Remember the 2000s, when nearly everyone was on Myspace and playing their Playstation 2 consoles? Back then, one could customize their profiles by coding their profiles to create a cool background. That period also brought us the UFC, led by none other than Chuck Liddell.
It’s time to go on a little trip to the past. What made the “Iceman” special? What were his signature rivalries that made UFC prominent? Here’s a look at MMA legend Chuck Liddell and how he became one of the hallmarks of the sport.
Chuck Liddell’s Profile
Aside from being the guy you wouldn’t want to face in the bar, Chuck Liddell was a fearsome striker in the UFC. The Hall of Famer was a Cal Poly alum, where he wrestled from 1988 to 1993 and was eventually inducted into the Cal Poly Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. That was the same year he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
In his fighting career, Liddell achieved an overall record of 21-9 with 13 knockouts. He had a reach of 76.5 inches, making his strikes lethal. “The Iceman’s” decorated fighting pedigree includes an 8th Dan black belt in Kajukenbo, a black belt in Koei-Kan Karate, and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Chuck Liddell’s Best Rivalries
Perhaps the most memorable rivalry Chuck Liddell has was against Tito Ortiz. The rivalry set off a tidal wave of popularity for UFC, turning the league into a sports giant. In essence, it was a top rivalry in the sense that “The Rock” vs. “Stone Cold Steve Austin” was to the WWE.
Overall, the rivalry had three fights, with Liddell gaining the upper hand twice. However, there was some controversy in the first fight, which happened at UFC 47 on April 2, 2004. Ortiz alleged that Liddell poked his eye out, leaving him to see “nothing but black.”
The match was a heated contest, with both sides exchanging words and taunts towards one another. But this match also sparked interest in UFC as a sport, leading to massive growth in the upcoming years.
There are also rivalries with Randy Couture that gained popularity in the sport. However, Tito Ortiz-Chuck Liddell is perhaps the most iconic rivalry in the sport, catapulting UFC to new heights.
Where Is Chuck Liddell Now?
Chuck Liddell initially retired in 2010 before partaking in a one-off match with Tito Ortiz in 2018 under Golden Boy Promotions. Ortiz won the bout, finally getting the upper hand in the legendary rivalry.
Liddell’s life hasn’t entirely been smooth sailing, though. He was arrested in a Los Angeles-area jail on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. It was a dispute between him and his wife, where Liddell claimed he was a victim of domestic violence. He voluntarily went into custody and filed for divorce three days later.
The UFC Hall of Famer now has some acting to his name, with Steve-O’s Bucket List and The Eric Andre Show being his most recent credits. Liddell also competed in Dancing With the Stars on Season 9, where he and his dance partner, Anna Trebunskaya, got 11th place in Week 4. He’s also served as Vice President of Business Development for the UFC, helping the league grow.
The rise of UFC isn’t possible without Chuck Liddell taking the reins. Without a cemented rivalry and a bold personality like Liddell, Dana White wouldn’t have been a household, nor would UFC.
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Jacob Walters is a boxing/MMA writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @IceColdWJacob
