The Ball Is In Chucks Court, What Will He Do With It?

You might as well call me Mr.Positive at this point. While everyone else seems to be bashing everything they got wrong in their minds, I have taken it upon myself to look for the silver lining. Everyone seems to be in shock that Chuck lost to Rashad. I have to ask you why.

Why is it that people believed that Chuck couldn't lose to Rashad, when he's lost 2 of his last 3 fights? Why is it that about 70 to 80% of people had Chuck knocking Rashad out, when Chuck hasn't finished a fight since 2006, and Rashad has never lost? Why was it so hard to believe that Rashad was as good as his record said? Oh, wait, it's because for the last decade, people have thought of "The Iceman" as an unbeatable human highlight reel, with enough power to make an entire Ultimate Knockouts DVD himself.

But that has changed, and according to just about all of the people that had Chuck winning, also see Chuck as washed up and on his way out the door after losing Rashad Evans. That may be, but that isn't your decision to make. It's all up to Chuck.

Chuck has a big time decision to make, and only he can make it. After this loss, a title shot is seemingly out of the question. Who is next for Chuck? Does he want to continue to face top-tier light heavyweights and risk a Ken Shamrock like exit from MMA? I for one, do not want to look back 10 years from now at Chucks career and say, "Man, he really should have just walked away". This guy is a UFC Hall of Famer no matter what happens, but does he really want to risk his legacy?

One of his options could be to go to Dana White, and say "I want to fight a new guy". Chuck may want to build up his own confidence by fighting no-name cans and work his way up the ladder at a slow rate. The only problem with this option is the age factor. But I don't think that Chuck is struggling with age, as much as he's struggling with a stacked Light-Heavyweight division.

This decision really does not belong to Dana White either. Chuck could very well pull a Randy and decide who he wants to fight, and do anything it takes to get it. Maybe we see Chuck VS Rampage 3. Both guys are coming off of losses to TUF winners, and both want to get back to the top as soon as they can. I'm sure the fans wouldn't mind watching this one, but Chuck may not want to do risk failure again.

My vote goes to a possible match with Lyoto Machida. Machida is supposed to fight at the next UFC PPV, so the timing of this match-up is almost perfect. All of Machidas fans get upset that Machida is not being given any respect, well I say let Lyoto beat the respect into the heads of UFC fans, by beating "The Iceman". If Machida wants a title shot, he has to get a big name victory, yes he beat Tito, but I don't believe that showing was one of a future champion, especially after get caught in a triangle in the final round.

One option that I don't see as too likely, is the hanging up of those blue fight shorts, and the retirement of Chuck Liddell. It is possible, but there is still too much money to be earned in the UFC, and Chuck wants that gold around his waist one more time before he even considers the "R" word.

The last possible fighter I see Chuck fighting, is the guy that he was originally supposed to fight instead of Rashad. A possible showdown with Shogun would be a huge moneymaker, if of course the fight with rampage is not true. But hell, even if they are true, I say book this fight anyway. Set the fight up for a possible April or May showdown. If Shogun loses to Rampage, this could potentially be a win or go home fight. The hype around this match could be insane, 2 mma legends, fighting to keep there UFC title hopes alive.

The ball belongs to Chuck, it all depends on what he wants to do with it. Does he take the ball and challenge a newcomer or a veteran? Does he sit in the locker room and wait to be called up, or does he take the ball and go home? I for one can't wait to see how this MMA soap opera ends.