Chuck Liddell or Mirko Cro Crop: Which Lethal Striker Has Fallen Farther?

Watching Cro Cop get demolished by Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem at Dream 6 made me think of Chuck Liddell. I was struck by how far each of these legendary fighters has fallen in the last eighteen months. In that time they have both compiled a 1-3 record.

I would have to give the nod to Liddell in terms of “strength of schedule” and “quality wins” (or should I say win). If this were “BCS style” then Liddell would be ranked higher, if that’s any consolation. Regardless, both these fighters face serious questions about their future.

People have written articles calling on Liddell to consider retirement. If he does stay in the UFC where does he safely land? Should he fight a tomato-can, move up to the heavyweight division, or should he try and secure a “super fight” with Anderson Silva or Rich Franklin?

I am sure people will start writing the same thing about Cro Cop. Does he stick around in Dream? Does he rematch Overeem only to be destroyed again? Perhaps he sticks around and slips into MMA mediocrity by fighting fighters he knows can’t destroy him.

The “demolition man” was quoted as saying “Cro Cop has one style, but I can fight many ways, so it's easy for me to adapt to him, tonight I was kicking his ass, I destroyed him.” This statement symbolizes what Brett Puddy talked about in his recent article.

In the article “They All go into the Dark” he discusses the timely issue of “the need to change & evolve” if fighters want to thrive & survive in MMA. If these once dominant strikers want to remain relevant they have to adapt and/or grow their game to compete.

Or perhaps they ride into the white light with that got them to greatness. I wouldn’t mind the UFC bringing Cro Cop back to face Liddell. The winner stays and the loser goes. Pride Legend vs. UFC future hall-of-famer. One strike to rule them all.