Issue 148
December 2016
Brock Lesnar might have attracted more fans and Conor McGregor may make more money, but we dare you to find anyone that made the crowd roar more than Chuck Liddell.
He had the look, the attitude and, most important of all, the ability to wreck other men in a cage.
That made him the sport’s first crossover star, the first fighter to attract a million pay-per-view buys and one of the easiest choices for the UFC Hall of Fame in its short history.
- FOR THE FANS
Liddell loved a fight. Despite his college wrestling background, he had a brawler’s mindset. He wanted to stand and trade, which is why he won a legion of fans all over the world.
- EXPLOSIVES
‘The Iceman’ could have named his hands ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Goodnight’, such was the effect of paws. Consciousness was usually fleeting if an opponent felt his fists on their face.
- BITTER RIVAL
You didn’t want to tick Chuck off. If he didn’t like you, or you’d had the audacity to beat him once, he wouldn’t rest until he’s knocked your block off. Just ask Tito Ortiz, Jeremy Horn and Randy Couture.
- BUST A GUT
Between fights, Liddell couldn’t deny he often cultivated a bit of a belly. He loved a party – and a beer or two – but that just added to his everyman charm and made him look like even more of a badass.
- FLAT OUT
During Liddell’s 205lb title reign, he was impossible to take down. He had the sprawl-and-brawl style down to a fine art, so he could stay on his feet and smash people to bits.
- HIGH TIMES
He didn’t look like a limber man, but the former UFC 205lb champion could launch his leg from floor to head height in an instant. Steve Heath and ‘Babalu’ Sobral both took a nap after they ate his shin.
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