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By: Chris Park, MMATorch UK Specialist
Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell will not only go down as one of the best fighters in MMA history, but also one of the most important influences in the growth of the sport.
There are so many memories in the career of Liddell that it is hard to believe one man could be responsible for them all. Remember the picture perfect head kick on Renato Sobral? Or the spectacular knockouts of Guy Mezger and Alistair Overeem? And who will ever forget the insane barrage of shots that were unloaded onto the helpless Tito Ortiz, as yet another man crumbled under the relentless pressure of "The Iceman."
It was in 2005 that Chuck became the Light Heavyweight Champion, when he defeated Randy Couture and went on to become one of the most dominant champions in the division’s history.
This all took place in a spell where MMA was starting to turn heads and attract attention from the right kind of places. It was only one week earlier that Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar went to war to earn their places in the UFC in a bout that began a wave that would attract a whole new set of fans.
The spotlight was finally starting to shine down on the sport, and in Chuck Liddell the UFC had an extremely marketable champion.
Everything about Chuck Liddell was just right, and he embodied all that the UFC stood for. With his victory celebrations, his image, his fighting style and the knockouts he delivered he will stay in the memory of fans forever.
It is hard to pin down just one highlight that defines Liddell, as his career is full of key moments. But, if I was able to pick just one fight to go back and be Octagon side for, then I would have to choose the absolute fan fantasy that was the fight between The Iceman and fellow legend Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79.
The anticipation for that fight was more than I can ever remember feeling, for any occasion, as after a number of failed attempts to make the fight happen in the past, the two finally went to war.
Chuck was coming into this fight having lost his title in his penultimate matchup with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, then suffering a loss to Keith Jardine just a few months after that. It was clear that a third straight loss had to be avoided at all costs.
Liddell vs. Silva was “2007 Fight Of The Year,” and with just cause. The fight itself was an absolute thriller that swayed back and forth for every one of the fifteen scheduled minutes, and for me runs a very close second to Griffin vs. Bonnar for most iconic fight ever.
One thing I wish I could have seen was Chuck Liddell fighting in the UK. He was scheduled to fight at UFC 85 in London, but was forced off the card due to injury, and I imagine the reception he would likely have received would have been overwhelming for any fighter.
He is quite simply one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the Octagon, and rightfully deserves his positioning in the UFC hall of fame. He is a true legend of the sport to which all fans owe a debt.
There will be so many new breeds of fighters as the sport of MMA continues to grow, but there will never be another fighter quite like Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.
Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist and guest columnist at ESPN.co.uk. Please email any comments or questions to Chris at; mmatorchuk@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK Fans!]
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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