Looks like the UFC's Joe Silva is trying to arrange a fight between Shogun and Liddell in June, which means Shogun is off the UFC Montreal card. As the weeks roll by the Montreal card keeps losing fights. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was a PRIDE standout and at one point was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He was brought into the UFC to challenge for Quentin "Rampage" Jackson's light-heavyweight (205-lbs) title but lost in his debut against Forrest Griffin. Chuck Liddell lost his title to Jackson a year ago and has since lost to Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine and defeated Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva.
Shogun ran over Rampage during the Pride Grand Prix and Rampage got injured for that fight. Too bad Shogun is off the card in Montreal but dang this will be a great fight.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The UFC is reporting that a knee injury has forced Mauricio "Shogun" Rua out of UFC 85, which ultimately means he will not be facing Chuck Liddell on June 7th. This is devastating news for fight fans all over the world who were anticipating this super bout between two of best fighters that the Light Heavy Weight division has to offer. It is reported that Shogun has a ruptured ACL in his left knee. The same knee that he had surgically repaired following his loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 76. There is no date set for the surgery, and still no timetable for his return. Shogun was going through a fantastic training camp when this set back occured. “I’ve never seen Shogun so motivated for a fight like this in years,” said Rua spokesman Eduardo Alonso. “This was like a new beginning for him.” Shogun promised that he would be back as good as ever, and had a message for his fans. “He thanks his fans for all the support,” said Alonso. “It means a lot to him.” A replacement opponent for Chuck Liddell is expected to be announced shortly. Stay tuned to Fightline for further news.</div> http://mmafightline.com/news/2008/34/mauri...ua_317854.shtml
Not many top tens available. Everyone is spoken for. Dan? I kind of wish he got a layup. He deserves one. But he's not getting younger. Would be a war.
Chuck should run over Gouveia. IMO someone is getting bounced off of the UFC 84 card to face Chuck. Sokoudjou perhaps?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Mar 5 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Chuck should run over Gouveia. IMO someone is getting bounced off of the UFC 84 card to face Chuck. Sokoudjou perhaps?</div> Dude, Liddell/Gouveia would be a sick fight. Also, Soko isn't experienced enough, I think.
Here's some good thoughts by Sam Caplan on who Chuck could face at UFC 85 <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>My vote to face Chuck Liddell at UFC 85… The recent news that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua had to bow out of a scheduled match with Chuck Liddell for UFC 85 on June 7 in London has created a lot of speculation in regard to a potential replacement. Since so many of the UFC’s top light heavyweights are already committed to fights in upcoming months, there aren’t a lot of internal options. As such, many are point to external options. One internal potential option I overlooked yesterday was Rashad Evans. Evans is expected to fight Thiago Silva at UFC 84 on May 24 in Las Vegas but the fight has yet to be officially announced. Because Evans has headlined a PPV before and he represents good name recognition value as the heavyweight winner from the second season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” I think Evans is the perfect choice. Personally, I see no obvious need for the UFC to go outside the promotion. That being said, I’d still like to see an outside option brought in. I’ve seen the likes of Vitor Belfort and Ricardo Arona mentioned as possibilities but I don’t think either one of them are realistic. Belfort technically is still under suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for steroids following PRIDE’s first show in the U.S. Instead of serving out the suspension, he went and fought for Cage Rage in the UK. Technically, the UFC could promote a fight between Belfort and Liddell since it would be in the UK, where MMA is not currently regulated. However, the UFC has good relations with NSAC and promoting Belfort given the current circumstances would not be well received. I’d love to see the old Vitor back at the top of the UFC. Unfortunately, we’re not going to get it. Belfort needs to wake up and stand before NSAC. He needs to apologize and find out what he needs to do in order to get licensed again. Chances are that they will tell him he needs to serve a suspension but he isn’t fighting right now and isn’t scheduled to. The time he’s currently spending on the sidelines could be going towards time served if he would just do the right thing. By being stubborn, Belfort is doing himself a great disservice. There are more promotions in the U.S. than ever. A lot of them could use a fighter such as Belfort. The problem is that until he makes everything right with NSAC, no promotion in the States can touch the guy. Arona is another guy I’d love to see in the UFC but that isn’t going to happen either, unless he drops his asking price. Personally, I believe Arona is worth every penny but I don’t run the UFC. I don’t think the UFC is opposed to bringing him in, but the deal has to make sense to them. The name I’m casting my vote for is Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the twin brother of current interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He’s a top ten caliber light heavyweight who isn’t in my top ten right now for no other reason than inactivity. Rogerio has done some fighting for Keith Crawford’s Hardcore Fighting Championships in Canada but I’d love to see “Minotoro” competing on the UFC’s big stage. There’s also the fact that I think a fight between him and Liddell would be pretty damn good.</div> Little Nog would be a good choice to join the UFC, but he doesn't match up well with Chuck and would be KTFO'd by the 2nd round IMO. Arona though.. I think that would be a good match up and a better outside option would be Alistair Overeem. Although I do wonder if he's done making the 205 limit with his huge 6'5" frame and will stay at HW.
They won't throw Sok at him. He's seen as the future of that division. They want him to come along nicely.
looks like we have an answer.. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Rashad Evans steps up to fight Chuck Liddell MMA Weekly has confirmed that winner of the Ultimate Fighter Season 2, Rashad Evans will now fight Chuck Liddell later this year. Liddell was set to take on former Pride FC standout, Mauricio Rua but the Brazilian had to pull out of the fight after he aggravated a knee injury. Rashad Evans has gone undefeated in his career and has a 6-0-1 mark in the UFC and a career record of 11-0-1. His last appearance in the UFC was a split decision victory over fellow TUF winner Michael Bisping and before that he went to a unanimous draw with former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz. Chuck Liddell’s last appearance in the octagon was at UFC 79 where he recorded an impressive unanimous decision victory over Wanderlei Silva which halted a two fight losing streak. This fight will headline UFC 85 on June 7th in London, England.</div> Rashad's gonna have to rely on his speed and move in and out to avoid getting KTFO'd cause Randy's the only guy to take Chuck down and keep him there and Rashad's wrestling isn't that good IMO.
That's interesting. The Evans/Thiago Silva fight was going to be a good one. Looks like they're putting Gouveia against Drwal. Where does that leave Thiago? Anways, Chuck does well against wrestlers. I don't see him losing this fight.
IMO the UFC would love to have Chuck fighting for the title again. Keeping him relevant means loads of PPV buys.
