Issue 027

July 2007

May 26, 2007. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Three years is a long time, and when you've got thoughts of revenge in your mind, it can seem like an eternity. Chuck Liddell is a guy who doesn't handle losing very well Rather than accept defeat and move on, he has made a point of hunting down past opponents in the Octagon and avenging his losses, usually in brutal fashion.

Randy Couture and Jeremy Horn were the first two to fall. Couture famously dropped from heavy to light heavyweight to take Chuck's number one contender spot in 2003, battering him from pillar to post in the process. Liddell repaid that by knocking him out, twice. Horn choked Liddell unconscious back in 1999. Liddell waited until 2005 before pummelling him into submission in four long, hard and (for Horn) painful rounds.

There was only one blip left on Chuck's 23-fight record; a loss to Quinton

'Rampage' Jackson, acquired in 2003 in Japanese promotion Pride. Jackson is the big bad motor mouth who has spent almost his entire career in Japan, beating up some of the biggest names in the game. He dismantled Liddell in a 13-minute war, and it remained a sore point for the proud light heavyweight champ.

Jackson was imported into the UFC when Zuffa bought out the WFA's assets. When they acquired his contract, it seemed inevitable that the two would meet in the Octagon, but questions were raised as whether Jackson was ready.

A nervous performance against old foe Marvin Eastman saw Jackson work off some ring rust, but he looked a shadow of his former self. Liddell was the one who was riding high, seven straight wins on his record and a belt around his waist: he was the heavy favourite going into the fight.

The nerves that clouded Jackson's last outing in the UFC seemed to be there once again - a slow and anxious walk to the Octagon betrayed the inner conflict, and as the obligatory announcements were made the fear was evident in his eyes. His face told a different story, twisted into that familiar 'don't fuck with me' scowl, but the eyes gave it away. Jackson was highly strung.

Liddell, soaking up the adoration of the crowd, was a different character altogether. His arms loose and a half-smile on his face, he seemed on top of the world, and rightly so. He has been in the movies, on TV, on the cover of magazines, and is a bona-fide celebrity. People love him for his ability to destroy with his fists; and judging by the booing levelled at Jackson and the cheers for Liddell, Chuck had more than a few fans in attendance.

Against all expectations, when the fight began, a transformation took place. The nervous Jackson was replaced by a stolid, focussed Rampage. The cool-as-a-cucumber Iceman was switched for a sluggish, gangly Chuck. The balance had shifted.

Chuck is a counter-puncher. Everyone knows this, including his opponents, but for some reason they play his game. They rush in, get caught, and pay the price. Jackson was determined not to fall into this trap, and it totally threw Chuck.

Taking charge, Jackson used some sublime footwork and ring control to cut Liddell off and put him on the back foot. Liddell seemed bemused. Jackson wasn't coming forward enough for him to hit him like he would have wanted to, and the confusion was apparent on Liddell's face. Jackson patiently hovered just out of reach, even beckoning Liddell onto him.

When Chuck did advance, it was with punches that Jackson easily blocked. The extensive boxing training that Jackson has undergone has tightened up his defence no end, and when Liddell tried to land a body shot, Jackson fired his only true punch of the short-lived fight a mean right hook that sent Liddell down to the canvas. The follow up was as accurate as it was brutal - Liddell was flummoxed, groggy from the initial shot but totally dazed from the horrendous right hand that crashed down to his jaw. When John McCarthy intervened and threw Jackson aside, Liddell's face was a picture of- confusion, pain, and denial. He could not believe what had just happened Jackson, on the other hand, was as jubilant as can be expected. Beating Chuck was no personal goal for him the was the defining moment of his career

By capturing the light heavyweight championship Jackson has netted himself just short of half a million dollars, but Chuck's Xyience contract and a superfight with none other than Pride champion Dan Henderson.

For the Memphis boy, this is a monumental achievement. Jackson jokes about having kids to feed, but he has always laid it out straight where some guys love to fight and do it for the challenge, Jackson is a professional, and first and foremost does it for the money.

Eight weeks of training and two minutes work in the Octagon have put Jackson in a position where he is now one of the top fighters in the sport, but as with everything in MMA, nothing is as clear as it seems.

The rumours had been flying around for some time - he even alluded to it weeks prior to this event the interview of page 40- but the big announcement on Saturday night was that Dan 'Hollywood Henderson, holder of Pride title belts in two different weight categories, was to challenge the winner of the main event.

Though it won't be a unification bout. this is the closest thing MMA has ever seen to such a thing Back before the news that UFC were buying out Pride. the big question on everyone's lips was always a case of who would win between the UFC's top fighters and Pride's top fighters? The UFC have always had confidence in their fighters, and now they're going the whole hog by importing the top talent from overseas into the Octagon.

Jackson himself was seen as one such import, though he had decamped from Japan back to the USA some time prior to his UFC debut. Henderson, though he trains in California as part of Team Quest, has fought in Japan since 1999. About as American as you can get (Henderson owns a ranch, rides horses and once wore a mullet), he still represents Pride and the challenge it once posed competitor. By being assimilated into the UFC, Henderson represents not so much the danger of foreign challenges but the growth of the UFC.

For Jackson, a match with Henderson isn't exactly bad news. He may have been thrust into the number one spot by being placed in front of the then champion as a revenge match, but he was comfortable enough to take it as his own and he's going to have to deal with that. Rather than the obligatory rematch it seems all title fights seem to generate, we actually have the prospect of a mouth-watering original fight, one which is guaranteed to get fans going.

Henderson can bang, he can slam, and he is a real rough and tumble fighter. Jackson has no issue with getting down and dirty in the ring or Octagon, and it is unlikely he'll shy away from Henderson's in your face style. They may be friends, but this is business, and neither will want to pass on the financial opportunities that would arise from such a fight.

Other fights

Karo Parisyan is the kind of welterweight fighter you keep an eye on Always one fight away from being a contender, the 25- year-old judo stylist is often touted as the future of the division. His 21 fight record shows only four losses; two to current lightweight champ Sean Sherk (fought when Karo was only 18 years old), one to former welterweight champion Georges St Pierre and one to welterweight stand-out Diego Sanchez. He even holds a win over current welterweight champ Matt Serra. Burkman's biggest achievement to date is dating UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste, but that doesn't stop him from being one tough welterweight. A broken arm took him out of The Ultimate Fighter series 2, but a string of solid performances since then have marked him out as one of the UFC's 'dependables'. Book him and you know you've got a decent fight on your show.

Putting two guys like that into a cage will almost guarantee a crowd pleaser, and the UFC got it back on with these two. Karo has added some great striking to his awesome throwing and grappling skills, and Burkman's tenacity and willingness to make it a fight meant the fans were given a fifteen-minute war.

As expected, Karo tossed Burkman with his trademark throws, while Burkman engaged in some toe-to-toe striking that tested Parisyan's skills to their utmost. After fifteen minutes of a thrilling, gruelling and highly entertaining encounter, the judges declared Parisyan the winner placing him among the top three welterweight contenders in the UFC.

Middleweight powerhouse Terry Martin smashed his way to victory over technician Ivan Salaverry by picking him up and quite literally dropping him on his head in just over two minutes-while not big for the division, Martin has made a mark on the middleweight scene and could be a tough challenge for anyone out there Kalib Starnes picked up an impressive decision win over gurning brawler Chris Leben, outlasting the wild striker and showing off some improved skills in the stand-up range in the process. Houston Alexander shocked everyone by blitzing Keith Jardine with some powerful dirty boxing and Din Thomas made his first appearance in the UFC since January with another tight submission win.

Full Results:

Wilson Gouveia def Carmelo Marrero via Submission (Guillotine choke) 3:06 Rd 1

Din Thomas def Jeremy Stephens via Submission (Armbar) 2:44 Rd 2

Alan Belcher def Sean Salmon via Submission (Guillotine choke) 0:53 Rd 1

Thiago Silva def James Irvin via TKO (Knee injury) 1:06 Rd 1

Kalib Starnes def Chris Leben via Decision (Unanimous)

Houston Alexander def Keith Jardine via TKO (Strikes) 0:48 Rd 1

Terry Martin def Ivan Salaverry via TKO (Strikes) 2:04 Rd 1

Karo Parisyan def Josh Burkman via Decision (Unanimous)

Quinton Jackson def Chuck Liddell via TKO (Punches) 1:53 Rd 1