Chuck Liddell and Charles "Mask" Lewis to Be Inducted Into the UFC Hall Of Fame
by Anton Tabuena on Jul 7, 2009 12:55 AM EDT
77 comments
This Fan Post was promoted to the front page by Nick Thomas.
Dana White first announced it on his twitter page:
Hey guys Chuck Liddell and Charles "Mask" Lewis will be inducted into the UFC hall of fame at the UFC fan expo this friday at 630pm
From the official announcement on UFC.com:
One was perhaps the greatest light heavyweight of all-time, a feared striker who ruled the 205-pound weight class with an iron right hand and in doing so became mixed martial arts’ first crossover superstar.
The other was his close friend, a visionary who helped create a brand that is now synonymous with the sport, but who did it not with a ruthless business sense, but with an infectious enthusiasm and an attitude that could light up a room.
On Friday, July 10th, the UFC Hall of Fame inducts its two newest members, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and TapouT co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis.
Chuck Liddell had this to say:
"I appreciate this gesture and I’m glad that people appreciate what I do and that they think that I deserve this, but I’m just one of the guys that fight out there... It’s gonna be a little rough being that it’s Charles and me, but for us to go in together, I wouldn’t have it any other way."
Chuck Liddell was an obvious choice as he was the face of the promotion for several years. He was a long time UFC light heavyweight champion, MMA's biggest celebrity and the UFC's top draw. Charles "Mask" Lewis was the co-founder of TapouT, one of the most iconic brands in MMA. He passed away in a very tragic accident last March, and will be the first non-fighter to be inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and Charles "Mask" Lewis will join the cast of MMA legends in the UFC Hall of Fame, which includes, Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie.
The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Friday, July 10th at 6:30pm at the UFC Fan Expo.
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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So do the other Tapout guys go in as individuals when they retire/die? I understand the emotions involved with inducting Lewis, but shouldn’t all 3 go in at the same time?
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Jul 7, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe everyone will stop bitching about Frank Shamrock now. Great, great choices.
by subo on Jul 7, 2009 1:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess
you don’t even have to be a fighter to be a HOF member in the UFC. That’s just retarded.
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Jul 7, 2009 1:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Totally disagree. Mask did more for the sport than 99% of fighters ever will.
by subo on Jul 7, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re getting into a very dangerous chicken-and-egg argument.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Jul 7, 2009 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mask certainly did a lot more for the sport than most fighters, but he wouldn’t be able to do those things without those same fighters.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Jul 7, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just think an MMA Hall of Fame should exclusively include… MMA fighters. This is the problem with it being a “UFC Hall of Fame.” Nobody can ignore what Lewis did for the sport and for a lot of fighters. But that doesn’t really mean anything. I don’t think he did that much more than a lot of the guys who make the TapouT brand happen, at least not to an extent that he gets inducted. If Skyscrape died we’d be trying to put him in the HoF instead of Mask, which just goes to show how pointless it is. I think something which is presented with as high esteem as the UFC Hall of Fame should be above emotional reactions like this. There are ways to respect Mask for what he’s done and remember him without inducting him into a group he has no place being in. If anything, in my mind this soils his legacy that would have otherwise been 100% positive.
by Ahhhoki on Jul 7, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Almost every HOF has some sort of a contributors section.
by CliChe Guevara on Jul 7, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so you would be opposed to Big John making it into the hall of fame at some point? He consistently was the best ref. in the sport, and he helped shape the rules of current MMA. But he wasn’t a fighter, so he shouldn’t ever get in?
by Fedorable on Jul 7, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel like you’re missing the point. The fighters as a group are obviously more important, but few individual fighters had the same impact as Charles Lewis.
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by Richard Wade on Jul 7, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those fighters wouldn’t be able to be successful without the FANS!
Lets induct some fans into the HOF!
by Foxskinrug on Jul 7, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but that’s like bitching because coaches and owners get into other pro sports HOF’s. They have just as much to do with the sport and growth as the fighters themselves.
by midwestbred on Jul 7, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just like miami retired a non miami player's number.. (jordan)
all you have to do is be there at a time no one was there and help build the UFC to what it is today… yah, really worthless. retarded even. *rollseyes
by Anton Tabuena on Jul 7, 2009 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
owners, GMs, and coaches
from every other sport get in their respective HOF’s. What’s the big deal?!
V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol Vikings, Let's Go!!
by TheViking83 on Jul 7, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Evan. Boo.
http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com
by Beer Monster on Jul 7, 2009 2:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah, i really wanted him there too..
maybe on the next HOF induction.
by Anton Tabuena on Jul 7, 2009 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No. I don’t think Mask should be in either, but I think I can make a better case for it.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Jul 7, 2009 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know, why doesn't Matt hughes get more love as a HoF candidate?
From 2001-2006 no WW could even touch him(Ignoring the Penn loss, which he avenged).
Brad Ziegler had a scoreless inning streak. Brad Ziegler had not met BJ Upton.
by P Brady on Jul 7, 2009 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s a lock HOF. He just hasn’t retired yet.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Jul 7, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Neither has coleman, am I right? Or did he came back after entering HOF? BTW I heard dan severn wanted to fight not long ago, don’t know if it was a joke though.
by spectaa on Jul 7, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Severn has already fought twice this year.
by Popetastic on Jul 7, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Evan Tanner deserves his spot. UFC Champion, self taught… =( I miss Tanner.
by Nick Thomas on Jul 7, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I couldn’t disagree more. Evan Tanner was popular, yes. He was liked, yes. He died, yes. But he wasn’t anything above a B+ fighter, and anytime he fought somebody competent he lost. I also do not think the success of the UFC brand was contingent upon Tanner’s existence, which is an argument that could be made about Royce, Severn, Liddell, etc.
I think Matt Hughes is the over-looked one here. Somebody needs to tell him to go die a tragic death because that’s apparently how you get into the UFC HoF.
by Ahhhoki on Jul 7, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tied for 7th most wins in UFC history with 11.
6th most bouts with 17.
Former middleweight champion.
Hughes isn’t close to retired yet, like Chuck is. His time will come. He still thinks he has a big run left in him.
http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com
by Beer Monster on Jul 7, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t Chuck just say the other day that he will be fighting in 2010?
Does he know that he is retired?
by mythbuster on Jul 7, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he said he’d take a year off, then consider fighting again if he thinks his “brain has healed”. He will most likely fight again, but I’d guess his HOF induction is more about Dana pressuring him into retirement than anything else.
http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com
by Beer Monster on Jul 7, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can spout numbers like I don’t know who Evan Tanner is but strangely I don’t feel any differently. Why not induct the guy with the 6th most wins? 5th most wins? 5th most bouts? A Hall of Fame should be an elite group of individuals. I’m sorry but just because Evan Tanner died – predictably, even – doesn’t mean he’s worthy. There are guys with more bouts, more wins, better fights, better fighters, more popular, and more integral to the sport. Even Tito Ortiz should be prioritized over Tanner, and I detest Tito.
by Ahhhoki on Jul 7, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look at all the guys above him on the wins list. They’re all locks for the HOF except Tito, and I even think he’ll get in one day. This is a tired argument so I’ll stop now, but this really doesn’t have a lot to do with his death. It has to do with his career, and how he got to where he got.
http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com
by Beer Monster on Jul 7, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jul 7, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Especially with Lewis getting in, it would be a crime if McCarthy does not get the nod one of these days.
by lhasafi on Jul 7, 2009 4:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Fortunately, the UFC HOF is a sham and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Because McCarthy, Ortiz, and Frank Shamrock may not get in.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Jul 7, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you. I shouldn’t be getting worked up over this because obviously a UFC HoF is going to be biased and illogically constructed. Eventually there will be an independent one anyway, so whatever. I’m sure Zuffa will come out and say “If you get inducted into a non-UFC Hall of Fame, you’ll never be in the UFC/Hall of Fame.”
by Ahhhoki on Jul 7, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a joke right?
Mask is in the HOF. What was his contribution to the sport again besides putting money in Zuffa’s pocket?
by bignerd on Jul 7, 2009 4:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How...
do you people not get this??? Him and the Tapout crew have sponsored and helped out hundreds of fighters since they began. Without them many fighters we know today would have been able to get the money they needed to train and pay living expenses. A lot of them would probably be working a dead end job, not fighting for a living. Wake the f*ck up!!!
by midwestbred on Jul 7, 2009 6:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Them and every other sponsor
Sponsor into HOF = BS
by bignerd on Jul 7, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m very sure you’re alone in this thinking, ask pretty much any fighter, including a lot of those that maybe didn’t get sponsored by Tapout what they thought about Mask and the Tapout crew and what they did for MMA. You really do need to do some reading on what Mask did for the sport.
by pr0cs on Jul 7, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
when does condom depot get their HOF nomination?
by nastyem on Jul 7, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, because what Mask and Tapout did is exactly the same as what condom depot is doing.
//sarcasm//
I can’t believe so many people seem to think Mask and Tapout were just “sponsors” and that putting him in the HOF is all about PR and money and not about his actual contributions to the sport. It’s a deserving honor for somebody who did far more for the growth and development of the sport than the vast, vast majority of actual fighters will ever be able to do.
by Kierkegaard on Jul 7, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
yeah but, affliction has done the same… they even love the sport so much they created their own promotion
my fault i didnt realize tapout and mask did so much more!
the ufc is in bed with tapout, and thats why their guy is in the HOF which makes all this jibber jabber useless. a UFC dictated hall of fame is a joke and doesn’t need this much attention to begin with.
by nastyem on Jul 8, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 9, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tapout
was sponsoring fighters when the fights were ILLEGAL. They helped the fighters get paid when it was underground. They have done a lot behind the scene with other fight promoters/fighters to help them along since day 1.
Mask was helping MMA and its fighters BEFORE Dana White was into the MMA world.
by Riney on Jul 7, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
With UFC its all more to do with PR than any real ‘contribution to the sport’ as with other independent HOF’s.
"Like a ballet of violence clothed in fine Brazilian silk." ~ MMASuPreMaCy
by Benicio on Jul 7, 2009 6:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No TITO? No hugues? I thought it was the right time.
by spectaa on Jul 7, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
These choices make sense to me.
Now how long till we see “Hall of Fame” fighter Chuck Liddell in “one last fight”?
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who
by thetakeover on Jul 7, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Any sports’ HOF will have glaring omissions and questionable entries. I have decided to not give a shit about who is inducted.
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Jul 7, 2009 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that is nice of the UFC to put Charles Mask in the HOF but it kinda of devalues Chuck’s induction. Let’s face it, Chuck Liddell did WAY more for the sport than Mask did and now he is going to have to share the lime light on UFC 100? Also, while many people like the Tap Out boys I thought that they were fucking ridiculous and embarrassing. How is the media going to take our sport seriously with these WWE rejects are dancing around playing Halloween dress up?
by Bandaka on Jul 7, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The HOF doesn’t make sense anyway. Too much personal business involved.
by spectaa on Jul 7, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly it is bull shit. I guess there is always the ESPYS????
:(
by Bandaka on Jul 7, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need some unbiased and trustworthy person to start a MMA hall of fame, unattached to any organization and free from influence.
I nominate BJJ Denver.
by mythbuster on Jul 7, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say either Subo or Supremacy. One HOF would be 40 different pictures of Lesnar and Dana, while the other would be 40 pictures of the 21st-ranked Bantamweight fighting in Japan who would totally kick every UFC-fighter’s ass if Dana would just sign him.
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Jul 7, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol! Thanks Myth!
I definitely think there should be a MMA HoF, just not sure who would back it. Maybe a WAMMA HoF, lol??
It is sad, because there are so many people that are HoF worthy, that probably wont get that recognition in their lifetimes.
A few I would nominate:
Mask-Very deserving for his CONTRIBUTION to the sport.
Helio Gracie-For being a PIONEER of the sport.
Chuck-No argument against him, I would just wait until he truly is retired.
Hughes-See Chuck.
Evan-Maybe not the greatest fighter to ever enter the cage, but surely one of the great characters. That coupled with a very successful career is HoF worthy, imo.
Sakuraba-No explanation needed.
and so on.
These are just a few names that have been mentioned in this post and others. Yes, perhaps the UFC inducting Mask is a little self-serving, but it in no way means that he isn’t deserving.
I think a HoF should have “wings”. Fighter, trainer, pioneer, contributor, etc…
Imagine the guys like Cesar Gracie, Greg Jackson, etc at some point. Even Rogan is probably deserving when his time is up. Stitch? We could spend all night making arguments for guys.
What if Fedor never fights in the UFC? Certainly he is as deserving as anyone for a spot in a HoF.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Jul 7, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely. So get started, man. Go out and get them donations ;)
by mythbuster on Jul 8, 2009 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t get Helio for a MMA HOF at all. He is very important to Gracie JiuJitsu, but what did he do for MMA?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 8, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought about this before I put him on the list, when he died and after your comment. The thing is, I think the definition of MMA has changed as the sport has. In my mind, MMA started out (in the modern era) as mixing martial arts styles against each other in individual fights or fight cards and evolved into mixing styles in individual fighters.
If you go back and look at the evolution of the sport, much of it started back in what I like to call the “black and white days” or when much of the film/pictures was still B&W. This was when BJJ was taking on wrestling, Judo, etc. and when the seeds of what became the UFC were really getting planted. Then consider how much of that revolved around Helio and he truly was a pioneer of modern mma with his fighting, coaching and contributions. THIS is perfect example of why I feel the need for separate wings of a HoF.
I wouldn’t be against an induction of the “Gracie Family” as opposed to just Helio, but he certainly is deserving of the recognition.
Again, this is just my opinion, but I would guess the majority of fans would also be in favor of his induction, or at least not against it.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Jul 8, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could get behind the Gracie family.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 8, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d much rather WAMMA run a hall of fame than go around handing out “undisputed” championships.
If they could be unbiased about it, it would be great
I really wonder what’s going to come of WAMMA now that all those people left. They haven’t made any noise, they haven’t updated their rankings since May, and who will be there to hold the belt upside down at Affliction 3?
by Phildo on Jul 9, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WAMMA tried that and every complains about them, too. Can’t we all just get along?
Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Jul 8, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
unbiased and trustworthy
WAMMA failed this part.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 8, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont get why people are bitching.
it’s the UFC HOF, not MMA HOF. so they can do what they want with it.. there’s no need for any wamma wannabe independent bodies here..
by Anton Tabuena on Jul 8, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why did you say this in reply to me? I wasn’t bitching about anything. :\
by mythbuster on Jul 8, 2009 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I just replied there cause it started the independent body thing..
Although i did make sure that I didn’t say it was you who was bitching though.. If you were, I wouldve wrote “I don’t get why you guys are bitching” haha.. :)
And I know you weren’t all that serious about the independent body thing, but a few were I think.. I just thought I’d post on the comment that started it haha.
by Anton Tabuena on Jul 8, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a bunch of too cool for the room bitches. Some of you shits are so anti-UFC that you’ll complain about ANYTHING!!
by Patrick79x on Jul 7, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
did mask do it or did the whole tapout crew do it…I think they should go in together
by jks9202 on Jul 7, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow
you guys are getting your panties in too much of a bunch here. Everybody who has dominated in the UFC will get in eventually. Why is everyone so damn worked up over this?
V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol Vikings, Let's Go!!
by TheViking83 on Jul 7, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The year of the Charles!
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 8, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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