Liddell To Return In September At UFC 88 In Atlanta
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (21-5) will return to the octagon in September on the main card of UFC 88 in Atlanta, Georgia.
UFC President Dana White revealed the news in a recent interview with ESPN The Magazine.
Liddell was to headline this weekend’s UFC 75 card in London, England, originally against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua then against Rashad Evans, but was forced to withdraw from the bout after suffering a torn hamstring.
Though it’s only speculatory, with White touting an announcement that will “rock the MMA world” it’s not unreasonable to think that the UFC may have landed a major new television deal on the heels of EliteXC’s network television debut. Liddell, arguably the UFC’s biggest draw, would likely headline such an event and UFC 88 could be the first fight card to be broadcast under a possible deal.
Following a late-2003 loss to Qunton “Rampage” Jackson in PRIDE, “The Iceman” posted victories over Tito Ortiz and Vernon White then defeated champion Randy Couture to capture the 205-pound title. After successfully defending the title four times with wins over Jeremy Horn, Couture, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, and Ortiz, Liddell was rematched with Jackson, losing his title via first-round TKO. After dropping a unanimous decision to Keith Jardine in his next bout, Liddell rebouded with a unanimous decision victory over rival Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 in December.
No opponent has yet been announced for the bout.
UFC 88 takes place on September 6th at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more the latest MMA rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.
Tags: Chuck Liddell
Loading ...
Chuck Liddel vs Dan Henderson
will be good to see liddell back in action there is a lot of good fights out there for him and a lot of fighters can make their mark with a win over him.will be interesting to see who gets to fight him.
Great to see Chuck back !
Shogun, Evans and Irvin are availble fingers crossed !
I still wouldn’t mind seeing Chuck kick the sh!t out of Rashad. I’d be happy seeing Chcuck fight anyonme right now. In my opinion he only has a few fights left in him to make another run for the title. The LHW division has come together nicely and is more stacked than some people give it credit for. The perfect situation for the UFC would have been for Jardine to beat Silva and Forrest to beat Rampage giving Jardine and Forrest a second fight with the title on the line. However, that’s obviously not what happened so I am now pulling for Silva to string together another win or two and take the title. Perhaps Dana’s announcement might be that Zuffa has partnered up with Vince Macmahon and son Shane O’Mac.
Anyone have any thoughts on who he will fight? Thiago Silva?
Still want to see him fight Shogun. If not, then Thiago Silva, who is more impressive than Evans.
He will fight Shogun.
I’d like to see Chuck vs Thiago or Shogun, but i’d also like to see him fight Jardine again. Chuck just didn’t look right in that fight, and i believe he would kick his azz in a rematch.
Jardine is done for a little while because of his broken face at the hands of Silva. I would like to see Chuck vs Thiago Shogun or Machida with the winner fighting the winner of Jackson/Griffin
OR DO YOU THINK CHUCK HAS THE WINNER OF JACKSON/GRIFFIN? OR THATS TO SOON HUH
I would have to say thats its to soon … you are only talking 2 months. I would love to see :
Chuck vs. Shogun
Chuck vs Henderson
I would even like to see him fight Machida.. dont hear anyone mentioning his name
Please dear Lord…please let it be Rashad Evans… I grow so weary of him being undefeated that I could almost shoot myself if he ends up fighting another nobody to make his record even more bullsh*t. I mean he couldn’t even beat Tito who is clearly not at the top of his game anymore. Had Tito not had a point taken away he would have been handed his first loss.
However, I don’t see Liddell getting that chance… I’m looking for him to fight Henderson.
it would be a bit hard on hendo to ask him to take on chuck,rampage and silva without having maybe an easier fight somewhere in between but who knows. hendo will fight who is put in front of him and so will chuck.
Please Machida vs Chuck, somebody has to beat him, i can’t stand him!
If it is on broadcast Tv
The most sense would be Evans.
Not big enough a name to waste a PPV
And the fight will be a sell out.
DANNYBOY YOUR SAYING EVANS IS GETTING BULL**** FIGHTS… I AGREE
BUT WHAT ABOUT KIMBO SO IS HE… BUT THEN AGAIN YOULL DISAGREE
every1 is thinking wandi is the man now hes knocked jardine out let me remind u of ufc79 were chuck kicked his ass, so i dont see how people can moan if chuck gets the next title shot but seen as rampage an forest are fighting in august and its says chuck is fighting in september thats not guna happen, not in his next fight anyway, i say liddell and machida go at it then the winner gets rampage/forrest prob in december, wandi n thiago needs to happen! and also hendo vs evens.
i really thought he would be out till 09 that piture we all saw was pretty viscous looking but glad to hear its all healed and they are scheduling a fight for him look forward to it actually ikinda thought he would be back soon after the ultimate iceman special( which was excellent)
I’m hoping Liddel faces Shogun. However, putting in a match with Machida with the winner getting a title shot would be big as well.
I don’t see Dan Henderson fighting at 205 for a couple of reason: 1)If i’m not mistaken 185 is his more natural class. 2)The 205 class is loaded with talent where the 185 is searching. I think it would be a better business move to keep him at 185. Not to mention i’m sure Hendo wants to take another fight, beat the hell out of whoever and then go after the belt again.
I’m still convinced it’s Machida to face Chuck with the winner getting a title shot. The timing of their fights are too perfect.
I like the idea of The Dragon vs The Iceman as a fan but Evans vs Liddell would sell out Atlanta and would be ratings gold on Fox.
I Think It Should Be The Iceman Vs Evans blockbuster fight sell out the ATL Fast And Liddell And Evans Hate Each Other So It Would Be A Very Good Fight
chuck should fight Machida. good fight that would be
I hear that Shogun is out of the for a September fight with Liddell ashe isn’t expected back until December or so. They will more than likely put Liddell in against Evans, Hendersen or move Franklin up. Either one of these would make for good fights.
If Griffin beats Rampage for the LHW Title (205), I would be surpised at all if they didn’t give Chuck the title shot in September in ATL!
Dana has been giving his champs home stands as of late. Has there been a shorter defense turnaround in the modern UFC’s?
Shoguns out untill Dec. Chuck will probably fight Rashad or thiago,and Dana’s big news is a partnership deal with FOX to broadcast UFC 88
from a sherdog post
group of investors led by Dana White have agreed in principle to purchase the UFC from Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta for an undisclosed amount. Included in this investment group is WWE’s Vince McMahon who will now own a minority stake in the company. They also have plans on taking the company public by years end.
At the press conference also expect Dana to announce that with the help of McMahon, who has extensive connections in the New York State Athletic Commission, they were able to get the UFC sanctioned in New York, and plan on having a show sometime in the winter at Madison Square Garden. That is all I have right now.
There is speculation that Anderson Silva’s move to light heavyweight could be to fight Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88, though nothing has yet been confirmed regarding the potential main event matchup.
There is speculation, however although chuck liddell is dana whites biggest selling point , i couldnt see Silva moving up wieght unless it was a title fight. Lets face it although he was never given BIG money fights in pride he has developed to be the best fighter in the world , period.His only week point is take down defense put his ground game is great , which makes up for it. In saying that Chuck liddell is dana’s biggest draw so i would expect to see him fighting sho gun in september because lets face it thats a mega fight.
id like to see rashed evans vs wanderlia silvia and chuck liddel vs anderson silvia and rich franlin vs dan henderosn that would be a hell of a ppv for dana white but of course dana white is in for his own intrest and not the fans