With the UFC Light Heavyweight Division being changed somewhat with Forrest Griffin taking the title from Quinton Jackson, this leads to more possibilities for the UFC to put out some exciting fights, including a showdown with Griffin and former title holder Chuck Liddell.
That's if Liddell can get by undefeated Rashad Evans Sept. 9 in Atlanta.
Evans is probably the best wrestler Liddell has fought since his historic trilogy with Randy Couture. Evans wrestling and take downs are quite a bit different than Couture's or even of Tito Ortiz when Liddell fought him twice (both wins by KO).
Evans has showed an explosive streak an an ability to takedown anyone who stands before him. Liddell has always been known for his excellent takedown defense, but if Evans can stand up enough to set-up a good shot, can Liddell contain Evans?
To try and explain if that's possible, let's break down this fight by category.
Standup: Advantage: Liddell
Is there anyone who is more dangerous than Chuck Liddell in the standup game? Evans has good standup (look at his brutal KO of Sean Salmon fore evidence), but Rashad would be out of his mind if he wants to keep this fight standing.
Wanderlei Silva went head to head with him and the "Axe Murderer", known for his brutal stand up, got the worst of the exchanges. Keith Jardine, one of the few to stand up with Liddell, and get the best of him, had an awkward approach which Liddell will not have to deal with in Evans.
Rashad needs to show he's not afraid of Chuck's stand up, but also smart enough to just do enough to set-up a take down. If not, it will be a short night for Evans.
Grappling: Advantage: Evans
Chuck, a former college wrestler at Cal Poly, has shown the ability to take the fight to the ground lately. Even with this, Chuck knows his best chance of winning this fight is to sprawl and brawl.
Evans, a former big ten wrestler out of Michigan State, has shown that he has the skill set and explosiveness to take fighters down at will.
It will be interesting to see that if Rashad has a difficult time taking down Chuck, will he become frustrated an abandon the game plan that gives him the best chance to win?
Submissions and Ground and Pound: Advantage: Evans
Let's be honest; Liddell or Evans has never shown any Royce Gracie in them in submitting opponents. Evans only has two submissions in 12 fights and Chuck has even less with one in 26 fights.
This basically goes down to who has the best ground and pound an I have to favor Evans in this category.
He was criticized early in his career for not being able to finish fights, but his G and P stoppage of Jason Lambert and his moments of viscous elbows he was throwing in the draw to Tito Ortiz shows enough that if Chuck finds himself on the bottom for most of this fight, we have a upset on our hands.
Experience: Advantage: Liddell
Chuck Liddell has seen and done it all. He has beaten them all. Couture (twice), Renato "Babalu" Sobral (twice), Ortiz (twice),Vitor Belfort, Kevin Randleman, Silva, the list goes on.
He's by far the most battle tested fighter that the UFC has on their roster. Evans on the other hand has fought a few big names (Ortiz, Michael Bisping), but this is a huge step up in competition for the former Ultimate Fighter winner.
Can he hack it with the big boys, or will he succumb to the headline pressure?
Winner: Chuck Liddell KO in RD 2
At the end of the day, I think Chuck will do a better job of keeping the fight standing and like he always has said, he is going to get you eventually.
If the fight goes as Chuck predicts, he should be looking at at a title fight with Griffin sometime this winter. Will Chuck have a shot to regain the Light Heavyweight Title for the second time, or will Rashad Evans look to cement his name as a number one contender?
7 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Nick V 10 months ago
I really have to lean towards Chuck with this one as well. Your breakdown is obviously correct and I don't think any one can question that. The thing is I believe even if Rashad gets Chuck down, which I doubt he will, I don't think he will be able to keep him there. I think you should have covered that in your points. People have taken Chuck down in the past not many can effectively keep him there while causing damage.
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Jake Dixon 10 months ago
I agree Nick. Liddell has always shown the uncanny ability to make his way up after being taken down. Chuck has fought some very good wrestlers in the past, but are any of those as accomplished as Evans is? I think that the styles in this fight definitely favor Liddell, but it will be intresting to see what type of gameplan Greg Jackson can put together for Evans and if it will be something similar he put together for Jardine in his win over Chuck. Thanks for the feedback Nick.
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Nick V 10 months ago
Randy Couture was well more accomplished than Rashad and he found it difficult to keep Chuck there. Randy was a runner up national champion and he was an olympic alternate.
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Jake Dixon 10 months ago
Randy's mostly known for his ability to take people down in the clinch, mor of a Greco-Roman style of wrestling. I think that Rashad, with his explosiveness and athleticism, may be effective with the tradtional double or single leg style of takedowns. That's only if he can make Chuck nervous about his standup to mix Chuck up.
Also, if you look at the first Couture/Liddell fight, Randy had his way taking Chuck down on numerous times, and even though he did have some difficulty keeping him there, the ending (TKO by Strikes) proved that he can be pounded out on his back.
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Dorothy Willis 10 months ago
The part about keeping Chuck down is so true, that is t real test--unless he's been tagged hard first like with Rampage. I do ope Rashad comes up with something new from his collaberations with Greg Jackson, that would be way cool and very unexpected
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Adam Schoonover 10 months ago
I hope Liddell does not get a title shot if he beats Evans. I love Liddell but he's just coming off one win after two losses. Beating Evans who I feel is a lesser fighter then Wanderlei Silva is just not enough to get a title shot even if your the ICE-MAN. I think he would have to fight Rampage again sense Rampage is now the former champ or at the very less have him redeem his lose to Keith Jardine who was raped by Wanderlei.
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Mike Barraza 10 months ago
I'd have to say the most battle-tested fighter on UFC's roster would have to be Big Nog, or maybe Jeremy Horn or Matt Hughes, not Liddell, although he has fought some greats and beat some greats. Nice article.
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