UFC 97 Results

UFC 97 marked one of the worst pay per views in recent history, including a title fight so bad that Dana White admitted that it "embarrassed him."

The main event featured young and talented, although fairly unknown, fighters that have not received much exposure. The result, unfortunately, was that many fans felt they did not get their moneys worth.

The show culminated in two main events. First up was Chuck Liddell who, like the Rashad fight, looked strong in the beginning but was ultimately done in by a big punch. I'm a huge Liddell fan so seeing this loss was certainly tough. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a fan who doesn't believe Liddell should retire.

The final bout was a bizarre battle of strategy between Anderson Silva and Thales Leites. Leites was not content to stand with Silva, repeatedly falling to his back, inviting the fellow Brazilian to join him. Meanwhile, Silva toyed with Leites for a good portion of the fight, not trying to finish the challenger but certainly eager to embarrass him.

With Evans/Machida on the horizon and UFC 100 in the distance, the UFC should have multiple opportunities to redeem itself.

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Liddell-Couture IV?

All of the talk of the A. Silva-Liddell superfight at UFC 95 has now been quieted. UK's The Sun reports that Liddell has now been offered a heavyweight fight with Randy Couture at an event in Germany on June 13th.

This fight would probably draw a ton of attention, as the name recognition of both fighters may be higher than ever. Yes, Chuck Liddell has lost 3 of his last 4 fights. However, he's still probably the most recognizable name in MMA. People will tune in.

Where does this put Anderson Silva? Reports say that he may face one of the losers of the big UFC 92 LHW fights, Forrest Griffin-Rashad Evans or Quinton Jackson-Wanderlei Silva.

Whatever happens, the UFC is doing a great job with keeping these cards exciting. Just when you think that they run out of ideas they come out with unbelievable dream fights. I'm not by any means saying that Liddell-Couture IV would be a dream fight. There is only so much that you can milk a rivalry. With both fighters out of their prime and the fact that this would be their fourth meeting, this fight doesn't excite me as much as Anderson Silva-Liddell does.

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UFC 95: Liddell Vs. Silva?

Anderson Silva vs. Chuck Liddell? It sounds like something you might dream up in the UFC video game, but according to The Sun, it could be a reality. Read more for our analysis on the possibility of this super fight.

In all honesty, I don't see why the UFC would make this fight, other than for one huge payday. Silva would be expected to win for sure, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of -200. And if Silva did win, what would that mean? Since he would be expected to win, the victory would do little for Silva. However, it would delegitimize Liddell (further) and essentially put the cap on The Iceman's career. Yeah, he's gonna have to retire eventually, but do you really want your biggest retail draw to be embarrassed?

On the other hand, a Liddell win could be even more devastating to the UFC. It would take more than a KO of Anderson Silva to thrust Liddell back into title contention, so the only thing they would be doing is destroying their most talented star. Silva has always been the answer to Fedor fans in the pound for pound debate, and a loss would all but hand that title over to the Russian. This is not the fight the UFC wants. Let Silva wait for Bisping or Maia at MW, or let him test the waters against Georges St. Pierre. For Liddell, it's much simpler. Offer him one more shot at Jackson or a fourth fight with Couture.

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Liddell vs. Shogun

In an unexpected move, it was announced today that Chuck Liddell will be fighting Mauricio "Shogun" Rua this summer. This news means that neither of these two fighters will have their expected "easy" fights. This will be a great fight between two great brawlers. I can't even make a prediction on this one. Who knows what we'll see this summer. But I would love to hear your predictions. Who do you think will come out on top?

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2007 Year In Review

2007 marked the first year that Mixed Martial Arts was recognized on a somewhat level playing field with the rest of the sports world. Even though a lot of time and effort was put into the general expansion of the sport, the fighters and promoters still had enough left in the tank to make this the most compelling year the sport has ever seen. Some storylines were good for the sport while others hurt its reputation, but each provided publicity, the one thing this sport will never turn down. Originally written for MMA Madness

Story of the year: The Purchase of PRIDE. This deal, years in the making, brought just about every major fighter (with the exception of Fedor Emelianenko) under the UFC’s tent. It paved the way for dream match ups we thought we’d never see. And it added freshness to two divisions which had recently run stale. No more just Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell – suddenly, Rampage Jackson, Dan Henderson, and Wanderlei Silva were all possibilities! And with Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia closing the chapter on their trilogy, it was nearly too good to be true that the UFC was locking down both Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Okay, so it was too good to be true, but it was exciting at the time.

It wasn’t just the fighters that made this purchase so special, although they certainly added to the excitement. It was the promise that Dana White would create the Super Bowl of MMA and do his best to bring all the best fighters together under one set of rules. Finally, it meant that one organization had set itself apart from the pack and would be around for quite some time. The underlying fear of every MMA fan is that the sport will be dubbed a fad among mainstream media and end up losing the attention and money which has recently been pumped into its expansion. Hardcore fans will always love the sport, but the addition of PRIDE under the Zuffa umbrella ensured that others would be able to enjoy it too.

Honorable mentions:

1. Fight analysts were stymied all year long by what came to be known as the year of the upset. After picking Sylvia, Georges St. Pierre, Filipovic, and Liddell in straight sets (UFC 68-71), I was just about ready to throw in my keyboard and call it quits. This year, and the upsets which defined it, forced all fight fans to reconsider what they thought they knew about the sport.

2. Even though it was only of interest after July 7, 2007, steroids made up a large portion of discussion among writers, fans and fighters. Some, such as St. Pierre chose to stay silent on the subject while others, like Melvin Guillard, flat out called Sean Sherk “a coward.” Steroids divided the MMA world and were a never-ending source of debate this year.

3. Even more recent than the steroids storyline is the saga of Dana White versus Randy Couture. While the story is still in its infancy, it has provided fans with a unique look into the world of signing bonuses, contracts, and the business end of the UFC. It has also reinforced what we thought we knew about The Natural – he’ll do what he thinks is right, regardless of the impact on his wallet or his celebrity status.

4. The MMA community was shocked and saddened by the death of Sam Vasquez, the first fighter to die from combat-related injuries in a sanctioned bout. It forced us to reevaluate the dangers of the sport we love.

Fighter of the year: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Rampage won three times this year, all in convincing fashion. His first bout was a revenge fight against Marvin Eastman, the man who had handed Rampage his first career loss. Rampage outgunned Eastman to a second round TKO victory. His second fight, just four months later, was against the then-unbeatable Chuck Liddell. Rampage transitioned beautifully to this opportunity, knocking out Liddell in the first round. The path didn’t get any easier for the new champion as he then met the newly-signed Dan Henderson at UFC 75. Rampage rolled along, winning a unanimous decision and proving to all that he was the real deal. In the final success of Rampage’s tour de force year, he was named as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter season 7.

Honorable mention: Anderson Silva. The Spider won three fights as well, beating Travis Lutter, Nathan Marquardt, and Rich Franklin, finishing them all within the first two rounds. As if that wasn’t enough, Silva passed Fedor on most pound-for-pound rankings by year’s end.

Fight of the year: A late entry, but no less worthy, the UFC 79 bout between Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva garners fight of the year honors. This decision isn’t based on pre-fight excitement alone, however. It was a combination of the hype and the outcome that made it such an entertaining 15 minutes. In the first round, Liddell and Silva met numerous times for sets of short, brutal exchanges. Liddell seemed to take a page out of Keith Jardine’s playbook, peppering The Axe Murderer with leg kicks. In the second round, Silva dropped Liddell twice, but Liddell shot back up both times, eventually cutting Silva badly. Liddell ended the round with a surprising take down of the BJJ black belt. The third round was slightly slower than the first two, each fighter taking a calculated approach to striking. Liddell once again got the best of the exchanges, nearly knocking out Silva with a spinning back fist. Silva recovered quickly, as he had done all night, and stalked Liddell to a decision loss. What had long been called the most anticipated fight in MMA history certainly did not disappoint.

Honorable mention: Another great late fight, the TUF 6 finale main event between Clay Guida and Roger Huerta, was just as action-packed as any 155-pound bout we had seen all year. Guida dominated most of the fight, striking and taking down Huerta at will. Huerta, however, was patient and ending up locking in a rear naked choke in the final round of action.

Knockout of the year: I hate to give one man a sweep of fighter of the year and KO of the year, but there wasn’t a knockout more meaningful and definitive than Jackson’s KO of champion Chuck Liddell. Jackson, now working with boxing instructor Juanito Ibarra, rolled under a Liddell haymaker and landed his own right hook on Liddell’s chin. Jackson followed up on the ground for good measure, forcing Big John McCarthy to jump in.

Honorable mention: It didn’t take long into the Gabriel Gonzaga-Mirko Filipovic fight to recognize that Cro Cop wasn’t himself. Gonzaga seemed to be controlling the pace of fight, connecting with more shots, and looked like the more experienced fighter. This belief was confirmed when Gonzaga swung his leg high in the air, blasting Cro Cop in the head, and knocking him out cold. The method (Cro Cop’s signature move) and the aftermath (the image of a mangled Cro Cop) made this KO one for the ages.

Submission of the year: Nick Diaz’s gogoplata over Japanese legend Takanori Gomi was just the second time the rare submission had been used in PRIDE fighting competition. The choke, usually done from the rubber guard (see Eddie Bravo’s excellent book on this guard), involves pushing the shin against the trachea of the opponent. The fight didn’t have much meaning, and the outcome was eventually overturned on drug charges, but none of this mattered to MMA purists, who delighted in the “gogo” win.

Honorable mention: When St. Pierre locked in an arm bar with just four seconds remaining in the second round of his Interim title fight against Matt Hughes, it wasn’t just St. Pierre winning another fight or even winning another title. It was St. Pierre avenging his first UFC loss in the exact same manner in which he had been beaten. Poetic justice, not grandiosity, is what made this submission so special.

2007 was spectacular but with the prospect of more talented fighters entering the ranks, younger fighters maturing to a greater degree, and stronger competition across the board, 2008 should prove to be no less enjoyable.

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The Lighter Side Of The UFC

I’ve always been fascinated by the UFC’s dichotomy between violence and comedy. For a sport that was born from two men beating the snot out of each other, there certainly are some funny things that go down in and out of the Octagon. As we catch our breath from UFC 67 and gear up for UFC 68, I thought it would be a welcome departure to look at some of the UFC’s funniest moments. With so many to choose from, I’ve tried to narrow down my choices to the five that can still make me laugh. A timeless article (from last year) by MMA Mania's Jesse Holland.

5. Go with the KenFlo

Kenny Florian, despite his talent, gets quite a bit of heat from UFC fans. I’m sure it has a lot to do with his stint on The Ultimate Fighter, an experience that can vault you into the main event of a pay-per-view while simultaneously branding you with a Scarlet Letter. Most of the gags are cheap and childish, like the comparisons to Ben Stiller and Kevin Richardson from The Backstreet Boys. There does exist however, one juicy nugget for which Florian can blame no one but himself. Back at UFC 64 KenFlo was pitted against the heavily favored Sean Sherk for the vacant lightweight title. Outmatched and obviously out-muscled, Florian spent most of the fight on the run. Do you remember as a child when you would tear-ass through the house and Mom would yell at you to watch where you’re going? Looks like KenFlo called in sick for that particular lesson.

While attempting to escape the shoot, Florian pulls a Mark Hominick and runs for the hills. Keep in mind an Octagon has eight sides, and boy those support beams just come out of nowhere don’t they? Wham, Bam, thank you Kenny Florian.

4. Dream Warriors
There’s knockout power, and then there’s Chuck Liddell. The Iceman’s put more people to sleep than Rick Perry (Sorry about that Texans). While most opponents go down quietly, there are the few warrior spirits who refuse to lose, even in an altered state.

At UFC 62, Renato “Babalu” Sobral decided one highlight reel knockout wasn’t enough and made the conscious decision to bumrush the sports most dangerous counter-puncher. Unfazed, Liddell kicked it into reverse and let his hands do the talking. A few bombs later, Sobral was counting sheep – or was he? Critics of the stoppage cried foul, claiming Babalu, while hurt, was still attempting a submission hold.

I understand their argument, and it is certainly valid, but if you’re going for a leg-lock, it should be on your opponent, not the referee. In his punch-drunk confusion, Babalu turned on the one man who swooped in to save him: Big John McCarthy.

I’ve seen ref’s knocked out by an errant punch in the heat of battle, but I’ve never seen one submitted. On August 26 of 2006, Big John almost became the first.
3. The Country Breakfast

Matt Hughes is known for a lot of things. Arrogance, dominance, Hollandaise sauce? The boys down at Xyience had the right idea in the beginning. The first few commercials had The Iceman (and sometimes Forrest Griffin) running uphill in the desert and talking tough into the camera. Not exactly Fellini, but we got the point. Then they decided a Clio Award was within reach and churned out that dreadful Rich Franklin piece that has him teaching class to a group of dim-witted rejects from the set of TRL. “Duh, do you use Xyience Mr. Franklin?” Blech.

And here I thought they had reached the bottom of the barrel until lo and behold there he is, the most dominant welterweight of our time, bailing hay and slurping down Farina to remind us what a good ol’ boy he is (and causing Denver Pyle to roll over in his grave). Actually, it wasn’t the Xyience bar/country breakfast parallels that had me in stitches. It was the priceless few seconds of Hughes getting out of a limousine into the onslaught of flash photography. Look closely and you’ll notice he’s standing on a red carpet as he waves to the press and his legions of fans. Yeah. Uh-huh. I know the UFC has exploded, but I don’t see Matt Hughes getting an Oscar invite just yet.

If you doubt the unintended humor of this ad you should check out this very sincere form of flattery: http://www.myspace.com/countrybreakfast.
2. The Real Huntington Beach Bad Boy

Long before Tito Ortiz ever stepped foot into the Octagon, there was another fighter from Huntington Beach that captivated fans around the world. I am referring of course to Joe Son, founder of Joesondo; his unholy and paltry mix of Tae Kwon Do and Judo. For our newer fans that never saw him in action, just picture Oddjob in a Speedo.

The first time I saw Joe Son was at UFC 4, when in true Kimo fashion he broadcast his religious beliefs by dragging a giant cross to the ring – on his back. The only problem was that Joe Son was a mere 5’4″ tall, and weighed a portly 236 pounds. By the time he reached the cage, he was already gassed. Then he had the unenviable task of facing competent Kenpo master Keith Hackney (best known as “The Giant Killer” for toppling the 6’8″ 600lb. monster Emmanuel Yarborough at UFC 3). The fight ensues and Joe Son ends up on his back, holding on to Hackney with a guillotine-turned-headlock. Hackney inexplicably decides it’s okay to violate every man-law in existence and starts firing closed-fist strikes straight into Joe Son’s genitals. These were not glancing blows -- they were direct hits. Ouch. While every male viewer at home and in person doubled over in sympathy pain, Joe Son kept right on truckin’, unfazed by the attempted murder of his Mini-Son. He eventually submitted via choke, but in defeat carved out his name in the annals of UFC lore. Joe Son: Balls of Steel.

1. Shit Happens. No Really, It Does.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Holy Grail of UFC comedy. Would you be surprised if I told you it involved former Heavyweight Champ Tim Sylvia? Of course not.

It happened a few years ago at Ultimate Fight Night 3. The Maine-iac faced off against Brazilian roadblock Assuerio Silva. His performance left a lot to be desired, especially considering his previous fight ended with a highlight-worthy head kick to Tra Telligman. In fact, it was the shittiest performance since Kevin Randleman defeated Renato Sobral at UFC 35. Yes, I mean that literally.

Never one to shy away from self-deprecating humor (just see his stint on Blind Date for proof of that), Sylvia goes on the MMAweekly radio show and admits to the world that he was a little under the weather that night and in fact, had soiled himself during the contest. Whatever they pay the guy who cleans the floor of the cage after the fights, it couldn’t possibly be enough.

So to anyone who thinks it was a dumb idea for Travis Lutter to admit he was unmotivated to fight for the title (instead of acting devastated and pretending he really tried to make weight), I give you the undisputed champion of dumb admissions. Informing the world you were ill and as a result turned in a sub-par performance is both understandable and acceptable. Conceding that your performance was hampered by chocolate trunks, is not.

And for the safety of digested lunches everywhere, this is one comedic moment that will not be accompanied by video.

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UFC 79 Analysis

The UFC 79 card was definitely exciting, but what exactly does it mean for the UFC and its fighters? Ben Zeidler examines the subject.

Liddell is back!

Chuck Liddell is back in full force, utterly dominating Wanderlei Silva for three straight rounds. Sure, he didn't knock The Axe Murderer out cold, but the performance was solid enough to declare The Iceman officially on the rebound from his Rampage loss earlier this year.

St. Pierre takes the crown

Georges St. Pierre beat Hughes with the very move he was beaten by more than two years ago. In doing this, he established himself as the clear top Welterweight and looks to be steamrolling towards avenging the Serra loss.

Sokoudjou NOT the real deal, Machida is though...

The aura surrounding Sokoudjou's two quick knockouts earlier this year was dispelled as Machida showed the extent of his ability in a dominant submission victory. Sokoudjou goes back to the drawing board, Machida goes to the top 4 of the division.

Sylvia-Nogueira for interim belt

It's been long rumored, but it's now confirmed that Tim Sylvia will get a shot as his old belt, but he'll have to go through top 3 HW Nogueira first. This will be the second of three interim titles which will be awarded between December and March.

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UFC 79, M-1 Videos

Thanks to our Senior Writer, Jordan Arnold, we've got some excellent videos here. Look for UFC 79 videos as well as Fedor's win, after the jump.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi

Nate Mohr vs. Manny Gamburyan

Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes

Lyoto Machida vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Masakatu Funaki

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Liddell-Silva Video

Major thanks to Todd over at redsweat.com for providing us with the correct speed of this video. Thanks!

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UFC 79 Results

Check back here tonight for live results of UFC 79. Look after the jump for results.

Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre III (Welterweight title)
-Georges St. Pierre wins by Submission (Arm Bar) in Round 2 (4:54)

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
-Chuck Liddell wins by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Soi Palalei vs. Eddie Sanchez
-Eddie Sanchez wins by TKO (Strikes) in Round 3 (3:24)

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Lyoto Machida
-Lyoto Machida wins by Submission (Arm Triangle) in Round 2 (4:20)

Rich Clementi vs. Melvin Guillard
-Clementi wins via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 2 (4:40)

Dean Lister vs. Jordan Radev
-Dean Lister wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

James Irvin vs. Luis Cane
-James Irvin wins via DQ (Illegal Knee)

Roan Carneiro vs. Tony DeSouza
-Roan Carneiro wins by TKO (Strikes) in Round 2 (3:30)

Manny Gamburyan vs. Nate Mohr
-Manny Gamburyan wins by Submission (Heel Hook) in Round 1 (1:31)

Doug Evans vs. Mark Bocek
-Mark Bocek wins via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Classic Fights Close Door On 2007

UFC 79 offers up a buffet of mega fights. Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes look to set the bar for MMA trilogies with an interim title clash. Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell seek the knockout that can cement their legacy as the greatest 205-pounder in MMA history. Young talents Rameau Thierry Sokodjou and Lyoto Machida battle to validate their mystique en route to title contention. Saturday night aims to bring New Year’s fireworks two days early.

By Danny Acosta

The third installment of the trilogy between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes includes storylines that transcend the sport. Hughes is the established champion, secure in his hall of fame status, mulling retirement but still sharpening his competitive edge. He takes on the paragon for the future—an unstoppable entity that has both succumb and overcome the pressures of elite competition.

Despite Matt Hughes’ hopes, St. Pierre stepping in on short notice is not an issue. The Greg Jackson-trained fighter stays active between matches and was training Rashad Evans for a November clash. Shortly after, he jumped at the opportunity to regain his top spot in the 170lb division when Matt Serra stepped down due to injury.

“Rush” dethroned the Illinois native with ease last November. It was a different fighter than Hughes had seen in their 2004 bout. The French Canadian nullified takedowns and punished him every step of the way. Rangy and fluid strikes ended the Miletich champion’s night early after St. Pierre followed up with ground and pound to a technical knockout.

Hughes cannot enter this fight with his, “I’ll find a way to win” attitude that hindered his second performance. There is no doubt he is one of the most resourceful fighters in history. However, his opponent’s ability to dictate where the fight takes place will not allow for openings. Hughes must make them.

With his ties cut from the MIletich camp for the first time, Hughes needs to remember what MFS imparted to him—confidence and strict game plans. Recalling that he submitted St. Pierre, Hughes has to inch forward, cutting off angles and bullying St. Pierre against the cage. Putting the twenty-six-year-old on his back and grinding out a decision is the former champion’s best bet. Pushing St. Pierre into the latter rounds and neutralizing his offense can dent confidence—the deciding factor of this fight.

If Hughes pulls out a victory, he reasserts his legend against the man who questioned it the loudest. If he loses, St. Pierre rises into his spot as the most dominant welterweight in the world, but still has the long road of reign ahead of him—including a clash with Matt Serra.

In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell loads up his counter-punching power against former Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva. The fight is five years in the making, stemming from their extensive time as unflappable champions.

For Liddell, the lights of stardom shined too bright for him to see in the Octagon, leading to two devastating losses. For Silva, back-to-back knockout defeats have sent him to rest his battle-worn body while building his murderous rage. Although the fight has lost its king versus king significance, the implications are heavy—the winner may be recognized as the greatest 205-pounder in MMA history.

The “Iceman” cannot rely solely on his fists as he did against Keith Jardine because Silva will throw everything in his arsenal with malice. Kicks are the most integral part of the San Luis Obispo fighter’s game plan. They can punish Silva and keep him at a distance, causing confusion for the former Chute Boxer as suffered against Mirko Crocop. More importantly, they set up Liddell’s looping power punches. The blitzkrieg that is Silva plays right into Liddell’s counterpunching style. Mixing strikes increases the Brazilian’s chances of making a grave mistake—Liddell’s trademark, punctuated with the heavy right hand.

However, like Liddell, the “Axe Murderer” has excellent recovery time. America’s newest import must close the distance and push the pace. Emphasizing traditional boxing in preparation for this fight counters Liddell’s Kempo style well. It will allow the nearly forty-fight veteran to close the distance where he can launch his hatchet-like knees. Silva cannot come forward wildly, but he must be relentless because Liddell will not stick around in the clinch.

Despite the strategies involved in the two different yet dangerous styles, make no mistake—this is a fight that rests on the answer to one question: “Who gets to whose chin first?” (Dave Camarillo). There is no title on the line when Liddell battles Silva. But for the “Axe Murderer” and the “Iceman,” there is still a trophy—the other’s head.

In another light heavyweight bout with serious career implications, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou challenges Lyoto Machida. “Judo Thierry” debuts in the UFC still clouded in questions—just as Machida did in his stateside journey—about his cardio, heart, and chin…to name a few.

Sokoudjou has drawn criticism, ironically, because his showings have been so strong, knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ricardo Arona. His aggressive and heavy style is what Machida has made a living toppling. The karate stylist is defensive but destructive in his own right. He has been looking to finish fights since joining the UFC. This can cause problems for Sokoudjou, who lacks experience and typically fights his fight. Coming forward and staying cautious is the undefeated fighter’s route to victory.

“The African Assassin” has a distinct size advantage. After testing the stand-up waters, taking the fight to the cage and employing his judo to set up ground and pound is his best bet to finish the Japanese-Brazilian. Stifled against the fence, Machida cannot be elusive.

The winner propels himself into title contention, a loss is only a minor setback in a young, promising career.

Heavyweight Eddie Sanchez stands across from Soa Palalei in the swing bout of the night. Palelei, training out of Team Quest, enters the bout with a more diverse arsenal than the game, but narrow-minded Sanchez. The Samoan exploits stubborness to a technical knockout victory.

In a lightweight bout to open the night, New Orleans pride is on the line when Melvin Guillard comes after Rich Clementi in a bad blood battle. Guillard’s athleticism can dictate where the fight occurs, which does not bode well for “No Love.” However, the “Young Assassin” lacks the mental component to his game. This can land him in some trouble—especially on the ground—against a well-rounded veteran like Clementi. Guillard’s high-profile loss and embarrassing cocaine scandal likely brings him out the gate furious. If Clementi can drag the fight on, his chances of snagging a victory increase dramatically.

As UFC 79 comes to a close, four of the sports biggest stars in Georges St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, Wanderlei Silva, and Chuck Liddell will have their careers drastically altered. Concluding the year brings different resolutions for the four: win the title or just survive?

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UFC 79 Tomorrow!

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Ten Greatest UFC Upsets

What started as a freak occurrence has seemingly turned into a spiraling epidemic as the best of today’s UFC fighters are going down in a blaze of eight-sided glory. After the year we’ve had in this sport I must approach every pay-per-view with nervous anticipation. It really is true: Anything can happen. An article by MMA Mania's Jesse Holland.

With that in mind I present my list of the ten greatest UFC upsets:

10. Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort: UFC 15
At UFC 15, relative newcomer Randy Couture was set to face Vitor Belfort in a match that many experts compared to the ancient practice of feeding Christians to the lions. Couture had only two fights under his belt while Belfort was 4-0 in the Octagon. Not only was he undefeated, Belfort had four straight (T)KO’s and never had a match go longer than two minutes.

Randy was supposed to be a cakewalk for the invincible Brazilian but it was Couture who earned the TKO stopping Belfort with strikes shortly after eight minutes. They would face off two more times in 2004 but the match that will be remembered in my book is probably their first as it ranks as one of the UFC’s first big upsets.

9. Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral: UFC 68
Renato Sobral was widely considered one of the top light-heavyweights in the world and for good reason. Since July of 2002 he compiled an impressive 12-2 record including a ten-fight winning streak.

Like Minotauro Nogueira, who could have been on top for years if not for a certain Russian cyborg, Babalu was second only to Chuck Liddell. His bout against Lambert at UFC 68 was supposed to be a chance to get back to his winning ways.

Lambert wasn’t having it. Talented but unproven, Lambert was coming off a KO loss to Rashad Evans and had a history of falling short against popular fighters like Tim Sylvia and Cabbage Correira. He was expected to follow suit against Sobral but instead stunned the world with a lights-out KO at 3:26 of the second round.

8. Frank Mir vs. Marcio Cruz: UFC 57
Believe it or not there was a time when Frank Mir was the poster boy for UFC heavyweights. He was an 8-1 submission master and a fan favorite long before breaking Tim Sylvia’s arm. After a devastating motorcycle accident kept him out of action for nearly two years, the UFC welcomed him back by matching him against Brazilian cream puff Marcio Cruz.

What was planned as a homecoming quickly turned into a nightmare as the 1-0 rookie put Mir on his back and started raining down elbows until a blood soaked Mir could no longer defend. The fight was mercifully stopped at the end of the first round and Frank’s career would never be the same.

7. Mark Coleman vs. Maurice Smith: UFC 14
Mark Coleman was one of the first true heavyweight goliaths of the UFC using his superior wrestling and ground ‘n pound to lay waste to the entire division. At 6-0 he had already destroyed legends Gary Goodridge and Dan Severn by submission and Don Frye by TKO.

His next victim was UFC newcomer Maurice Smith who was 3-4 with submission losses to Ken Shamrock and Bas Rutten. It looked like an early night for the heavily favored Coleman but instead it became a very long one as Maurice put an end to the era of dominant wresting and scored a unanimous decision after twenty-one minutes of fighting.

The Pete Williams head kick may be the loss that fans remember, but to me the Smith fight was a more shocking upset (and what I consider the beginning of the end). Coleman would never see another victory in the UFC and eventually defected to PRIDE in 1999.

6. Jens Pulver vs. Joe Lauzon: UFC 63
Jens Pulver — like most lightweights — was unwelcome in the Octagon after the UFC decided they were better off without a 155-pound division. Fortunately good sense prevailed and Jens, like the division, was reinstated.

Little Evil was undefeated in the Octagon and his win over BJ Penn was a memorable battle. Now he looked to return to greatness and his ring entrance at UFC 63 looked more fitting for a war hero or a matador than a UFC combatant.

In his first UFC match, unknown Joe Lauzon admitted to taking Jens antics personally. He took out his anger on an unsuspecting Pulver with a brutal KO in the first round. Any thoughts of Jens walking to the title went out with the lights.

5. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture: UFC 43
Appearing for the second time in my illustrious list is “The Natural” and this time it’s for upending the mighty Liddell at UFC 43. Chuck was 12-1 and on a torrid ten-fight winning streak looking as close to immortal as a fighter can get.

In contrast Randy was coming down from heavyweight after getting crushed by Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez. Nearly 40, Randy was seen as not just a huge underdog, but also an aging combatant in a sport that long since passed him by (if they only knew).

For the second time Randy made the critics eat their words as he put an absolute clinic on the bewildered Liddell stopping him with strikes in the third round.

4. BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes: UFC 46
Matt Hughes was a victory machine. Coming into the Penn fight Matt was 13-0 since 2001 and a staggering 34-3 overall. He was making it look easy and scoffed at the idea of BJ moving up in weight. After all, Penn was a mere pup compared to the welterweight workhorse and Hughes probably took things lightly.

He shouldn’t have. BJ tooled him from start to finish and choked Hughes into tapping in the first round. The look on Matt’s face perfectly summarized what we were all feeling: complete and utter disbelief. He didn’t even notice when the Hawaiian celebrated with a kiss. He was too busy trying to figure out what just happened.

3. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia: UFC 68
After reading this list I wonder how I could have ever picked against Randy. But pick against him I did, as did most, when he came out of retirement to face the hulking menace from Camp Miletich.

Randy’s last dance in the Octagon was grotesquely one-sided, and his return to a weight class that chewed him up and spit him out in 2002 seemed ill-advised and money-driven. Few believed Randy when he claimed to have found a hole in Sylvia’s game and we quietly hoped he would get through the fight void of serious injury.

Once again we looked on in astonishment as Randy dropped The Maine-iac in the opening seconds of round one and continued to punish him throughout the fight. Tim summed it up best after dropping the decision: “He would strike when I thought he would shoot and shoot when I thought he would strike.”

Tim shouldn’t feel bad for having Randy make him look stupid. He’s been doing it to us for years.

2. Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga: UFC 70
I’ll admit it. Part of what makes this upset come in at #2 is the way it ended. Aside from Randy Couture (who looks more and more like a genius with every move he makes) I don’t think anyone gave Gonzaga a real chance at winning.

People may have been open to a decision loss or a freak submission but if you wanted to lay odds on a head kick they would have laughed in your face. Well no one is laughing now as the artist formerly known as #2 in the world is back in Croatia licking his wounds.

Gonzaga was a talented fighter before the bout but his TKO loss to Croat associate Fabricio Werdum made it hard to believe he could withstand the strikes of Cro Cop. Mirko later admitted to having blurry vision courtesy of Gonzaga elbows and never saw it coming. Don’t worry Mr. Filipovic, neither did we.

1. Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre: UFC 69
As if there was any doubt, I present the greatest upset in the UFC and perhaps all of mixed martial arts. Nobody in the world whose last name isn’t Serra gave Matt a chance against an opponent largely considered one of the best fighters in the world today.

With only a submission loss to Matt Hughes on his near-perfect record, GSP represented the new breed of MMA: Young, strong, and versed in all styles of combat fighting with very few weaknesses.

Of course a perfect skill set doesn’t do you any good if you get punched in the head. Serra did everything right, maintained composure, and finished off a rigid GSP in devastating fashion.

This is one win I don’t think even Randy could have predicted.

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2007 Year In Review

Here we go! With MMA gaining so much momentum over the past few years, UFC has debuted a three hour show of the UFC’s BEST of 2007,taking a look back at the most exciting fights of the past year. The UFC continues to be consistent by offering great PPVs, free events, and their blockbuster show, "The Ultimate Fighter." I will review the UFC’s BEST of 2007, giving you insight and my thoughts on the fights. Now let’s get to the knock down, drag out year that was 2007. An article by Don Davenport

Tyson Griffin vs. Frankie Edgar

UFC 67: ALL OR NOTHING February 3, 2007

Both fighters exchanged punches early, feeling each other out and eventually leading to a clinch. Edgar faked a takedown and landed some punches which lead to a takedown of Griffin. Griffin attempted a guillotine choke which Edgar managed to escape and gain side control. Griffin got out of side control and slammed Edgar down hard. Both fighters wrestled back to the feet where Edgar dominated with strikes, and then Edgar got a single leg takedown off of a Griffin knee into the guard. Edgar passed Griffin’s guard getting his back and both fighters ended up in the stand up position as the bell rang.

In the second round, Griffin landed a huge uppercut and trapped Edgar against the cage. Edgar defended this well and both fighters were back in the stand up position. Griffin was relentless throwing combinations at Edgar. Edgar caught a leg kick and took Griffin down. Griffin got back to his feet to land some punches, and dropped Edgar with a low kick. Edgar took Griffin back down for some ground and pound. Griffin scrambled on top and dragged him down, Edgar transitioned on top and pounded Griffin to the end of the round.

In the third round, Griffin landed some leg kicks and defended against an Edgar take down. Edgar counter punched then connected with three knees, one was low, but Griffin continued to fight. Edgar landed a flurry of punches then got Griffin’s back against the cage and hammered him. Griffin got to his feet and tried to defend against the vicious assault by Edgar and then got taken down. Griffin got back to his feet and looked exhausted. Edgar hit another take down. Edgar landed a series of blows as Griffin wrestled his way back to his feet. Edgar hit yet another takedown and got the back of Griffin, but Griffin reversed into a knee bar that was locked deep. Edgar hanged on to the end of the round. The winner by unanimous decision was Frankie Edgar.

This was a very technical fight that showed the versatility of both fighters. Edgar is a determined undefeated fighter that is destine for greatness.

UFC Welterweight Championship

Champion Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra

UFC 69: SHOOTOUT April 7, 2007

The two fighters circled each other in the stand up position. Serra had difficulty getting through St. Pierre’s defense, being kept at bay with kicks and a long reach. Serra started to successfully attack the body of St. Pierre, jabbing his way inside. Half way into the round, the two fighters exchanged punches, with Serra getting the best of those exchanges. Serra blocked several high kicks by St. Pierre then landed a superman punch. Serra staggered St. Pierre with an over hand right, and then connected with a left that buckled St. Pierre. St. Pierre tried to hold on as Serra continued to punish him on the ground, but it was to no avail as the referee stopped the fight. The winner by TKO via strikes at 3:25 of the first round to win the UFC Welterweight Championship is none other than TUF 4 winner Matt Serra. Serra was an 11-1 underdog coming into this title fight and managed to pull off the upset. Serra displayed great head movement despite good offense by St. Pierre, eventually landing the right hand that spelled the beginning of the end for St. Pierre.

Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia

UFC 69: SHOOTOUT April 7, 2007

Both fighters slugged it out to start things off. Huerta landed two high kicks and went for a takedown, and then Garcia applied a guillotine choke. Huerta escaped with Garcia against the cage, landing elbows and punches. Huerta transitioned to Garcia’s back then attempted the rear naked choke to no avail. Huerta got the mount position on Garcia. Garcia scrambled to his feet and connected with some punches. As Huerta went for a takedown he got caught with a guillotine but avoids submission. Huerta landsed elbows and punches from the top then kept Garcia against the cage for some ground and pound. Garcia worked back to the feet where both fighters wrestled to the ground. Garcia attempted a kimora on the right arm, but despite the attempt, both fighters were back on their feet exchanging blows. Huerta hit a take down which were followed up with a series of elbows and punches from the top. Garcia rolled into the top position as the bell rang.

Before the second, Huerta appeared to have a small cut over the right eye. Both fighters slugged it out, eventually clinching one another. Huerta took Garcia down for some ground and pound. Garcia got to his feet and landed a big knee to the face, both fighters went toe-to-toe for the next minute until Huerta got a takedown. Huerta dominated on the ground but Garcia made it to his feet again which he followed up with a huge right hand. Both fighters slugged it out some more until Huerta got another take down, and continued to land punches until the end of the round.

Early in the third round, Huerta overwhelmed Garcia with strikes and got him down to the ground. Huerta controlled Garcia on the ground but does minimum damage, and seemingly out of no where Garcia got Huerta’s back and is attempting a rear naked choke. Huerta escaped and rolled back on top, pounding Garcia relentlessly. Garcia took serious punishment but managed to hang on until the end of the fight. Both fighters embraced, showing mutual respect for each other. The winner by unanimous decision was Roger Huerta. It was a spectacular fight where the fans got their money’s worth. Garcia persevered through a ton of punishment despite Huerta's efforts to end the fight. I thought several times that Huerta was going to end the fight, but Garcia was able to hold on. Don’t be surprised to see Huerta receiving a title fight in the near future.

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

UFC 70: NATIONS COLLIDE April 21, 2007

Gonzaga started off by pressuring Cro Cop, landing a straight right hand. Gonzaga threw a kick to the mid section of Cro Cop, which dropped him to the ground. Gonzaga controlled Cro Cop in the top position, landing elbows for the next two minutes. The ref stood the two fighters up, and out of nowhere Gonzaga threw a high kick and knocked out Cro Cop in such a way that his leg twists underneath him. The winner by KO, in 4:51 of the first round, Gabriel Gonzaga. The crowd was in disbelief that Cro Cop was defeated in such devastating fashion. Gonzaga shocked the MMA world by knocking out one of the most feared strikers on the planet with his very own signature move. Gonzaga would go on to face the UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture. Cro Cop stated that he didn’t train for elbows or in the cage for this fight. Also, Cro Cop suffered a minor injury to his ankle. Cro Cop was a big international investment for the UFC, and so far, has turned out to be a total disappointment.

UFC Lightweight Championship

Champion Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson

UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson May 26, 2007

Liddell circled away from Jackson, picking his shots carefully. Finally, Liddell threw a big left hook to the body which is rolled under by Jackson. Jackson then answered with a right hand to the jaw that dropped Liddell immediately. Jackson hopped on top and finished Liddell with a series of right hands. The winner by TKO 1:53 of the first round and new UFC Lightweight Champion, Quinton Jackson. I thought that Jackson might win the bout from their previous encounter in PRIDE, but I did not fathom Jackson finishing Liddell in the first round.

Sam Stout vs.Spencer Fisher

UFC FIGHT NIGHT June 12, 2007

Stout came out swinging and is caught with a flurry of punches by Fisher. Fisher attempted a takedown that is defended by Stout. Fisher starts landing combinations at will on Stout, but Stout continued to press forward toward the second half of the round, landing punches and knees that bloody the right eye of Fisher. Both fighters started to slug it out, and then Fisher closed the round with a huge left hand.

In the second round, Spencer mixed up his combinations on Stout. Stout continued to come forward but is dominated with strikes by Fisher. Fisher attempted a take down and is defended by excellent grappling by Stout. The round closed with both fighters in the stand up position.

In the third round, Stout landed a combination and then got caught with a huge left hand. Fisher continued to dominate on the feet with left hands, and defended the combinations thrown by Stout. Fisher landed his strikes at will, rocking Stout with a right hand. Stout tried some offense while taking a severe beating from Fisher. Fisher landed a right hook to close the end of the fight. The winner by unanimous decision, Spencer Fisher. The fight was action-packed as expected, delivering a three round slug fest. I can only expect improvement from both fighters in the future of their careers.

Jens Pulver vs. B.J. Penn

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 5 FINALE June 23, 2007

Penn landed a right hand right that staggered Pulver to start the round. Penn pushed forward and took Pulver down against the cage. Penn picked Pulver off the ground and slammed him again into half guard, securing his body. Penn passed his guard and got into the mount and attempted an armbar. Pulver spinned out into a triangle by Penn who hammered him with elbows. Pulver postured out of the submission attempt into Penn’s guard. Pulver pushed Penn against the cage and followed up with a few elbows as Penn worked back to his feet. The fighters clinched and traded shots until the end of the round.

In the second round, Penn took Pulver down after eating a left hook, and eventually got into the mount position to land some punches to the face. Penn got the back of Pulver and secured the rear naked choke for the submission. The winner by submission, 3:12 of the second round, B.J.Penn. This two round fight is exciting to watch as both fighters were not too fond of each other. Penn came into this fight in shape and more determined then ever to close this chapter in his life. Unfortunately, Pulver was no match for Penn in this fight, succumbing quickly to the rear naked choke.

UFC Middleweight Championship

Champion Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt

UFC 73: STACKED July 7, 2007

Both fighters started by feeling each other out, Marquardt threw a combination and gets countered with a right hand. Silva then attempted a flying knee that is caught by Marquardt who then got a single leg takedown. Marquardt did nothing to improve his position and the referee stood both fighters up. Silva connected with a left hand then Marquardt attempts a single leg, but despite his effort, he took several elbows and punches. Marquardt attempted a single leg again, but Silva switched on top and unleashed a series of devastating right hands, stopping the fight. The winner by TKO 4:50 of the first round and still UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva. Silva demonstrated once again why he is the UFC Middleweight Champion, displaying excellent striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Silva is a true MMA practitioner who showcases his elite skills every time he steps in the octagon.

Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara

UFC 75: CHAMPION vs. CHAMPION September 8, 2007

Alexander closed the distance and Alessio took him down. Alexander pushed Alessio off with brute strength and connected with two knees to the head. Alexander then followed up with another knee to the head that dropped Alessio, and then Alexander finished the fight with a barrage of punches. The winner by KO 1:01 of the first round, Houston Alexander. Alexander is just ferocious in this fight showcasing his strength with every strike. Alexander gives fight fans what they come for and that is brutality. He needs improvement in different areas of his fight game, but I expect him to make the necessary adjustments and continue to lead a very successful MMA career.

Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio Rua

UFC 76: KNOCKOUT September 22, 2007

Griffin connected with an inside leg kick, then Rua attempted a takedown that is defended successfully. Griffin got his back, but Rua rolled and Griffin was in the top position. Rua got back to his feet and both fighters exchanged blows. Rua got a takedown, but Griffin used an effective guard to avoid punishment and got back to his feet. Both fighters traded shots until Griffin took Rua down, eventually getting his back. Rua rolled with Griffin in the top position, following up with punches, eventually letting Rua back up to the feet. Griffin connected with a left hook, and then Rua shot for a takedown taking some punches before succeeding. Griffin sweeped and closed the round in the top position.

In the second round, Griffin used good head movement to connect with some body shots. Rua got a single leg take down then Griffin attempted a guillotine with no success. Rua cut Griffin with an elbow to the head. Griffin managed to get back to his feet, and Rua clinched Griffin to the cage. Griffin inside leg tripped Rua and got his back while connecting with punches. Rua got to his feet and attempted a takedown that is stopped by Griffin. Griffin delivered hammer fists to the side of Rua's head. Rua worked back to the feet and appeared to be fatigued, dropping his hands to his waist. Griffin defended several take down attempts by Rua, and ended up in half guard. Griffin maintained his position and turned it up, landing punches to close the round.

In the third round, Griffin stuck the jab and got taken down by Rua. Griffin attempted a triangle, but Rua avoided the submission attempt. Rua controlled Griffin on the ground then gets caught in an omoplata attempt. Griffin transitioned to the back of Rua. Griffin smothered Rua with knees to the body and hammer fists to the head. Rua tried to escape, but gives up his back to Griffin who continues the onslaught of punishment. Rua rolled and Griffin gets the top position, transitioning to the back of Rua again, and then applied a deep rear naked choke for the tap out! The winner by submission, 4:45 of the third round, Forrest Griffin. Griffin comes into his own in this fight, out hustling Rua to an eventual submission. Griffin stated that he asked Dana White for the fight against Rua. Rua was considered by many fight fans as one of the best Light Heavyweight fighters in MMA. This win has propelled Griffin’s career to securing a coaching opportunity on the “Ultimate Fighter” with Quinton Jackson.

After watching the UFC BEST OF 2007, I’m pleased to say it was worth my time, and it was a good enough event to be on PPV. The unpredictability of the fights is absolutely shocking. Gonzaga defeating Cro Cop, Jackson disposing of Liddell so quickly, and Griffin submitting Rua are classics that will go down in annals of UFC history. UFC is continuing to deliver the best mainstream MMA action in the world, and it is as entertaining then it is intriguing.

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Chuck Liddell Interview (Our Second)

Just a few short weeks before his super fight against Wanderlei Silva, Ben Zeidler caught up with former UFC light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell this past week to get his story on the Keith Jardine loss, ask him about his training, and discuss his future in MMA. Originally conducted for MMA Madness

Ben Zeidler: Are you looking forward to the Wanderlei fight in order to show everyone that you’re back?

Chuck Liddell: Yeah, I can’t wait. I’ve been waiting for a long time for this fight and it’s what I need. It’s a big fight and it’s helping me to get excited. Hopefully, it’ll get me back into the picture, too.

BZ: How do you think that you'll do against Wanderlei?

CL: It’s going to be exciting. He likes to come after guys and I like it when people come after me. I think I’ll knock him out and I don’t expect it to go a long time, but when it’s going, it should be a good one.

BZ: Wanderlei hasn't fought in a cage in seven years. Do you think that he'll be able to adapt to the cage immediately, or will it take him some time?

CL: He’s been training in the cage for a while so I’m sure he’ll adapt. It’s really not a whole lot different from fighting in a ring. It’s a little harder to cut the ring off when you’re in a cage, but that’s about it. Other than that, there’s not too much difference.

BZ: What are you going to do differently from the Jardine and Rampage fights?

CL: You know, I’m just going to try to execute my game plan a little better. I’m not changing styles or doing anything crazy. I’m still the same fighter as I was before.

BZ: Is it true that you called Tony Robbins, known as the Success Guru, for help?

CL: I wouldn’t say that I called him.

BZ: Oh, he called you?

CL: He called. John [Hackleman] had used him before for training purposes. He’s just a really knowledgeable guy with a lot to say.

BZ: Can you tell us a little bit about the way your training regimen has changed with age?

CL: You definitely can’t do what you did when you were younger. You can’t just go right into full training. I used to start training hard six weeks before a fight but now it takes closer to 3 months to get fully ready. I try to stay in shape year round though, but the training is much harder.

BZ: Have you thought about life after fighting?

CL: You know, I’ve always said that I’ll cross that bridge once we get to it. As long as I keep getting fights, I’ll keep fighting.

BZ: Do you think you can ever be champion again? And if you beat Wanderlei, do you believe that you deserve a title shot?

CL: Of course I’d like a title shot, but we’ll see what happens after the fight.

BZ: Is there anyone in your sights after Wanderlei?

CL: No one in particular. They tell me who to fight and I just go out and fight.

BZ: What happened against Jardine?

CL: I didn’t perform as well as I should have. I kept the fight too close so I really can’t complain about the decision. I should’ve done lots of stuff differently, you know? It just wasn’t my fight.

BZ: But you do think that you won the fight, right?

CL: I left it [too] close to complain. I think that they counted some things against me that they shouldn’t have. They counted some things more than they should have. You know, I got in there and I thought that one of the judges looked at me weird, but I can’t complain. I left it too close.

BZ: Do you think you match up better against strikers or against grapplers?

CL: Honestly, I don’t care. I’m just happy to fight and I think I match up equally against both.

BZ: What's your opinion on Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin as coaches for TUF?

CL: It should be really entertaining. They’re both really funny guys.

BZ: Let’s do a few predictions for your UFC 79 event. How about Georges St. Pierre-Matt Hughes III?

CL: Matt is a buddy of mine. He’s going to put it together and win.

BZ: How about Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Lyoto Machida?

CL: You know, one of my guys knocked out Sokoudjou.

BZ: So you have him losing?

CL: No, I have him winning.

BZ: Who was it that beat him?

CL: Glover Teixeira.

BZ: Right.

CL: Anyway, he’s been out of the game a little with his contract problems but I think he’ll be fine.

BZ: Does the death of Sammy Vasquez affect you? For all the talk about fighters knowing the risks when they step in the ring, the risks really did not include death until now. Any thoughts?

CL: Does it affect me in that way? No. You know the risks in any sport when you go out there. Look at boxing -- it’s just one of those things. I had a buddy of mine teaching private boxing and he dropped dead in the ring. Another one of my buddies almost died on the mat. They had to defib[rillate] him right there and he isn’t like he used to be. These things happen and people do the best they can. The commission does everything they can. Sometimes, you just can’t avoid these things.

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Chuck Liddell's Seven Defining Moments

What separates a champion from a contender, a star from an average Joe scraping out a few dollars here and there on the club fight circuit?

In a lot of ways it comes down to what a fighter does when faced with challenges that would make most crumble. And even though a fighter won’t always win in these situations, how he learns from adversity will shape who he eventually becomes.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is one of the sport’s legitimate superstars; what were the seven defining moments of his career?

An article by UFC's Thomas Gerbasi

1) Kevin Randleman – May 4, 2001 – UFC 31
Result – Liddell KO 1
When Liddell entered his bout with former heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman in Atlantic City, he was seen as a solid contender, but also one who was expected to be a stepping stone for ‘The Monster’, who was making his UFC debut at light heavyweight. Liddell had other plans, and there was no denying the fight ending power or quiet charisma of Liddell, who would hence be known simply as ‘The Iceman’. And this time it wasn’t just a catchy nickname; it was a warning of what Liddell could do to you if he landed cleanly – you were iced.

2) The Randy Couture Trilogy
June 6, 2003 – UFC 43
Result – Couture TKO 3
Two years after truly arriving on the scene with his win over Randleman, Liddell finally got his long awaited-title shot against ageless Randy Couture. Couture was undoubtedly the real deal, but to many, the coronation of a new king from San Luis Obispo, California appeared to be a mere formality. Not so, as Couture grounded and pounded him out in round three. It was a costly lesson for ‘The Iceman’, who learned never to read your press clippings and enter a bout overconfident.

April 16, 2005 – UFC 52
Result – Liddell KO 1
It was fast – only 2:06 – but in winning the UFC light heavyweight title after close to seven years in the fight game, Liddell finally had the validation all fighters hope to one day get. Sure he says all the right things and insists that he would fight even without the belt on the line, but at the end of the day, every fighter wants to be a champion, and Liddell finally got to the top, and by knockout against a fighter who stopped him no less. That’s redemption.

February 4, 2006 – UFC 57
Result – Liddell KO 2
A bout overshadowed by the post-fight retirement by the legendary Couture, Liddell’s knockout win over ‘The Natural’ not only put a definitive stamp on the UFC’s first great trilogy (in the Iceman’s favor), but it became a true changing of the guard for the organization and Liddell, who became not only the biggest star in mixed martial arts, but also one that transcended the sport into the realm of mainstream acceptance. In other words, whether you’re a fan of MMA or not, when Chuck Liddell fights, you’ll find a way to check it out.

3) Bad Blood with Tito Ortiz
April 2, 2004 – UFC 47
Result – Liddell KO 2
If Chuck Liddell never wins another mixed martial arts match, he’ll always be remembered for this bout – a one-sided beatdown of his former buddy Ortiz - which was one of the sport’s most anticipated fights, even with the dilution of both fighters having lost to Couture. In the process, he showed an ability to not only handle his business inside the Octagon, but outside of it, as he became a much-requested interviewee among the media in the weeks leading up to the bout, and in the over three years since.

December 30, 2006 – UFC 66
Result – Liddell TKO3
Despite the one-sided nature of bout number one, by the time the rematch was signed, the entire MMA world was eager to see if Ortiz could reverse the result the second time around. He couldn’t, but in defeat Ortiz showed a ton of heart and he even made it to the third round. But Liddell’s ability to keep his rival on the end of his punches made it impossible for Ortiz to implement his gameplan. But given Liddell’s performance, no one expected that he would be winless since that fight.

4) Vernon White – August 21, 2004 – UFC 49
Result – Liddell KO 1
Beating someone you chased for a couple of years has to be a high most of us never could experience. Fighting off the inevitable letdown of such a win has to be even tougher. That was what Liddell faced in his first post-Ortiz fight against the always tough Vernon White, who helped motivate his foe with plenty of pre-fight trash talk. What resulted was four minutes and five seconds of war, with Liddell showing not only his punching power (which resulted in a KO victory), but a solid beard, which allowed him to take White’s bombs and continue firing. The only thing left was to get that title belt.

5) Jeremy Horn II – August 20, 2005 – UFC 54
Result – Liddell TKO 4
Most fighters will tell you that it’s harder to keep the title than to win it. Well, Liddell got no easy mark in his first 205-pound title defense when he faced the first man to beat him, Jeremy Horn. But despite their history and Horn’s pedigree, the fight wasn’t even close as Liddell slowly and methodically broke down Horn’s defenses and stuffed any semblance of offense from the over 100-fight veteran.

6) Rough Nights with “Rampage” Jackson
November 9, 2003 – PRIDE Final Conflict
Result – Jackson TKO 2
Sent to Japan’s PRIDE organization to compete in their Grand Prix tournament with the ultimate goal being a bout with Wanderlei Silva, Liddell instead ran into a brick wall with fellow American Quinton Jackson, who took some of Liddell’s best punches flush on the jaw and kept coming, eventually putting Liddell on his back in the second round and finishing him off. It was Liddell’s second loss in two fights, but he would go on to win seven in a row and become the most dominant 205-pounder in the game.

May 26, 2007 – UFC 71
Result – Jackson TKO 1
The rematch with Jackson may have been the most anticipated fight in recent history, and it came at a time when Liddell was bigger than ever, with an ESPN magazine cover and an appearance on HBO’s Entourage series. But a right to the jaw by Jackson in the first round stopped Liddell’s roll in emphatic fashion and moved him from champion to contender in just 1:53. It was a huge upset in the mind of the mainstream, but not to the hardcore, who now just assumed that the talented Jackson had Liddell’s number, just like Liddell had Ortiz’.

7) Keith Jardine – September 22, 2007 – UFC 76
Result – Jardine W3
Now this one was a shock to everybody, mainly because Jardine was coming off a first round TKO loss himself to Houston Alexander on the same night Liddell was stopped by Jackson. But from the opening bell, Liddell didn’t fight his usual counter striking fight. Instead, he walked right at Jardine, presumably in the hopes of scoring a spectacular early knockout. But Jardine hung tough, used his kicks to great effect, and pounded out the three round split decision. Was this loss an omen of things to come for Liddell, or does the Iceman need suitable motivation to get back in the win column and move back towards a title shot – something like a Wanderlei Silva fight? We’ll see on December 29th.

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Liddell-Silva Still A Blockbuster

On December 29, 2007, live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV, former UFC and Pride champions Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell (20-5) and "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (31-7-1) will match up against each other at UFC 79: NEMESIS. Fight fans have been speculating about this fight for years now, and despite recent losses, the match up is still highly anticipated.  An article by Don Davenport.

Chuck Liddell lost his Light Heavyweight Championship to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC: 71 by TKO in the first round by a devastating right hand. Liddell then lost his 2nd fight in a row at UFC: 76 to Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine by split decision. Wanderlei Silva was knocked out by Mirko "Cro Cop" with a left high kick in the in the Open-Weight Grand Prix semi-finals at PRIDE: Fnial Conflict Absolute. Silva too lost his 2nd fight in a row and Middleweight Championship to Dan "Hollywood" Henderson by knockout at Pride 33: Second Coming.

Liddell and Silva were on the top of their respective fight games one year ago wioth both possessing the Championship in their weight class. The argument then was: Who is better, Silva or Liddell? The argument now : Who is more disappointing, Silva or Liddell? This fight was initially anticipated at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2003 tournament, but Liddell was eliminated by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Since then, no negotiations could be made for the two fighters to meet, until UFC President Dana White announced on Spike TV's 2007 Scream Awards that the dream match would finally take place.

My Prediction for the winner of this long awaited battle is none other than Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. Liddell will beat Silva because of two reasons. The first is inactivity: Silva has not competed since PRIDE 33 where he was defeated by knockout by Dan Henderson. This is main component why Silva's training parter Mauricio "Shogun" Rua lost to Forrest Griffin at UFC: 76. The second is that Silva has never done well in "The Octagon". He's 1-2. Silva suffered his biggest loss to Vitor Belfort in just 44 seconds at UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil.

I would have suggested that Silva should take a tune up fight, but if he lost, I know that this match would lose appeal; so I am glad he is going for it If Silva is aggressive, he can catch Liddell early and end the fight. When he is at his best, Silva throws a lot of punches and knees, often knocking out his opponents. Remember, he defeated the current UFC Light Heavywieght Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (twice) by knockout in PRIDE. For Liddell to win the fight, he needs to counter Silva's punches with a jab, keep his hands up, and be the more aggressive fighter.

If Liddell doesn't get motivated for this, the biggest fight of his career, he might want to join Randy Couture on the sidelines.

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IWF Exclusive: The Future Of The UFC

Although we have a set title fight in our sights (Hughes vs. Serra), a slightly deeper look into the ranks of the UFC will give us a more accurate picture of how the sport should shape up over the next six months. While feuds and rivalries culminate in once-a-month events, the sport is built between those events as every member of the roster fights, bargains, and even pleads for a title shot. The following is a look at each division and who is fighting for the title.

Heavyweights: With Andrei Arlovski missing his new contract, Cro Cop dropping fights like he was bought off, and Couture temporarily out of the fight game, the whole division is really up for grabs. It’s unlikely that White would simply award the belt to the winner of an upcoming fight as it wouldn’t make sense for Kongo or Nogueira to receive a title with very little UFC experience under their belts. He could justify giving it to Sylvia as he was the last guy to hold the belt and is fresh off a win, but I doubt he’d give the title to the least marketable guy this side of O.J. Simpson. What is likely is that we’ll see Sylvia take on the Kongo/Nogueira winner in a mini grand prix of sorts. While the best match up for the sport would have been Vera and Kongo, it was spoiled by Sylvia’s yawn-inducing win last month (not that Vera helped to make it exciting, either…). I’d expect to see Nogueira and Sylvia, but the way the UFC’s cookies have been crumbling lately, I’d probably be better off just flipping a coin.

Light Heavyweights: This is obviously the toughest one to call, with the four big names (Liddell, Henderson, Shogun, Wanderlei) being more than one win from a title shot. That leaves us with three guys who can stake a legitimate claim to Rampage’s belt. They are: Keith Jardine, Lyoto Machida, and Forrest Griffin. It probably won’t be Jardine, because although he’s knocked out Griffin and beat Liddell, he suffered a brutal KO at the hands of Houston Alexander at UFC 71. And while Machida’s been impressive in his UFC fights (3 for 3), two weren’t on the main telecast and he doesn’t have quite enough name recognition or ability to speak English to warrant being one good punch away from a title. He’ll have to win one or two more before getting any serious consideration. The honor, I would bet, will go to Forrest, who the UFC considers the heir apparent to the holy trinity of ratings that is about to retire (Couture, Liddell, Hughes). He fits in with the tough, common man image that has gained the UFC so much popularity and it looks as though he won’t get that fight against Wanderlei due to an injury he’s harbored for quite some time. With Wanderlei looking to fight sooner and Forrest out until early 2008, I don’t think we’ll see Rampage Jackson in action for another 8 months (see: Matt Serra) at which point he and Griffin should meet for an all out war.

Middleweights: Dana White has suggested that the winner of the Okami/MacDonald could potentially get an automatic title shot, but that seems counterintuitive due to what is logical “MMAth.” With Silva’s dominant second win over Franklin, and Franklin’s win over Okami, who in their right mind would want to see Silva run down the food chain to take on a man who will almost surely beat? I’m aware that Okami technically beat Silva via DQ, but that was nearly two years ago and before Silva rattled off six straight wins against some of the toughest competition around. White is clearly having trouble booking anyone against Silva and until he can sign Filho or Kang, he’s going to have to convince Henderson to drop to 185 and take on Silva. Initially against the idea of dropping weight, Henderson has since warmed up to the idea, but would probably take a warm up before tackling The Spider.

Welterweights: Finally, a simple division. GSP will get an automatic title shot at whoever wins the Hughes-Serra fight. And when Matt Hughes destroys Serra, it’ll set up just the third trilogy in UFC history. Is there much else to say? When the dust settles, however, it is more likely that Karo Parisyan would get the title shot instead of Koscheck or Sanchez, who have spent the last year losing and turning in lackluster performances. The St. Pierre-Parisyan feud is one that we could be seeing for the next five years.

Lightweights: This division isn’t as tough as it is downright bizarre. With the title not stripped from Sherk, who is now out of action for a full year, White has wisely decided to move on and book one their biggest moneymakers, BJ Penn, against Joe Stevenson. This is smart booking as Penn and Stevenson have separated themselves from the rest of the pack of Lightweight fighters. Beyond those two, there’s just a ton of really athletic guys who haven’t made that big of a splash. No outrageous personalities, no huge upsets, just about five guys who are all on the same level. The UFC tried to give a few of them title shots (Franca, Florian), but nothing came of it and buys were weak. This is the smartest play considering the situation of the current champion. If the UFC is going to sign anyone now, I’d say that they need to be looking for Lightweights even before Middleweights. If I were Dana White, I’d be throwing a huge contract at Urijah Faber, the Featherweight champion in the UFC-owned WEC. He’d add some star power and charisma to a division which is garnering less and less interest with each passing day..

With more contract disputes, injuries, and signings than ever before, it’s tough to call the future of a sport as dynamic as Mixed Martial Arts, but this guide should serve as a decent start.

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UFC Video Game Trailer

In case you haven't seen it, here's the downright awesome trailer for the new UFC video game.

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LIDDELL-SILVA IS ON

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For years, UFC® fight fans have speculated about the outcome of a historic dream matchup between two legendary figures in the sport of mixed martial arts, Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Tonight, on Spike TV’s 2007 Scream Awards, UFC President Dana White announced that this dream will finally become a reality when UFC and PRIDE former champions Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva face each other at UFC 79: NEMESIS live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, December 29, 2007.

“Chuck and Wanderlei – two legends in the sport – will face off in the most important match of their careers at UFC 79,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Chuck and Wanderlei have both wanted this fight for as long as they can remember, and this is definitely the fight that fans have waited for years to see. Finally, PRIDE’s most dangerous striker will face the UFC’s most dangerous striker, and the world will know after years of speculation who will win and who will lose this fight.”

Tickets for UFC 79: NEMESIS are on sale now and are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300, $200 and $100. Tickets are available through any Mandalay Bay box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ufc.com, www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

A special Internet ticket pre-sale is available now to UFC newsletter subscribers. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.ufc.com.

There also will be a special auction for Octagon-side floor seats available only through www.ticketmaster.com starting Wednesday, October 24 and ending Monday, November 5.

UFC 79: NEMESIS is available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $39.95 ($39.99 CAD) and $49.95 for HD where available.

Liddell (20-5), considered by many to be the greatest light heavyweight fighter of all time, reigned as the 205-pound UFC champion for over three years. He knocked out seven opponents in seven consecutive fights, including Randy Couture (twice), Vernon White, Jeremy Horn, Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Tito Ortiz (twice), before he was defeated by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 71 in May. Chuck now returns to the Octagon to face the fighter he has wanted to fight for years – Wanderlei Silva.

“I’m excited this fight with Wanderlei is finally happening,” said Liddell. “I’ve been saying for a long time that, given the chance, I would knock Wanderlei Silva out. I think this will be a great fight for the fans, and one that lives up to their expectations, because I’m going to hit him until he falls down and stays down.”

The 31-year old Silva (31-7-1), known by fight fans as “The Axe Murderer” for his ultra-aggressive style and finishing ability, began his career almost 11 years ago in his native Brazil, fighting in Vale Tudo bouts that pushed him to the limit as he honed the skills that would soon make him one of the most feared fighters on the planet. He met great success by winning the PRIDE organization’s middleweight championship and defeating the likes of current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson (twice), Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (three times), Ricardo Arona, Hidehiko Yoshida, and Kazuyuki Fujita, while engaging in some of the most memorable fights in MMA history. Well-rested after his February PRIDE fight against Dan Henderson, Silva is ready to take on Liddell and secure the most important victory of his mixed martial arts career.

“I’ve wanted to fight Chuck for a long time,” said Silva. “I think about this fight a lot, our styles are very similar – we are both great strikers. I’m training very hard, because I want to give my next victory to my fans. After I beat Chuck, then I want to fight the champion.”

In addition to Liddell vs. Silva, UFC 79 features the main event welterweight championship matchup between UFC champion Matt Serra (16-4) and former UFC champion Matt Hughes (43-5).

Current UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, fresh off his knockout victory over Georges St-Pierre in April, looks to defend his title for the first time against the legendary Hughes and secure his own legacy in the UFC 170-pound division. Hughes, a two-time UFC champion with seven combined title defenses to his name, has a deadly ground game that has earned him wins over St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Chris Lytle, Royce Gracie, and Frank Trigg (twice).

For more information about UFC 78, The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale, UFC 79 or any upcoming UFC event, visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.

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