Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 88

by jason4jc on Jun 13, 2008 10:33 AM EDT Comment 22 comments

Promoted from the FanPosts by Brent Brookhouse

It was recently announced that Chuck Liddell would in fact headline the UFC 88 card in September in Atlanta, Georgia. When rumors began swirling about Anderson Silva jumping up to Light Heavyweight bloggers everywhere salivated, hoping for a super match between the two. It looks like the two will not fight, but Chuck Liddell will fight Light Heavyweight up and comer Rashad Evans. According to ESPN the Magazine:

Evans will have his chance to break through in September. According to a UFC source, he will be Chuck Liddell’s mystery opponent in the organization’s debut in Atlanta. The fight has been agreed to in principle—the only thing left is the paperwork. Any kind of win over the Iceman would probably vault Evans into light heavyweight title contention and be a defining moment for him and MMA fans. They’d have to embrace him, right? Right?

We knew that Liddell was fighting in September, but there were many rumors as to who he would fight. Some people suggested that he would fight his original opponent in Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Others expected a Liddell vs. Silva II fight. I think both of those fights could eventually happen, but now it appears it is Rashad Evans. I am not sure about this one. Rashad is good and this may be a dangerous fight for Chuck due to his hamstring injury. Perhaps he could learn something about the left kick from Keith Jardine. However, a win here gets either guy into the title picture quickly. The problem with this fight is that it does not remove the crowded top 5-6 of the division. Evans is a top ten guy and a win moves him into that heap. If I was the UFC brass, I would want to un-crowd that loaded top 5 or 6 of Jackson, Griffin, Wanderlei, Lyoto, Chuck and Shogun. I would guess they are looking to cement a few guys at the top. This may help or it may confuse matters even more.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Good post.

This is a huge fight for Rashad but I’m not sure what it does for Chuck, especially coming off a win over Wanderlei. Rashad had nothing for Tito and in my opinion will have nothing to offer Chuck…on either striking or wrestling.

I wouldn’t go as far to say this is a ‘safe’ fight for Chuck but something tells me another victory will get him closer to a fight against the winner of Forrest/Rampage. I think your are right, the UFC is looking to solidify their true top 3 LHW contenders….so it will be telling to see what’s next for Machida and Wanderlei Silva.

by Gregory Kim on Jun 13, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they give their top 5 fights they should win. I think that is what they did with Jackson/Griffin. IMO, Griffin is not the number one contender, nor was he a top 5. There are 4 guys competiting for the next title shot that one could make an argument for.
1. Lyoto Machida. Probably the number one contender
2. Wanderlei Silva. The re-match with Jackson could sell huge and I have a feeling Quinto wants that fight, it could happen even though Silva is only 1-1 in the UFC.
3. Chuck Liddell. Like it or not Liddell v Jackson III would sell, but he has to win vs. Evans first and probably wait for one more guy to fight for the belt.
4. Shogun. I know he is 0-1 in the UFC, however many feel he is still a top light heavyweight. One win puts him into contention.
5. On the outside ready to break through…Thiago Silva

by jason4jc on Jun 13, 2008 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So.,..

Shogun would be top 5? But the guy who not only beat him…but made him tap is not?

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

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 13, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by Nick Thomas on Jun 13, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shogun

When healthy will be back in the top 5 with a win over a top 10 opponent. Agreed that one win puts him back in contention.

by Gregory Kim on Jun 13, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry..

..but any fight that includes Rashad Evans should be on the undercard. Hopefully Chuck drops him, that way he can stop taking up good fights with good fighters. As you can see from the post above me, he hasn’t beaten anyone of merit.

by nitro on Jun 13, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, even though I think he beat Tito. Michael Bisping is a good win as well. I think Rashad deserves a shot at a big name guy.

BTW, reagrding Forrest as not being a top 5. Who had he beaten besides Shogun? Compare wins of Forrest and Shogun and tell me that overall Shogun shouldn’t be ranked higher.

by jason4jc on Jun 13, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The way I do rankings...

...and this is just me personally…is I weigh the last 2 years much more heavily than anything else. I’m not saying Shogun isn’t top 5. Don’t get me wrong. I’d probably just put Forrest on that list and bump off Thiago Silva…especially if you want to get into comparing wins as Forrest has the better wins in that comparison. The undefeated fighter with the bigger wins would be Evans…not Thiago.

Forrest in the past 2 years (since ‘06) is 3-2 with 1 win over a top 5 guy.

Shogun is 4-2 (yes…one loss was on an injury) without a win as big as Forrest’s. So they’re pretty even in my book all things considered.

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

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 13, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair to add Evan's to the list over Thiago.

I have Thiago number ranked #9 in the overall rankings and Evan’s #8. One could argue Evan’s could be even higher by virtue of wins….but all those have come against 205ers ranked outside the UFC top 10 (with the possible exception of Tito.)

That’s why I think this is a pretty huge step up in competition for Rashad. But again, if it’s going to be his first loss, there’s nothing to cry about if it’s against Chuck.

by Gregory Kim on Jun 13, 2008 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here is my LHW rankings ( I know Forrest is considered the no. 1 contender right now, but most people would not rank him #2 and he will drop if he loses to Rampage) My rankings are on overall body of work throughout the past few years. The problem is rankings are subjective, even though most would agree at my 1 and 2 and furthermore would agree at who is in the top 10, just differ on the order.
1. Rampage Jackson
2. Lyoto Machida
3. Chuck Liddell
4. Wanderlei Silva
5. Shogun Rua
6. Forrest Griffin
7. Thiago Silva
8. Keith Jardine
9. Rashad Evans
10. Sokoudjou
11. Matt Hamill

by jason4jc on Jun 13, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Easy fight for Chuck

Chuck has made a career out of beating wrestlers with so-so striking. Randy, Tito, Babalu – what does Rashad have to show Chuck that they didn’t? He’ll demolish Rashad.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jun 13, 2008 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The intrigue

...of this bout escapes me. Does no one else think Chuck is going to steamroll Evans?

by Luke Thomas on Jun 13, 2008 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Chuck should steamroll him. But I also thought Chuck would at least get by Jardine, but his gameplan in that fight was pretty suspect. I worry that Chuck just isn’t the Chuck of a year and a half or two years ago anymore. I hope he destroys Evans and looks like the Chuck of old, ready for another go at Rampage.

by Kierkegaard on Jun 13, 2008 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think steamroll is a synonym for demolish, so I’d say that yes, somebody else agrees.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jun 13, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It strikes me as...

...the UFC writing off Evans as a guy who just isn’t going to please fans. They’re putting him in a fight that they expect him to lose rather than dicking around with trying to build him up any more.

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

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 13, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose he needs a nice tune up fight (i.e. punch someone silly) before he gets someone that matters again.

by Gong on Jun 13, 2008 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is smart booking though not that intriguing. Rashad is a name with UFC fans, and Chuck has as good a chance at KOing him as anyone else. This is just a tune up to get Chuck to a title shot.

by Michael Rome on Jun 13, 2008 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If this were true it would leave the following match-ups:

Shogun vs. Sokoudjou
Wanderlei vs. Thiago
Machida vs. winner of Jackson/Griffin

by Flying Gogoplata on Jun 13, 2008 8:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, as if they are going to give Machida the next shot. He likely needs to win 2 more to get a shot, possibly 1 if Liddell loses, but he is not in line for an immediate shot right now.

by Michael Rome on Jun 13, 2008 10:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who and when would you have him fight in order to earn the shot? Some other possibilities I see are Machida vs. Shogun with Sokoudjou vs. Hamill/Irvin/Reljic.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jun 13, 2008 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man there are some many interesting match-ups at 205.

Unfortunately this isn’t one of them. At least it should hopefully take Rashad off the map for a while.

by idefinecagefighter on Jun 14, 2008 3:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Wanderlei is the number one contender but I have a feeling he will get the next title shot for a few reasons (assuming Jackson beats Griffin)
1. Fans love Wanderlei and a Jackson vs. Silva match would be a huge draw
2. Wanerlei has beaten Rampage twice and Rampgae wants to avenge his losses a la Chuck Liddell, and if you remember Chuck as champ picked his own opponents. Rampage should want Wanderlei
IF Forrest happens to win vs. Rampage Chuck will get the next shot if he beats Rashad or Lyoto could get it.

by jason4jc on Jun 14, 2008 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs