Dana White Will Cut Chuck Liddell From the UFC Before Letting Him Back Inside the Octagon
by Mike Fagan on Jul 1, 2010 10:41 PM EDT
in MMA News
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At risk of this getting sucked into the UFC 116 black hole, Dana White has apparently put his foot down with regards to Chuck Liddell's career. Mike Chiappetta of MMA Fighting has the scoop (emphasis mine):
The 40-year-old Liddell, who recently admitted in an interview that "I guess I'm not taking shots like I used to," also seemed to hedge on the retirement issue, saying it was not a decision he was prepared to make.
But if Liddell -- who had his wax likeness unveiled by the world famous Madame Tussauds museum Thursday -- wants to continue his fighting career, he'll have to do so out of the UFC.
"I guess if he asks me to release him, I'd release him," he said. "That's not what I want. But he'll never fight in the UFC again."
Take note, John Hackelman. It takes a little tough love to show someone you're serious.
I think Chuck Liddell can still fight, but he'd have to take a huge step down in competition. It's clear that he's slowed to the point where he can't keep up with the top guys in the division anymore. So if he wants to fight Stephan Bonnar or Eric Schafer, so be it.
That said, Dana should be commended for his actions here. Maybe it's one fight too late. Maybe he should have taken this stand after the "Shogun" Rua fight. But if Dana White is serious about not being complicit in Liddell's downfall, this is the only move he can really make. He can't hold Chuck's hand, but he sure as hell can keep from leading the lamb to the wolves.
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Save him from himself Dana . This is the ...
… only way he may never fight again .
" Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. " ~
Mike Tyson
by MidWayMonster54 on Jul 1, 2010 10:39 PM EDT reply actions
Props to Dana for refusing to assist Chuck in hurting himself any further.
As for Chuck, I have no interest in seeing him continue, be it inside or outside the Octagon.
by John Nash on Jul 1, 2010 10:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hopefully Chuck doesn’t call Dana’s bluff on this one.
Lemonade was a popular drink, and it still is. I get more stunts and props than Bruce Willis- Guru
Exactly.
Take note, John Hackelman. It takes a little tough love to show someone you’re serious.
Cutting Chuck doesn’t stop him from fighting again. It stops him from fighting in the UFC. You might want to take that into account, Dana. You really think SF WOULDN’T sign up Chuck if you made him available? He’s not a top 10 LHW anymore by any means, but he’s still got name value. You think Chuck wouldn’t go to another promotion to get his fight fix? As mentioned right below, if he passes all medical tests and a commission clears him, no one can really stop him.
I agree that SF or another rising league would pick up Chuck for his name.
On the bright side, given Strikeforce’s inability to promote almost anything they offer, Chuck would get knocked out and no one would even know about it.
by LikeTheWhiskey on Jul 2, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Chuck did a TV interview
…and said he would not consider fighting elsewhere and if Dana told him it was time to quit and would rather cut him then let him continue he would listen.
He said he knows Dana can still make money off him, so if Dana drew a hard line in the sand, he knew it was coming as a friend and not as a promoter.
This should mean he is done.
That's good to know...
…and I hope he meant it.
I hope he does not fight again but...
it is 100% his choice and he should be able to make whatever decision he wants. If he passes all medical tests and a commission clears him, no one should stand in his way. He is a grown man able to make his own decisions(Not saying anyone is trying to make a decision for him, just saying it’s his choice/life, I’d be pissed if others were making decisions on what’s best for my life, except my wife of course)
Dana doesn't have to let him fight
Chuck has the choice of going to Strikeforce or DREAM or somewhere else if he wishes to fight, but it’s well within Dana White’s rights to simply not have Chuck fight again in the UFC.
So, in a sense, it’s not 100% Chuck’s choice, just like it’s not 100% Chuck’s choice to be the starting running back for the Chicago Bears. They don’t have to offer him a contract to do so. Just like Dana doesn’t have to offer him a contract to fight again.
"If you go up there clueless, you're going to come back [to the dugout] clueless. It's that simple." - Nick Markakis
Where
do I ever say that Dana has to offer Chuck a contract? Of course he has every right not to sign him to a contract. No one has to sign him to a contract, anywhere. But there are 100’s of other opportunities worldwide to fight, if Chuck wants to fight. And let’s not be naive, thinking just because Dana may do right thing, other companies wouldn’t sign him in a second.
He should go to Japan and fight Sakuraba
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jul 1, 2010 11:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
If Hackelman really was his friend, he’d tell Chuck to retire. That’s what I’d do if I were a friend of Chuck’s. However, that being said, if the man wants to fight, and the commissions clear him, there’s probably not much anyone can do. Hopefully Chuck comes to a realization soon. I really don’t want to see Chuck laid out on the canvas again.
If he's allowed by a commission to fight again
then I think it’s time to start re-evaluating the various ACs role in protecting a fighters safety and how much is too much.
If Chuck Lidell goes out into the wilderness and get irreparably injured or even killed due to his declining ability to take a punch, it will be a serious blow to the growth of the sport.
I have accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as my personal Heavyweight Champion!
Baptized in Coors Light and Jack's Links jerky!!!
Dressed in my heavenly DeathClutch robes!!!
Its time to start re-evaluating the various ACs
Have you seen some of the fights that have been allowed to happen? Some of the should have been retired fighters that have been allowed to fight?
In all seriousness, I hope this is the wake-up call Chuck needs.
Dude. It's Anderson Silva.
If he gives a damn he will end Sonnen’s night by either sub or KO.
-SSreporters
By Monday morning Chael Sonnen will be pissing out of his neck.
-Also SSreporters
I'm aware of what goes on
And there are somethings that really need to stop.
I have accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as my personal Heavyweight Champion!
Baptized in Coors Light and Jack's Links jerky!!!
Dressed in my heavenly DeathClutch robes!!!
Chuck/Babalu III.
"Fedor is in major trouble! FEDOR TAPS! FEDOR TAPS! FABRICIO WERDUM WINS BY SUBMISSION (TRIANGLE CHOKE), ROUND 1!" - Brent Brookhouse, BloodyElbow.com
That’s crazy. It was complete domination the first two times. That’d be like booking Chuck/Tito 3. Wait…
Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.
Good for Dana
I’m glad he’s taking a stand. Sometimes you need to put your foot down if your friend is surrounding himself by yes men and is hurting himself. Chuck needs an intervention.
follow me twitter.com/GotaHemmi
by Brian Hemminger on Jul 1, 2010 11:39 PM EDT reply actions
Yet he's content..
..with having Wanderlei Silva’s brains scrambled fight after fight. Who will step in for Silva?
Check out my articles at www.fightlockdown.com
Wanderelei’s made it out of four of his last five fights without being KO’d.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
If you want to look at stats, he’s been brutally knocked out in 4 of his last 7 and eeked out decisions against three fighters whose power has come into question.
Check out my articles at www.fightlockdown.com
by MilesHackett on Jul 2, 2010 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions
You mean 3 of his last 7 right? Against three of the biggest power punchers in the history of the sport…
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Sorry, I meant 3, not 4.
The point is that Wanderlei Silva has almost had as many brutal knockout losses as Chuck Liddell has in his career and I think it’s slowed him down considerably since his PRIDE days, it just has to have. Chuck may have been further along in his physical degradation, but Wanderlei is not far behind at all. When he starts facing some hard hitters in the future, I think it will resurface as an issue. I just hope that someone will step-in for him because he’s taken a LOT of damage over his career.
Check out my articles at www.fightlockdown.com
by MilesHackett on Jul 2, 2010 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
the point is
that Chuck and Wanderlei are not in comparable situations at all and that should be obvious if you examine the situations in any depth at all.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former - Albert Einstein"
- Goonisis
I disagree.
I think they’re very comparable. Both guys do not perform quite as well as they used to, with the difference being that Chuck Liddell has been consistently fighting knockout artists.(until he fought Rich Franklin which confirmed that he was done as a top fighter).
Just wait until Wanderlei starts fighting guys who can put his lights out again and you’ll see. For those saying Silva hasn’t been fazed by Franklin or Bisping, I ask, what fights were you watching? Both of them managed to stun him in their fights at certain points.
Check out my articles at www.fightlockdown.com
of course Wandy isn't what he once was
He’s going to be 34 in a couple days and like you say he’s been in many wars over years. It’s expected for him to have lost a step. However, that doesn’t mean he’s in the same position as Chuck and at such an increased risk of serious, long-term brain injuries.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former - Albert Einstein"
- Goonisis
just buy watching bolth fight you can tell bolth are not in the same position. Atleast Wand can still put a decent sentence together. Go to MMA Weekly or anywhere and play a interview from Chuck 4 or 5 years ago and then play one from recent time. A huge difference there in the speech, sentence structure, response time, etc
Watching an interview of Chuck is painful because of this. The knock-outs, the “lifestyle” … I don’t know what is responsible for this but each time I see Chuck mumble on camera I think of Ali and “please stop before it’s too late” starts looping in my head.
I wouldn’t mind if Wand stopped either.
It"s not easy to witness your own idol’s twilight.
Well, anybody who knows me knows I'm no fan of dictionaries or reference books. They're elitist. Constantly telling us what is or isn't true. Or what did or didn't happen.
“eeked out decisions against three fighters whose power has come into question.”
His last two wins have been a KO of Jardine and a decision against Bisping where he nearly choked him out in the second and knocked him down at the end of the third. The other two decisions where against Franklin and Chuck and we all know what a couple of pillow fisted sissies those guys are I guess.
You f@g, you couldn't pull one drag, off my blunt
you couldn't punch your way out of a wet paper bag
with scissors in your hand, bitch the RZA
I stand close to walls like #4 The Lizard.
You do know who Wanderlei Silva is right? I only ask cause you seem a little confused.
You f@g, you couldn't pull one drag, off my blunt
you couldn't punch your way out of a wet paper bag
with scissors in your hand, bitch the RZA
I stand close to walls like #4 The Lizard.
Of course I know who Wanderlei Silva is and I’m not deluded into thinking that the damage he has sustained throughout his 12 year professional career isn’t noticeable in his recent performances.
Check out my articles at www.fightlockdown.com
by MilesHackett on Jul 2, 2010 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Well you know what
When slight breezes start knocking over Wandy the way they seem to Chuck now then he’ll maybe have to call it quits, even though he obviously isn’t what he used to be he still looks far more competetive especially since dropping down weight classes.
You f@g, you couldn't pull one drag, off my blunt
you couldn't punch your way out of a wet paper bag
with scissors in your hand, bitch the RZA
I stand close to walls like #4 The Lizard.
Rape choke!
"Fedor is in major trouble! FEDOR TAPS! FEDOR TAPS! FABRICIO WERDUM WINS BY SUBMISSION (TRIANGLE CHOKE), ROUND 1!" - Brent Brookhouse, BloodyElbow.com
Silva isn't in the same boat as Chuck
I think its been exagerrated just how much Silva’s been knocked out, he was only knocked out once in 2006, once in 2007, and once in 2008 and hasn’t even really been rocked in a fight since.
You f@g, you couldn't pull one drag off my blunt
you couldn't punch your way out of a wet paper bag
with scissors in your hand, bitch the RZA
I stand close to walls like #4 The Lizard.
Exactly. The difference is that Silva has taken some hard shots since then and hasn’t even been shaken, whereas every solid shot Chuck has taken to the jaw or chin has at least dropped him, and at worst completely shut the lights off. The Rampage and Rashad KO’s were just hellacious, but Shogun and Rich just hit him with solid punches and he was done.
by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 2, 2010 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 1, 2010 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Good to hear, Chuck is my favorite fighter but it’s time for him to call it a wrap now it’s time for Hack to step up and be a real friend too.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
100%
I’m a 100% sure chuck can keep up with anybody…..80% of the time!
I'm from Canada, and they think I'm slow eh!
by Simboy on Jul 2, 2010 2:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I really hope Chuck hangs it up and just retires already, as he can’t compete with the elite anymore. Maybe Dana should give him one more fight, Chuck will probably get knocked out again, and maybe finally realize it’s over.
No that won’t work, Chuck will just say he got caught again.
by A K I R A on Jul 2, 2010 5:02 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
This is way off topic but...
I just went ten rounds with a gold glove boxer in my alley. I got tagged a few times and it felt great. Glad i still have a chin, chuck you don’t. Hang it up brosive.
Be a man, not a child-Phil Anselmo
by ANance on Jul 2, 2010 5:23 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
LMAO
at the pic
Facts don't come with points of view.
by Robert Livingston on Jul 2, 2010 9:03 AM EDT reply actions
"I wish you knew how to quit me, Chuck"
—Dana
by LikeTheWhiskey on Jul 2, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
lol
yes
Facts don't come with points of view.
by Robert Livingston on Jul 2, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
A tender moment
between two friends. I am proud to say that I’ve never shared that kind of moment with any of my friends.
It is good that DW does this
Because its the right thing to do
But this
I think Chuck Liddell can still fight, but he’d have to take a huge step down in competition. It’s clear that he’s slowed to the point where he can’t keep up with the top guys in the division anymore. So if he wants to fight Stephan Bonnar or Eric Schafer, so be it.
Does not make sense to me. I could easily see Stephan Bonnar or Eric the Red doing the very same thing that Franklin did. They both have iron chins, have never been stopped and all they would need to do is survive the initial onslaught until they landed and awkward side angled arm punch like Franklin did and his night would be over again. They are terrible match ups for him and to be honest, I am not sure who would be a good match for him in the top 25. It is really scary to see him collapse like the old MGM casino in Las Vegas when he gets tagged with just about any punch in the face.
Eric Schafer is a poor man’s poor man’s “Babalu” Sobral.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
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