in Montreal, but like Liddell’s stellar conquest of Rua’s former Chute Boxe teammate Wanderlei Silva, the matchup is being purchased off the shelf a few years after its expiration date. Looking at his most recent bouts, Liddell’s age appears to be catching up to him and the 39-year-old icon just might be a bit past his fighting prime.
Rua, 27, has had a rocky transition to the cage, where his stamina has been harshly tested. Once feared for his heavy, looping punches, Liddell has been knocked out at the hands of Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans in the last two years. Rua was soundly beaten by Forrest Griffin and nearly suffocated in a near hilarious, though triumphant, scuffle with fighting fossil Mark Coleman.
Luckily for the fans though, Liddell-Rua should still be an all-out war, a skirmish that could wind up being a “fight of the year?candidate when all is said and done. Will Liddell’s experience and hunger to recapture his title, along with a new striking coach, earn him another highlight-reel knockout? Will Rua have made the necessary adjustments to avoid exahaustion and finally get on the tear that UFC fans expected from him from the start?
Many professional trainers and fighters think they have the answer to those questions. Sherdog.com recently polled dozens of the pros in an attempt to get a read on the pulse of the MMA elite. Some were a little hesitant to comment on the fight, but the brave ones put their names and reputations on the line and boldly picked a winner.
Nate Marquardt: I think Liddell by TKO at the end of round two or in round three. He will hit harder, [has a] longer reach, better wrestling and better cardio.
Luigi Fioravanti: Liddell by KO. I like Chuck and he’s been working with Howard Davis Jr., so I think working with Howard will only improve his standup.
Vladimir Matyushenko: If Liddell uses his old school skill, like his kickboxing, it would actually be a great battle. I would love to see how he handles the ground game, though. No prediction [from me].
Cub Swanson: I think Chuck will both tighten and mix his game up. Shogun has looked a little flat lately and Chuck will capitalize on that.
Ron Frazier: This is an interesting fight. Maybe the battle of what’s left in the tank, [which is] a little odd since Shogun is still young, but has not looked good in the last three years. [He] was beat down by Forrest Griffin, then pushed to the limits by Mark Coleman. Maybe the psyche is not what it used to be? Once gone, it’s a hard thing to get back. On the other hand, “The Iceman?has lost three of his last four fights, with two devastating KO losses. [Chuck was] once known as having a sturdy chin; is it still? Thus my reasoning for vacillating?I want to see Shogun rise again, but he has not given me anything to hang my hat on lately. So I pick Chuck. Why? Because power is the last thing to go and I like the fact that he is working with Howard Davis Jr.
Duke Roufus: Chuck is going to knock out Shogun. Shogun’s style is made for Chuck.
Din Thomas: I’m definitely going with Chuck in this one. Chuck has always had the ability to simplify a fight and make a guy fight his fight. But in the past his defense has suffered and he paid for it. I’m sure that he has been tightening up in those areas and [we] will see the Chuck of old emerge. And afterwards, every redneck in America will be back in the barber shop getting their Mohawks tightened up.
Mike Whitehead: Chuck by second round KO.
Stephane Vigneault: I am a huge fan of Shogun since his debut in Pride. I see Shogun being more explosive and have way more stamina and beating a slow Chuck Liddell, who I think [will] have to maybe retire. But Chuck is still a legend and one of the best of all time. Shogun defeats Liddell -- TKO in late round two.
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