Liddell's a beast. I'm not sure anyone is going to put up much fight against him right now. At least with Ortiz, there will be some behind the scenes drama fueling the bout between them.

What really sucks though is that, when I finally have to opportunity to see it live, they announce a relatively unspectacular line-up. I might have to buy tickets just because I will be there.

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Liddell really is a beast. He's a little one-dimensional though - yeah, he's got great takedown defense, but he just isn't a groundfighter at all. I'd really, really like to see a matchup between him and Wanderlei. I don't think he could take Wanderlei in his prime... my only concern is, I'm not sure how well Wanderlei's holding up these days. Haven't seen him fight in a while, and I know he's come off a string of losses.

They were also making noises about Liddell fighting Quinton Jackson. Which I think would be a barn-burner, but I think Liddell would get the KO pretty much for sure. I know Quinton's improved a lot, but... ::looks doubtful:: He's just not exactly the best guy for "taking the other guy out of his game", and that's pretty much a NECESSITY for dealing with Liddell.

The one fighter I can think of I'd back against Liddell ABSOLUTELY without hesitation would be Emelianenko. That'd be a slaughter. But... wrong weight class.

Incidentally, am I the only one that thinks "Ice Man" is the most ridiculous possible soubriquet for Liddell? Ice Man my ass, he's about as calm, cool, and collected as, say... oh I dunno, Iraq. I think "the Maniac" would be a hell of a lot more appropriate. Something along the lines of Wanderlei's "Axe Murderer" nick.

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It's been so long since I've seen Wanderlei do anything... I hardly remember him.

Ice Man my ass, he's about as calm, cool, and collected as, say... oh I dunno, Iraq

I don't know... Am I alone in believing that his stand-up game demonstrates a lot of deliberate intelligence. Yes, he's aggressive and always pushing forward (mostly with his fists) but he is looking for openings and making some fair effort to pinpoint his blows. Those heavy hands are like heat-seeking missiles. He's not content to land blows; he's looking for the knock-out.

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Don't get me wrong, he definitely has pinpoint accuracy - as witness the way he rained haymakers in through Ortiz's (boxing) guard for the KO - but I wouldn't by ANY means call either his style - or the decision to try to end that particular fight that way - "ice cold and calm".

An "Ice Man" would have started picking Ortiz apart when he huddled up behind that tightly closed head guard, not just rained haymakers directly AT that guard, trusting to be able to get enough of them through it to take the KO. Because really, he fired about twenty HARD haymakers in machine-gun succession at that guard and got two or three in. What if one of those two or three hadn't gone in, and Ortiz had been a little dazed but not KO'ed? Liddell would have been dogmeat, that's what.

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What about Chuck "The Ballista" Liddell?

It conjures images of a giant arm hurling heavy things at fortifications. If aimed correctly or a lucky shot is achieved, the siege is over.

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