Candidates for Chuck Liddell in March
Dana White and Chuck Liddell himself have both made it clear that Liddell will probably return to the UFC in March in Columbus. Despite early reports of a possible Jardine-Liddell fight, that fight appears to be a backup option. Liddell wants to get that win back, but the UFC appears to be against that fight. UFC sources indicated to me that before last night, the plan was to do Chuck vs. Wanderlei in Columbus if Silva won, which explains Liddell's reaction to Rampage's win. MMA Weekly's report from Jardine's camp that he won't be fighting Chuck was before the end of UFC 92, so it could be back on, but I doubt it.
When considering who they will put him against, there are a few things to consider. First, they do not want to just destroy him, they want to rebuild him. Second, if he is going to lose they want it to be to a star they can get behind and promote. Finally, it needs to be a fight that interests Chuck. With all that being said, here are some possible candidates:
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua: I believe this is the most likely choice. Shogun is very used to quick turnarounds, and if he is able to quickly dispatch of Coleman, I think this would be a very big and even fight. I think there is a general feeling in the UFC that Shogun is going to destroy Coleman, but after UFC 92, you never know.
Mark Coleman: The other side of the coin. If Coleman pulls off the win and can go again, he could find himself in a main event in his home state against Chuck Liddell. This match would likely sell very well, and on the surface it looks like a fight tailor made for Chuck to win.
Wanderlei Silva: This was the original plan before last night, and reports of the press conference suggest Dana is still open to it. I personally don't like it because it really puts Wanderlei Silva in a terrible corner, but it would still be a huge fight given how popular their first fight was. Probably the biggest buyrate option besides Couture or Anderson Silva, but I don't think they want to kill Wanderlei, and I don't think he'll be ready in 8 weeks.
Keith Jardine: Chuck wants revenge for the loss, and Chuck almost always gets what he wants. The fact that they haven't given in suggests how much they don't want this fight. Greg Jackson seems to have the Liddell equation figured out, and another decision loss would really be the end of the line for Liddell. A win here wouldn't do much for him either. I think this is only going to happen if none of the other options pan out.
Houston Alexander: I think Houston is a dark horse pick, but they still haven't cut him despite 3 straight losses because he is so popular with the fans. Much like Tank Abbott, fans will pay to see a guy that once delivered brutal KOs even after a number of losses. A battle of knockout artists would be easy to promote, and would probably be an easy win for Liddell given his huge reach and size advantage, but I don't think the UFC wants to risk the PR nightmare of setting up a mismatch like this.
Rich Franklin: In the latest Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer reported that Franklin is still not sold on the idea of coaching opposite Bisping if he beats Henderson. Franklin against Liddell would probably be big for name value alone regardless of the outcome in January, but Rich has refused to take fights on short notice before.
Squash match: The final option, not to be confused with the Houston Alexander option, would be putting Liddell in with a guy well below his level for him to smash, the way they did with Vernon White in the past. The UFC almost never does this anymore, but they could put Liddell in with someone like Brian Stann or someone of that nature.
Randy Couture: An outside possibility at this point given the Liddell camp's negative reaction to the fight. It was one of three fights Randy wanted upon returning, he is probably open to it, but I doubt he would be willing to take a shortened camp at this point in his career. Highly unlikely.
Anderson Silva: I saved the least likely for last. Given their plans to rehabilitate Chuck, Dana made a conscious decision not to make this fight. If all the options disappear it's possible, but highly unlikely. Reports of the press conference say Dana White said Anderson Silva will "probably" fight Leites in April, but it is not confirmed yet.
I think Shogun is the most likely option, followed by one of Henderson or Franklin, and then Keith Jardine.
Comments
Sounds about right. What about Brandon Vera?
Sorry to go off-topic, but you seem to have some insight on the UFC playbook from the inside. Whats your read on the Japan situation?
by smoogy on
Dec 29, 2008 2:58 AM EST
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He mentioned a squash match (ba-dum CHHH)
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on
Dec 29, 2008 3:01 AM EST
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This is one area where I have nothing on the inside.
I honestly don’t see them going there in the first half of 2009. Maybe sometime late 2009 or early 2010, though Japan would be the perfect place to give Wanderlei a rebound match against someone he could easily beat.
Like you I am suspicious of Ishii in the UFC, but if Dana is serious about going over there, he may be offering a multi million sign and train bonus like he did with Angle.
by Michael Rome on
Dec 29, 2008 3:29 AM EST
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Vera is a possibility but I didn’t mention it because I thought I read he was signed to fight Pratt.
by Michael Rome on
Dec 29, 2008 3:29 AM EST
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I’m against the squash match idea. Too bad Forrest broke his hand, I’d pay money to see that fight. And I love Coleman, so I’m torn – should I root for him to get one last payday in front of his hometown crowd against a guy that’s made a living punching wrestlers in the head?
So many things to consider.
by subo on
Dec 29, 2008 3:09 AM EST
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Luis Cane: Liddell could beat a rising prospect or the rising prospect could beat him. Too good to not work.
Brandon Vera: The squash fight that he’ll easily win.
I’d like to see him fight Cane. Cane would maul him. And that’s what I want.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on
Dec 29, 2008 3:20 AM EST
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In an ideal world where the business side didnt matter this would happen. Given the realities of the situation, I don’t think he’s even a candidate. I think they’d definitely do Jardine before him.
by Michael Rome on
Dec 29, 2008 3:26 AM EST
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Well I’d rather see Cane than Jardine. Poor Jardine. Beats Forrest and Liddell yet has nothing to show for it. Poor guy.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on
Dec 29, 2008 3:31 AM EST
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Unfortunately for him, those wins are sandwiched between two of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history, both of which were fights a lot of people thought he would win. He seems to choke when he is on the doorstep of something big.
Trust me, getting another fight with Liddell is better than any other option for Jardine. Who else will he fight in Columbus? Luis Cane? He could end up getting KO’ed by a no-name instead of beating the biggest star in UFC history again. Which is better?
by Michael Rome on
Dec 29, 2008 3:40 AM EST
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Chuck should move to heavyweight. He’s never reclaiming the LHW title ever again.
by Pandanus on
Dec 29, 2008 4:14 AM EST
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So if Rich Franklin is kinda on the fence about coaching the ultimate fighter again if he wins then who would take his place to be the coach for the show? Demain Maia maybe? But to be honest i doubt that he won’t say no to coach the show. He’ll do it reluctantly im guessing. But then there is always a possibility where he will say no and might fight Chuck in March but who knows i guess.
by bigislandboi808 on
Dec 29, 2008 4:17 AM EST
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All assuming he wins against Dan Henderson.
Which my pick he will.
by bigislandboi808 on
Dec 29, 2008 4:20 AM EST
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I have an idea for a TUF-coach… What about Wanderlei? I would like to join those who think he should try a move down in weight… That would take some time to do properly though. Why not give him a stint as a coach on TUF (he is a true bad-ass and would prolly make good telly)? He gets at least 4-5 months (more?) to properly shed some weight and then faces Bisping!
Wand would have a good shot at winning that highly marketable fight and if he didn`t UFC could always blame it on “weight-cutting-problems”?
"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)
by BlueberryMuffin on
Dec 29, 2008 5:30 AM EST
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I would say that that is another option that the UFC has. So i guess the UFC has a lot of choices to choose from. Hope they make the right one.
by bigislandboi808 on
Dec 29, 2008 7:42 AM EST
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I don’t want either of them to be tied up on the Ultimate Fighter. Nate Marquart should do it.
If Franklin beats Hendo and Bisping he’s knocks out another new contender.
by Pandanus on
Dec 29, 2008 5:30 AM EST
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At some point, one has to imagine that they’ll force Chuck in a sink or swim sorta situation and not even attempt protect the guy anymore. I think he’s probably a loss away from that. I also don’t see him outside the UFC any time soon, even if he loses. Chuck Liddell: Gatekeeper seems like a far more realistic possibility than Chuck Liddell: Main Eventer for XFC.
by D.Capitated on
Dec 29, 2008 8:37 AM EST
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Stephen Bonner
After Saturday night fights I have put some thought into what they will do with Chuck. As mentioned they have to get him an opponent that he can beat. If it’s someone that he doesn’t beat then it has to be someone that they will be able to promote. So that leads me to wonder what you all think about Stephen Bonner. He’s a stand up guy who will be willing to go blows with Chuck . I know he hasn’t done too much lately but I think it will be a good stand up battle that Chuck should win and Stephen is also a name that a lot of people know because of the reality show and because of his fight with Forrest.
I’m a little wishy washy about this fight cause I don’t know if everyone will think this is a set up fight for Chuck to win. But then again Jardin and Evans were suppose to be an easy win for Chuck also. If Chuck continues to leave his hands down and not throw any kicks then he’ll get beat by anyone he fights.
Blake
by TruthSeeker1223 on
Dec 29, 2008 9:26 AM EST
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Luis Cane
Brandon Vera is already booked for Columbus against Mike Patt.
Luis Cane has shown that he is a very decent boxer with good power, and he has won his fights inside the octagon.
Other than that, I think Wanderlei Silva or Keith Jardine are the only real options.
by "Mr. NC-17" on
Dec 29, 2008 9:54 AM EST
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I would say Griffin is a good choice also but with his broken hand he may be out for a while.
by metaldome on
Dec 29, 2008 11:01 AM EST
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Rich Franklin is intriguing. I think that’s a pretty dangerous fight for Liddell, too. Of course, Shogun would be an interesting fight as long as he convincingly beats Coleman.
by Cannon Jacques on
Dec 29, 2008 11:37 AM EST
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The thing is with Rich, he wants time to peak his body. No matter if he knocks out Dan Henderson in 8 seconds without a single punch thrown his way, Rich still would want to break down the fight, and get about 3-4 months to prepare. I think Rich should fight in Columbus, but considering it is a month and a half away from UFC 93, I highly doubt Franklin will grace the octagon again in Columbus.
Luis Cane, Wanderlei Silva, Keith Jardine or… TIM BOETSCH. He is rumored to be fighting in Columbus for the UFC 96 card.
So possibly Tim Boetsch vs. Chuck Liddell, if Keith Jardine does not accept.
by "Mr. NC-17" on
Dec 29, 2008 11:55 AM EST
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I like the Jardine scenario much better. Boetsch is a solid guy, but he lost to Matt Hamill. That fight too closely resembles a squash match. Franklin/Liddell is probably a long shot. It would just be an intriguing bout at some point.
by Cannon Jacques on
Dec 29, 2008 12:03 PM EST
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I give Boetsch benefit of the doubt since he lost to Hamill in Denver – most of the fighters that night were not prepared for the high altitude.
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
by lovingmma25 on
Dec 29, 2008 2:43 PM EST
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I still like the Steve Cantwell/Chuck Liddell idea
Basically the same concept as Brian Stann. Just Cantwell isn’t nearly as marketable.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
by aaronb on
Dec 29, 2008 11:58 AM EST
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"They don't want to destroy him. They want to re build him"
….To be destroyed at a later date I presume.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
by Warhand on
Dec 29, 2008 12:18 PM EST
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Chuck/Shogun.
This is the best choice in my mind. If Chuck wins, he’ll have defeated someone who was once regarded as the best LHW in the world. This would do wonders for his confidence, and I think he stands a good shot at beating Shogun. If Shogun wins, then hey, he beat Chuck. Either way, Zuffa gains a re-energized fighter.
The Squash match would be the worst option in my mind. It does nothing for Chuck, and if he goes up against a dude like Brian Stann, there’s the off chance that Stann might still connect. Last I remember, Stann could still knock people out. Plus, hardcore fans and the media would rip this one apart.
by pud333 on
Dec 29, 2008 12:27 PM EST
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If he wins his fight please add cro-cop to your possible list… yes at 205.
by mmalogic on
Dec 29, 2008 1:22 PM EST
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Chuck and Cro Cop would be awesome.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
by aaronb on
Dec 29, 2008 1:47 PM EST
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At heavyweight
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
by aaronb on
Dec 29, 2008 1:47 PM EST
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any weight – it would be awesome
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
by lovingmma25 on
Dec 29, 2008 2:44 PM EST
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I think we’d see Chuck using his wrestling a bit more in this one – if only to “Gonzaga him” and put the idea of takedowns in the back of his mind. Then blitz him with power shots.
Realistically I don’t think we’ll ever see Cro Cop back in the cage given his latest performances and choice of opponents.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
by The_Gaijin on
Dec 29, 2008 3:50 PM EST
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