Chuck Liddell Training With American Top Team

by Kid Nate on Dec 5, 2008 4:00 PM EST in News Comment 28 comments

Now this is a positive development for the former champ, from Fighters Only:

Chuck Liddell is training with American Top Team in a bid to get back on track after his knockout loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 88.

The news was revealed by his coach John Hackleman, who trains and manages Liddell at The Pit, the gym he represents when he fights.

Hackleman appeared on FightHype to answer questions from fans, one of which was whether Liddell was trying to round his skills out by training with ATT.

"Yeah, you learn something new wherever you train. He's always cross-trained and had people come in. He will definitely learn from Liborio and Matt," replied Hackleman.

A long-time criticism of Liddell has been his over-reliance on the same coaches and training partners.

This is a step in the right direction. Chuck's loss to Keith Jardine stemmed from tactical mistakes, namely not checking leg kicks, he made that could conceivably have been avoided with better game planning.

His losses to Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson on the other hand stemmed from making a fundamental error -- throwing a body shot without setting it up. That's the kind of mistake that is much harder to coach around since its something Chuck knows he shouldn't do and does anyway.

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I think the idea that Chuck Liddell wasn’t training like he should have for all the years he owned the division, and is only now beginning to branch out and try new things, is laughable. Isn’t it just possible that the talent level in the division caught up with him? And that maybe, like Randy (not saying it’s happened yet, but it IS inevitable), the wheels are finally starting to come off just a little?

The difference between losing to Rashad after being Wanderlei, and being the most dominant LHW champ the UFC has ever seen, is this much. Even a small falloff from that peak was bound to result in some dramatic swings, and I think that’s all we’re seeing here.

by subo on Dec 5, 2008 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree…even after the Rashad loss he’s still in the mid top 10 in a LHW division that’s had more talent than it’s ever had.

by Tonley on Dec 5, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but that’s thanks to his win over Wanderlei who subsequently destroyed a guy that Chuck beat. If Chuck drops his next fight, he’s out of the top 10. I for one hope he doesn’t. I want the dominant Liddell that people are scared to fight back.

by dropkick101 on Dec 5, 2008 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course that is partly true,

a lot of athletes do not change what they are doing when they are on top. They only change when they the competition forces them to. Sadly and stubbornly, it has just taken Chuck a while to figure this out.

by dnevil001 on Dec 5, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

honestly I think its more a matter of he fed off fighting grappler for years and has always had trouble with good strikers. Nevertheless, branching out his training regimen is a good and long overdue step.

by Kid Nate on Dec 5, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right,

until the talent/competition he faced forced him to change his tactics. I only wish he would have came to this realization a couple of years ago.

by dnevil001 on Dec 5, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think people get confused sometimes about Liddell’s skills on the feet. There’s a big difference between having knockout power and being technically sound. His recent defeats have exposed technical flaws in his stand up game that fighters with technique and speed can exploit.

by Andy R on Dec 5, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

but I think that is also due in part to his reaction/reflexes fading with age. He is by nature a counterpuncher & used to be fast enough to cover up his mistakes.

by dnevil001 on Dec 5, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very True

Age is probably part of the combination as well. Either way he needs to change up his game. It’s pretty obvious fighters have figured him out.

by Andy R on Dec 5, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s probably a combination of all these factors.

by Mike Fagan on Dec 5, 2008 11:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I,

personally think that his recent losses have nothing to do reflexes. Reaction, yes, because throughout his reign of domination he became too cozy fight wrestlers that thought they could strike. he got away with mistakes because, before Zuffa acquired Pride, UFC’s lightheavy weight division didn’t have many(if any at all) legit strikers.

P.S: Chuck’s fight with Jardine was a draw in my humble opinion. And Couture has already proved thus far in his career, that age does not play a roll in his fighting ability.

by TheRockgod on Dec 11, 2008 3:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t it just possible that the talent level in the division caught up with him? And that maybe, like Randy (not saying it’s happened yet, but it IS inevitable), the wheels are finally starting to come off just a little?

I agree, I think the division has caught up with him and in a way, the other fighters have “figured” Chuck out. The game evolved at an alarming rate over the last couple of years. And Chuck hasn’t. That being said, I think Chuck had a lot of bad habbits he was able to get away with for a long time, and if he’s serious about fixing these habbits, he can be a contender again. Although, when it comes to the top 10 of the LHW division, I think it’ll take more than just some training with new guys. I think Chuck needs a new outlook, better game plans – basically reinvention almost. Chuck can still give anyone a run for their money, but consider me skeptical. We’ll see after his next fight to see if he’s evolved any.

by pud333 on Dec 5, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Tito was the most dominant LHW champ?

"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 5, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn’t help if you have lost a few steps. Which happens with age. Some athletes lose a few steps quicker than other.s i think what we are seeing is Chuck getting older and facing younger athletes he probably would have crushed 5 years ago. You can train all you want but when you start losing reflexes you are done.

by lbk on Dec 5, 2008 4:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yes and no...

If he loses some “reflexes” then he can’t rely on being able to counter punch like he has in the past. But slowing reflexes are like anything else…you have to train in a way that allows you to mask that weakness. Yeah, it isn’t an “easy” thing to mask. But if he learns to fight slightly differently then he can have a little success left.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 5, 2008 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm....chuck a spy???

I find it funny he goes to the gym that his Buddy Mr. Dana White has the biggest issues with. I think he’s a spy :). Just kidding whatever he thinks will make him better. hard to teach a old dog new tricks. Chuck has always left himself open. Rashad was just the first to capitalize on it.

"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye

by Pitbull on Dec 5, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rampage...

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 5, 2008 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

touche that fight was so quick it must of slipped my mind. :)

"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye

by Pitbull on Dec 5, 2008 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Which one?

by subo on Dec 5, 2008 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought it was AKA that Dana had a problem with and ATT supported Dana?? It is possible I may have lost my mind.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 5, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you’re right. It was AKA. Fitch and crew.

by pud333 on Dec 5, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yup its AKA, pitbull has got to get his facts right. haha.. :D

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 5, 2008 10:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hard to teach a old dog new tricks...

False statement. An old dog can learn just fine, it is just a matter of being open minded, willing, and eager to please.

by TheRockgod on Dec 11, 2008 3:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll chip in some coaching for Chuck too…keep your hands up, lol.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 5, 2008 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think i may have been the one the lose my mind

Nyquil and Cold medicine has gotten me a little bit out of it ill stop speaking now for the sake of humanity :).

"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye

by Pitbull on Dec 5, 2008 6:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

that’s a great move.ATT, Jackson, or Extreme Couture could help resurrect Chuck’s career quick. I thnk Chuck’s still got a couple years left in him, especially with a move in gyms.

by Josh H. on Dec 5, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs