UFC 79 : Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva - “Let’s Get It On”?
The UFC have issued an official press release confirming a match that people have been waiting years to see. Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva are to face eachother in the Octagon. Yet, I find myself asking, “is this fight at least 2yrs too late?”
A couple of years ago (hell - around 3 years ago!) I would have chomped at the bit to see this fight. Now, with both fighters coming off a losing streak and Wanderlei looking more out of shape as each day passes without a matchup, is this fight as big a deal as it could have been?
I’m a big fan of Pride. For me, Wanderlei was a machine. But, it would seem that he’s long since past his prime, he was on a losing streak and going out of shape long BEFORE the demise of Pride. In his defence, he started fighting heavy weights (Hunt, Crocop) just to get some decent competition and he started to wear down from there.
Chuck has since lost his crown and failed to bounce back. Back in the day, I’ve a feeling that his “unorthodox” style would have been of no benefit when facing Wand in his prime (any more than it was a threat to Rampage then, to a lesser extent, Jardine more recently). Rampage himself took terrible beatings from Wand - he was unstoppable.
Two years ago, the prospect of Silva vs. Liddell was every bit the dream. Just as the present day prospect of Fedor vs. Couture is a dream fight we’d all want to see. Two years ago, both fighters were enjoying the rewards of their consistent successes.
Sure, we’ll get to see them fight now. But, the question we had in our minds back then will remain unanswered since neither fighter is even close to their prime. Neither fighther is at the pinnacle of a virtually unbeaten record. I’ve a feeling that, following the fight, we’ll be left feeling empty. Even if Randy and Fedor manage to find themselves on the same canvass one year from now; the same problem will apply then (just without the losing streak!).
At this stage, I’m far more interested in the Hughes v Serra matchup than I am in Chuck ‘n Wand.
Source: MMA News
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® ANNOUNCES CHUCK LIDDELL vs. WANDERLEI SILVA
UFC 79: NEMESIS
SATURDAY, DEC. 29
LIVE FROM MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTERLas Vegas, NV (USA);
For years, UFC® fight fans have speculated about the outcome of a historic dream matchup between two legendary figures in the sport of mixed martial arts, Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Tonight, on Spike TV’s 2007 Scream Awards, UFC President Dana White announced that this dream will finally become a reality when UFC and PRIDE former champions Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva face each other at UFC 79: NEMESIS live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, December 29, 2007.“Chuck and Wanderlei ” two legends in the sport ” will face off in the most important match of their careers at UFC 79,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Chuck and Wanderlei have both wanted this fight for as long as they can remember, and this is definitely the fight that fans have waited for years to see. Finally, PRIDE’s most dangerous striker will face the UFC’s most dangerous striker, and the world will know after years of speculation who will win and who will lose this fight.”
Liddell (20-5), considered by many to be the greatest light heavyweight fighter of all time, reigned as the 205-pound UFC champion for over three years. He knocked out seven opponents in seven consecutive fights, including Randy Couture (twice), Vernon White, Jeremy Horn, Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Tito Ortiz (twice), before he was defeated by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 71 in May. Chuck now returns to the Octagon to face the fighter he has wanted to fight for years - Wanderlei Silva.
“I’m excited this fight with Wanderlei is finally happening,” said Liddell. “I’ve been saying for a long time that, given the chance, I would knock Wanderlei Silva out. I think this will be a great fight for the fans, and one that lives up to their expectations, because I’m going to hit him until he falls down and stays down.”
The 31-year old Silva (31-7-1), known by fight fans as “The Axe Murderer” for his ultra-aggressive style and finishing ability, began his career almost 11 years ago in his native Brazil, fighting in Vale Tudo bouts that pushed him to the limit as he honed the skills that would soon make him one of the most feared fighters on the planet. He met great success by winning the PRIDE organization’s middleweight championship and defeating the likes of current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson (twice), Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (three times), Ricardo Arona, Hidehiko Yoshida, and Kazuyuki Fujita, while engaging in some of the most memorable fights in MMA history. Well-rested after his February PRIDE fight against Dan Henderson, Silva is ready to take on Liddell and secure the most important victory of his mixed martial arts career.
“I’ve wanted to fight Chuck for a long time,” said Silva. “I think about this fight a lot, our styles are very similar” we are both great strikers. I’m training very hard, because I want to give my next victory to my fans. After I beat Chuck, then I want to fight the champion.”
In addition to Liddell vs. Silva, UFC 79 features the main event welterweight championship matchup between UFC champion Matt Serra (16-4) and former UFC champion Matt Hughes (43-5).
Current UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, fresh off his knockout victory over Georges St-Pierre in April, looks to defend his title for the first time against the legendary Hughes and secure his own legacy in the UFC 170-pound division. Hughes, a two-time UFC champion with seven combined title defenses to his name, has a deadly ground game that has earned him wins over St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Chris Lytle, Royce Gracie, and Frank Trigg (twice).
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Is it just a coincidence that the fight many have been waiting for for a long time comes so soon after Couture announces his resignation?
This will probably be the end of Chuck. He will have just turned 38 before this fight. He doesn’t seem too interested in the fight game anymore and if he losses a third in a row it’ll be game over. Silva on the other hand is only 31 and he kinda gets to fight with a clean slate in the UFC for the first time.
See where you’re coming from there Cathal. Funny though, this isn’t Wanderlei’s UFC Debut. People, including the media, keep referring to it as such but he’s fought in the UFC before (Two losses, one win. He was KO’d by Vitor within 44seconds and lost to Tito by decision).
You learn something new everyday!