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Opinion & Analysis
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Reader Reax
Reader Reax - Batch #2: If Liddell weren't retiring, who'd you like to see him face? And what should be next for Cro Cop?
Coming out of UFC 115, it sounds like neither Chuck Liddell nor Mirko Cro Cop will fight again. However, if they were to have one or two more fights, which match-ups most intrigue you? We asked MMATorch readers to send us their picks. The following is the second batch of suggestions...
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MMATorch reader T.J. Brown writes:
(1) Chuck Liddell is a legend in the sport, and he's a true warrior, leaving everything in the cage in every single one of his fights. However, there comes a time in every warrior's career where he's gotta stop fighting. Chuck's time is now. His chin is at the point where I think he might even get knocked out by Tito if they were to fight; the shot that Rich hit him with was not a KO blow. If he were to have another fight, it'd have to be against Tito in order to settle the minor trashtalk that went down during TUF 11. Although I'd take Chuck in that fight, it's definitely a possibility, especially at this point, that Chuck would get KO'd.
(2) As for Cro Cop, there are multiple possibilities for some very good matchups. The fight that seemingly everyone, including me, wants to see is Cro Cop vs. Big Nog. This would be a good matchup because both fighters are Pride legends who were never able to recieve the kind of success in the UFC that they had in Pride. I'd favor Big Nog due to his competent standup and his world class ground game over Cro Cop's mediocre ground game (just because he submitted Pat Barry doesnt mean it's improved as much as people are saying). And his rejuvenated striking. There are a few other good matchups for Cro Cop such as Ben Rothwell (another winner from UFC 115) or even Frank Mir, although Frank Mir vs. Big Nog would also be a great matchup, as they're both similar fighters.
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MMATorch reader Jesus Sanchez writes...
Chuck Liddel is more than likely done fighting for good. Howeverm I don't exactly agree with giving him another fight with Tito. Matching Liddell against Ortiz in his final fight seems wrong in the sense that Liddel is getting someone with zero to no chance of winning... That doesn't really allow him to end his legacy legitimately. He showed in his fight with Franklin that he was fighting like his previous self and I believe he should fight a top tier light heavyweight. As long as he practices better defense, it's a fight in which he has a chance at toughing out and can go out with dignity and like the champion he was. I say Rampage, Forrest Griffin, or maybe even that rematch with Keith Jardine he wanted.
As for Cro Cop, I would love a rematch with Cheick Kongo. He could show where he's at since losing that fight. Also, a fight with Frank Mir would be a good showing. Anyone really that's a win or two from a title shot seems like the right fight.
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MMATorch reader Wil Moncrieffe writes...
They both should retire. Both were knocked down pretty easily on Saturday night. Probably the concussions from head shots over the years and will affect them in the future.
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MMATorch reader Matt Walton of Brisbane, Australia writes...
I'd like to see Liddell fight Jon Jones. Two strikers, one from the original UFC, one from today's UFC. Id like to see how Bones handles a striker with no fear. I see Chuck winning if he wasn't 40, but if it was now... Chuck goes 6 from 7. Sorry Chuck. You and Randy are still the reason I got into MMA.
We want to hear from you on the following topical questions. We'll publish batches of your responses in coming hours...
-Dana White has guaranteed that Chuck Liddell's career as a UFC fighter is over. If Liddell were to fight again, though, what opponent would you like to him against. You can make it clear you don't want to see him fight again when naming the opponent you'd be most interested in seeing him fight if you knew he was going to fight again.
-Mirko Cro Cop got a big win over Pat Barry. Dana White says he Cro Cop told him he wants to finish his MMA career in UFC. What do you think should be next for Cro Cop? Is he a title contender now, one fight away, or several big wins away?
Send your responses to mmatorch@gmail.com.
Also, check back every day this week as MMATorch editor-in-chief Jamie Penick will be writing a five-part series of Career Retrospect articles on Chuck Liddell. Relive his career if you've watched it from the start or learn more about what he accomplished in his career if you've joined in the middle or near the end.
ALERT: Every Tuesday night, listen to the MMATorch Livecast from 9-10:30 p.m. ET or listen now to the most recent shows by clicking here. Listen live this coming Tuesday as Jamie Penick, Rich Hansen, and Matt Pelkey discuss the latest MMA happenings. Online listen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mmatorch or call into the show at 646-716-8090 to either just listen or participate.
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