Chuck Liddell
Encyclopedia
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is a retired American mixed martial artist
and former Ultimate Fighting Championship
light heavyweight
champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo
, Koei-Kan karate
and kickboxing
, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling
.
As of his retirement, Liddell has had 23 fights in the UFC. Along with fellow UFC Hall of Fame fighter Randy Couture
, Liddell is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. On July 10, 2009, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
karate
at the age of 12; the tattoo
seen on his scalp reads "Koei-Kan". Liddell was a four-year starter on the football team at San Marcos High School. While growing up in Santa Barbara, he often frequented the infamous Del Playa Drive
, the middle of the party scene of the college town of Isla Vista, where he often found himself in fights with drunk college students. He became a Division I wrestler at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business/Accounting in 1995. He holds an amateur kickboxing
record of 20 wins and 2 losses, with 16 of his wins coming by way of knockout.
When Liddell started his MMA career, he began to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
under John Lewis in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
in Mobile, Alabama
, with a decision victory over Noe Hernandez. Despite a Technical submission loss to top contender Jeremy Horn
shortly after, Liddell began establishing his reputation as a top contender with dominant victories over Kevin Randleman
, Murilo Bustamante
, Vitor Belfort
, Amar Suloev
, Jeff Monson
, Renato Sobral
and Tito Ortiz
. Liddell was also the first UFC fighter currently on the roster to go fight in Pride where he represented the organization against fellow kickboxer Guy Mezger
, knocking him out cold in one of the most exciting fights in the earlier days of MMA
.
, but Ortiz cited scheduling conflicts. To force Ortiz's hand, they created an interim light heavyweight championship and matched Liddell with Greco-Roman wrestler and former heavyweight champion "The Natural" Randy Couture at UFC 43
. Couture neutralized Liddell's hooks with straight punches and eventually began taking "The Iceman" at will. Couture eventually gained full mount
and forced a referee stoppage due to a barrage of punches.
in the first round of the tournament
In an action packed bout Liddell was getting out landed by the taller, quicker and more technical striking of Overeem but later in the round Liddell landed an overhand punch to the head of Overeem staggering him into the ropes, Liddell rushed in with knees and straight rights and knocked him out at the latter stages of the first round. In the next round Liddell was eliminated by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
, The first round Liddell was landing shots as he found his distance but Jackson countered with powerful strikes rocking Liddell numerous times. In the second round, Jackson continued to out land Liddell with big punches but couldn't finish him. Later in the second round a visibly exhausted and stunned Liddell was taken down at will numerous times and while taking a barrage of punches from the ground his corner threw in the towel, giving Jackson the upset victory.
on April 2, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada
. After most of the first round was spent feeling each other out, Liddell threw a few punches and a kick which was blocked by Ortiz, with Ortiz slapping himself on the head, taunting Liddell. When the round ended Ortiz pushed referee "Big" John McCarthy out of his way, into Liddell, and the pair exchanged words. Shortly after the second round started, Liddell landed a flurry of punches that dropped Ortiz and led to a TKO victory. Ortiz has since stated that Liddell's thumb made contact with his eye, causing him to momentarily see "nothing but black". Since UFC 47
, the bad blood
between both fighters remained, with Ortiz repeatedly stating that he wanted "his" title belt back. Despite the tension, Ortiz and Liddell would not fight again for two and a half years.
, Spike TV
's reality show which featured fighters competing for a UFC contract. Liddell was the coach of Team Liddell, while then-UFC-light-heavyweight champion Randy Couture coached Team Couture. The series was a success for both Spike TV and the UFC. Both of the winners of the show, Diego Sanchez
and Forrest Griffin
, were members of Team Liddell and have had very successful careers in the UFC since.
, Liddell fought Randy Couture
, again for the light heavyweight title. Couture moved in for a punch, Liddell countered with a big right hand to the temple of Couture, knocking him out cold, making him the new UFC light heavyweight champion.
, at UFC 54
, a matchup the UFC claimed was demanded by long-time fans of the sport since Horn had given Liddell his first loss. Throughout the bout, Liddell dominated with aggressive punches, causing knockdowns in several rounds. Liddell's defensive wrestling ability, especially his sprawl
, stifled the bulk of Horn's offense, which was centered on grappling
and submission wrestling
. Liddell eventually won the fight via TKO in 2:46 minutes of the fourth round after Horn informed the referee that he could not see. He had been hit with a right punch to the eye causing him to bleed from his eye as well as his nose. Liddell had successfully defended his title and, in the process, avenged two of his three career losses.
, Liddell faced Randy Couture in a rubber match
, After an action packed first round, Liddell landed a big punch to Couture's face causing him to bleed, Couture bounced back with a take down of Liddell, but he was able to get up right away. Later in the second round as Couture moved in Liddell countered similar to in the second fight at UFC 52
knocking Couture out. defeating Couture for the 2nd time via knockout in Las Vegas, Nevada to retain the light heavyweight championship belt. After the fight, Couture announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
on August 26, 2006, Liddell would best Renato "Babalu" Sobral
, who he had defeated nearly three years prior. Seconds after the fight started Sobral came running forward throwing punches, Liddell was moving backwards landing big punches, a right upper cut was the final hit in the onslaught ending the fight at 1:35 of the first round. It was announced during UFC 61
that, if he were to defeat Sobral, Liddell would face off against Pride Middleweight (205 lb) champion Wanderlei Silva
. The fight failed to materialize due to the competing promotions' inability to reach an agreement. UFC president Dana White
attributed this to Silva's subsequent knockout loss to Mirko Filipović
.
, which took place on December 30, 2006. Liddell's takedown defense neutralized Ortiz's wrestling ability forcing Ortiz to stand up with a known striker. Although Ortiz did take Liddell down at one point in the fight, Liddell went on to defeat Ortiz via TKO in the third round to successfully defend his light heavyweight championship for a fourth time. It was later revealed that Liddell tore his MCL
prior to the fight. In addition, during the fight he popped the tendon out on the middle finger on his left hand.
on May 26, 2007, in a rematch with Quinton Jackson. Liddell was knocked down by a right hook
less than two minutes into the first round and was unable to defend himself against Jackson's strikes on the ground, resulting in a TKO victory for Jackson. After the loss, Liddell was widely criticized after reports indicated he had been seen in night clubs the week before the event. He responded that it wasn't anything he hadn't done prior to his other fights in Las Vegas.
On July 11, 2007, Dana White confirmed in an interview with Yahoo! Sports
that a rumoured bout between Wanderlei Silva and Liddell had been canceled indefinitely. Silva and Liddell were supposed to fight in the main event at UFC 76
in Anaheim, California
. Instead, Liddell would face Keith Jardine
.
In the main event of UFC 76
, Liddell came out landing his signature right hand to the head of Jardine, rocking him backwards as well as multiple straight right hands but Jardine stayed in the fight. After the dominant first round for Liddell, Jardine started to land low leg kicks continuously through out the fight while Liddell was unable to time the odd formed southpaw. Liddell lost a close split decision, the first consecutive losses of his career.
. The fight was all that it was billed up to be over the years, It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the best light heavy weights of all time. Liddell defeated Silva via unanimous decision, out-landing Silva with harder, more efficient punches and getting two takedowns later in the fight. Many fans and MMA critics called it the best fight of the year. Both fighters were awarded "Fight of the Night" honors. This fight was voted 2007's Fight of the Year at the first annual World Mixed Martial Arts Awards.
revealed that he had recently signed a contract to fight Liddell,
however on March 4 it was announced on UFC.com that "Shogun" was receiving surgery on his knee and was forced to withdraw from the fight. It was later officially announced that undefeated wrestler "Sugar" Rashad Evans
would replace Mauricio Rua
in a bout at UFC 85
in London, England. However, a hamstring injury forced Liddell to withdraw from the fight, as well.
On September 6, 2008, Liddell fought Rashad Evans
at UFC 88
. Despite Liddell pushing the pace and controlling the fight, At 1:51 of the second round, Liddell threw a right uppercut just as Evans connected with an overhand right, causing Liddell to fall unconscious to the mat.The knockout was dubbed "knockout of the year" by MMA-website Sherdog
and marking the first time Liddell had been knocked out cold. Liddell has been criticized for over-relying on the same coaches and training partners. Shortly following his knockout loss to Evans, long-time trainer John Hackleman confirmed that Liddell is participating in training sessions with American Top Team
to "round out his skills", although he is still officially associated with Hackleman and The Pit.
post fight press conference that Liddell's next fight would be against the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 97
on April 18 in Montréal, Canada.
On April 18 at UFC 97, Liddell was once again defeated by TKO due to strikes late in the first Round. After the fight, White declared that Liddell is retired from fighting. White said, "I care about him. I care about his health, and it's over, man. It's over." White went further, saying, "At the end of the day, I care about these guys. I don't want to see anybody stick around too long. You're never going to see Chuck Liddell on the canvas again." In May however, Liddell's trainer, John Hackleman, claimed 'with confidence' that Liddell isn't done yet and that he's "definitely on top of the food chain." Liddell has "more than one fight left in him." In an interview afterward, White went on to rhetorically ask "can I tell him not to fight? Absolutely not. If he still wants to fight, he can fight. I'm not saying, 'It will never happen. It will never happen.' But he made a deal with me [not to fight]."
Fan Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada
, Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
After UFC 101
in August, Dana White stated that "I don't want him to (fight). He wants to, so we'll see what happens." Two days afterward, Liddell went on record to say that he was undecided on the matter and that "it's hard for an athlete to quit what he's done his whole life." Liddell went on to say that he would be "making that decision in the gym, not in the ring" after sparring sessions.
on the 11th season
of The Ultimate Fighter, with the two of them fighting each other on June 12, 2010, at UFC 115
. However, in March, it was rumored that Ortiz was pulling out for as yet unknown reasons and Ortiz would be replaced by former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin
. This was then denied by UFC president Dana White.
On April 7, 2010, White confirmed that Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 would be the main event for the card; however, on April 12, 2010, the main event was changed to Liddell vs. Rich Franklin
.
On June 12, 2010, Liddell faced Franklin at UFC 115 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Liddell came out and looked the best he had since his prime years, landing brutal high kicks and a takedown, until Rich Franklin connected with a counter right hook knocking Liddell out cold in the first round with five seconds remaining until the end of the round, ending his legendary Mixed martial arts career. Earlier in the fight Franklin had broken his arm blocking a body kick from Liddell. Only a few hours after the match, UFC President Dana White declared that he guarantees Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell will not fight in the UFC ever again.
Liddell is tied for second place with Randy Couture
and Georges St-Pierre for the most wins in the UFC at 16, behind Matt Hughes
' 18.
fight team and earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
.
Liddell has a brother, Sean, who also competes in MMA, fighting last in the WEC
. He also has a brother named Dan and a sister named Laurelai.
Liddell continues to train in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he attended college.
He has two children, a daughter named Trista, with female MMA fighter Casey Noland and son named Cade.
Chuck once dated the female host of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Willa Ford.
Liddell is no longer engaged to his longtime girlfriend Erin Wilson.
He is a former part owner of two bars in Lincoln, Nebraska
, Dillinger's and NZone. He also owns a store called "Ultimate Iceman", a memorabilia store in San Luis Obispo.
Liddell endorsed John McCain
in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Liddell proposed to his girlfriend Heidi Northcott on November 4, 2010. The couple is expecting their first child together, a daughter, in December 2011.
. Liddell also released his autobiography, Iceman: My Fighting Life, on January 29, 2008.
, had a guest cameo in the first season of Inked
on A&E
, and made a brief appearance in the 1981 film The Postman Always Rings Twice
with Jack Nicholson
.
|-
| Title
| Character
| Year
|-
| Hawaii Five-0
| Himself
| 2011
|-
| Blue Mountain State
| Himself
| 2011
|-
| Passion Play (film)
| Thug of Happy Shannon the Gangster
| 2010
|-
| The Ballad of G.I. Joe
| Gung-Ho
| 2009
|-
| Drillbit Taylor
| Himself
| 2008
|-
| MTV Series
– Punk'd
| Himself
| 2007
|-
| HBO Series – Entourage
| Himself
| 2007
|-
| The Death and Life of Bobby Z
| Mad Dog
| 2007
|-
| Blade: The Series
| Graft
| 2007
|-
| Bachelor Party Vegas
| The Iceman
| 2006
|-
| Cradle 2 the Grave
| Ultimate Fighter
| 2003
|-
| How High
| Tough Guy
| 2001
, he appeared on Good Morning Texas (Texan version of Good Morning America
) for an interview, and to promote the film 300
, but appeared to be very drowsy and fell asleep in mid-interview. The Interview ended when Liddell asked the host who he would like to fight. UFC President Dana White
, along with Liddell's head coach Scott VanGilder, explained that Liddell had pneumonia
and had taken a large dose of sedatives the night before the interview. This is just one explanation offered by Dana White. In another interview when Dana White was asked about Liddell's behaviour on Good Morning Texas, he stated that Liddell had been out drinking the night before and had taken a sleeping pill when he got back to his accommodation so he would be ready for the interview the next morning.
He was named the "Most Dangerous Man" at the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards on June 13, 2007.
, a security system company.
He is currently sponsored by Iceman Fight Gear- a brand designed with his input.
Mixed martial arts
Kickboxing
| Loss
|align=center| 21–8
| Rich Franklin
| KO (punch)
| UFC 115
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:55
| Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| Retired from his MMA career
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 21–7
| Mauricio Rua
| KO (punches)
| UFC 97
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:28
| Montreal, Quebec, Canada
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 21–6
| Rashad Evans
| KO (punch)
| UFC 88
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:51
| Atlanta, Georgia
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 21–5
| Wanderlei Silva
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 79
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 20–5
| Keith Jardine
| Decision (split)
| UFC 76
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Anaheim, California
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 20–4
| Quinton Jackson
| KO (punches)
| UFC 71
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:53
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| Lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 20–3
| Tito Ortiz
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 66
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:59
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 19–3
| Renato Sobral
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 62
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:35
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 18–3
| Randy Couture
| KO (punches)
| UFC 57
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:28
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 17–3
| Jeremy Horn
| Submission (impaired vision)
| UFC 54
|
|align=center| 4
|align=center| 2:46
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 16–3
| Randy Couture
| KO (punch)
| UFC 52
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:06
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| Won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–3
| Vernon White
| KO (punch)
| UFC 49
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:05
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–3
| Tito Ortiz
| KO (punches)
| UFC 47
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:38
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 13–3
| Quinton Jackson
| TKO (punches)
| Pride Final Conflict 2003
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:10
| Tokyo
, Japan
| Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–2
| Alistair Overeem
| KO (punches)
| Pride Total Elimination 2003
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:09
| Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–2
| Randy Couture
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 43
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 2:39
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
| For the Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–1
| Renato Sobral
| TKO (head kick and punches)
| UFC 40
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:55
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Vitor Belfort
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 37.5
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Amar Suloev
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 35
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Uncasville, Connecticut
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–1
| Murilo Bustamante
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 33
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–1
| Guy Mezger
| KO (punch)
| Pride 14
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:21
| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–1
| Kevin Randleman
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 31
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:18
| Atlantic City, New Jersey
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1
| Jeff Monson
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 29
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–1
| Steve Heath
| KO (head kick)
| IFC Warriors Challenge 9
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:39
| Friant, California
, United States
| Won the IFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–1
| Paul Jones
| TKO (cut)
| UFC 22
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:53
| Lake Charles, Louisiana
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–1
| Kenneth Williams
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Neutral Grounds 11
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:35
| Los Angeles, California
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 2–1
| Jeremy Horn
| Technical submission (arm-triangle choke)
| UFC 19
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12:00
| Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| José Landi-Jons
| Decision (unanimous)
| International Vale Tudo Championship 6: The Challenge
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 30:00
| Sao Paulo
, Brazil
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Noe Hernandez
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 17
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12:00
| Mobile, Alabama
, United States
|
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and former Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
light heavyweight
Light Heavyweight (MMA)
The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....
champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo
KEMPO
KEPCO may refer to:* Korea Electric Power Corporation, a South Korean power provider* Kansai Electric Power Company, a Japanese power provider...
, Koei-Kan karate
Koei-Kan
Koei-Kan Karate-dō is a karate style that was developed by Master Onishi Eizo in 1952. Koei-Kan can be translated from Japanese to "Prosper with Happiness." Onishi Eizo was the pupil of two famous Okinawan Karate Masters, Toyama Kanken and Kyoda Juhatsu...
and kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
.
As of his retirement, Liddell has had 23 fights in the UFC. Along with fellow UFC Hall of Fame fighter Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
, Liddell is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. On July 10, 2009, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Early life
Liddell began studying Koei-KanKoei-Kan
Koei-Kan Karate-dō is a karate style that was developed by Master Onishi Eizo in 1952. Koei-Kan can be translated from Japanese to "Prosper with Happiness." Onishi Eizo was the pupil of two famous Okinawan Karate Masters, Toyama Kanken and Kyoda Juhatsu...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
at the age of 12; the tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
seen on his scalp reads "Koei-Kan". Liddell was a four-year starter on the football team at San Marcos High School. While growing up in Santa Barbara, he often frequented the infamous Del Playa Drive
Del Playa Drive
Del Playa Drive is a street in Isla Vista, California that overlooks the ocean. The street stretches four blocks over the full length of the unincorporated city . It begins at the bike path bordering the campus and continues to Camino Majorca, where it ends at the entrance to the trails to Sands,...
, the middle of the party scene of the college town of Isla Vista, where he often found himself in fights with drunk college students. He became a Division I wrestler at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business/Accounting in 1995. He holds an amateur kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
record of 20 wins and 2 losses, with 16 of his wins coming by way of knockout.
When Liddell started his MMA career, he began to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
under John Lewis in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Rise To Fame
Liddell made his UFC debut in 1998 during UFC 17UFC 17
-External links:**...
in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, with a decision victory over Noe Hernandez. Despite a Technical submission loss to top contender Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Graham Horn is an American mixed martial artist. He is one of the most experienced fighters in the sport with a professional record of 88–21–5...
shortly after, Liddell began establishing his reputation as a top contender with dominant victories over Kevin Randleman
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
, Murilo Bustamante
Murilo Bustamante
Murilo Bustamante |Lion's Den]], Ikuhisa Minowa, Ryuta Sakurai , Dave Menne and undefeated top ranked Middleweight Matt Lindland .-Instructor lineage:Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr...
, Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
, Amar Suloev
Amar Suloev
Amar Suloev is a Russian-Yazidi-Armenian mixed martial artist with a record of 24–7–0. He is a kickboxer/wrestler who has last fought Jacek Buczko at M-1 Challenge, where he won by a TKO...
, Jeff Monson
Jeff Monson
Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...
, Renato Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
and Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
. Liddell was also the first UFC fighter currently on the roster to go fight in Pride where he represented the organization against fellow kickboxer Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger is a retired American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter . He is associated with Lion's Den Dallas...
, knocking him out cold in one of the most exciting fights in the earlier days of MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
.
Liddell vs. Couture
By 2002, Liddell was considered the number one contender for the UFC light heavyweight title, with growing popularity and support from his fans. The UFC tried to arrange a title bout with then-champion Tito OrtizTito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
, but Ortiz cited scheduling conflicts. To force Ortiz's hand, they created an interim light heavyweight championship and matched Liddell with Greco-Roman wrestler and former heavyweight champion "The Natural" Randy Couture at UFC 43
UFC 43
UFC 43: Meltdown was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 6, 2003, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas...
. Couture neutralized Liddell's hooks with straight punches and eventually began taking "The Iceman" at will. Couture eventually gained full mount
Mount (grappling)
The mount, or mounted position, is a dominant ground grappling position, where one combatant sits on the other combatants torso with the face pointing towards the opponent's head. This is very favourable for the top combatant in several ways...
and forced a referee stoppage due to a barrage of punches.
Pride Grand Prix Tournament against Overeem/Jackson
After his defeat to Couture, Liddell entered the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament as the official UFC representative. After defeating Muay-Thai specialist Alistair OvereemAlistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem is a British born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer, signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and made history by being the only fighter in combat...
in the first round of the tournament
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on August 10, 2003. This event was host to the quarterfinals of the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix tournament...
In an action packed bout Liddell was getting out landed by the taller, quicker and more technical striking of Overeem but later in the round Liddell landed an overhand punch to the head of Overeem staggering him into the ropes, Liddell rushed in with knees and straight rights and knocked him out at the latter stages of the first round. In the next round Liddell was eliminated by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Quinton Jackson
Quinton Ramone Jackson ;, also known as Rampage Jackson, is an American mixed martial artist and actor. He is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Jackson rose to prominence in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships where he was noted for his powerful body slams including a knockout victory over...
, The first round Liddell was landing shots as he found his distance but Jackson countered with powerful strikes rocking Liddell numerous times. In the second round, Jackson continued to out land Liddell with big punches but couldn't finish him. Later in the second round a visibly exhausted and stunned Liddell was taken down at will numerous times and while taking a barrage of punches from the ground his corner threw in the towel, giving Jackson the upset victory.
Liddell vs. Ortiz
Returning to the UFC, Liddell was once again put in contention for the light heavyweight title, preparing for a match with former champion Ortiz. The pair had once trained together at the Pit fight Club and experienced a falling out that escalated as Ortiz taunted Liddell. The falling out stemmed from Ortiz's unwillingness to give Liddell a title fight, despite Liddell's status as the top contender in the UFC. Eventually, after Ortiz lost the title to Randy Couture, the two would meet in a highly anticipated bout at UFC 47UFC 47
UFC 47: It's On! was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 2, 2004 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada...
on April 2, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. After most of the first round was spent feeling each other out, Liddell threw a few punches and a kick which was blocked by Ortiz, with Ortiz slapping himself on the head, taunting Liddell. When the round ended Ortiz pushed referee "Big" John McCarthy out of his way, into Liddell, and the pair exchanged words. Shortly after the second round started, Liddell landed a flurry of punches that dropped Ortiz and led to a TKO victory. Ortiz has since stated that Liddell's thumb made contact with his eye, causing him to momentarily see "nothing but black". Since UFC 47
UFC 47
UFC 47: It's On! was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 2, 2004 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada...
, the bad blood
Bad Blood
Bad Blood is an English phrase referring to enmity between two people or groups.The phrase may also refer to:-In film and television:* Bad Blood , starring Jack Thompson, about mass murderer Stanley Graham...
between both fighters remained, with Ortiz repeatedly stating that he wanted "his" title belt back. Despite the tension, Ortiz and Liddell would not fight again for two and a half years.
The Ultimate Fighter
In early 2005, Liddell was a coach on the inaugural season of The Ultimate FighterThe Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
, Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
's reality show which featured fighters competing for a UFC contract. Liddell was the coach of Team Liddell, while then-UFC-light-heavyweight champion Randy Couture coached Team Couture. The series was a success for both Spike TV and the UFC. Both of the winners of the show, Diego Sanchez
Diego Sánchez
Diego J. Sanchez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent, with a background in wrestling and Gaidojutsu, system of submission wrestling developed by his longtime trainer Greg Jackson...
and Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
, were members of Team Liddell and have had very successful careers in the UFC since.
Liddell vs. Couture II
On April 16, 2005, at UFC 52UFC 52
UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 16, 2005, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada, and later released on DVD.-History:Headlining the...
, Liddell fought Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
, again for the light heavyweight title. Couture moved in for a punch, Liddell countered with a big right hand to the temple of Couture, knocking him out cold, making him the new UFC light heavyweight champion.
Liddell vs. Horn II
Liddell was scheduled to defend his new title against UFC veteran Jeremy HornJeremy Horn
Jeremy Graham Horn is an American mixed martial artist. He is one of the most experienced fighters in the sport with a professional record of 88–21–5...
, at UFC 54
UFC 54
UFC 54: Boiling Point was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 20, 2005, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada...
, a matchup the UFC claimed was demanded by long-time fans of the sport since Horn had given Liddell his first loss. Throughout the bout, Liddell dominated with aggressive punches, causing knockdowns in several rounds. Liddell's defensive wrestling ability, especially his sprawl
Sprawl (grappling)
A sprawl is a martial arts and wrestling term for a defensive technique that is done in response to certain takedown attempts, typically double or single leg takedown attempts. The sprawl is performed by scooting the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of the opponent attempting the...
, stifled the bulk of Horn's offense, which was centered on grappling
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
and submission wrestling
Submission wrestling
Submission wrestling or Combat wrestling in Japan, is a formula of competition and a general term describing the aspect of martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission using submission holds...
. Liddell eventually won the fight via TKO in 2:46 minutes of the fourth round after Horn informed the referee that he could not see. He had been hit with a right punch to the eye causing him to bleed from his eye as well as his nose. Liddell had successfully defended his title and, in the process, avenged two of his three career losses.
Liddell vs. Couture III
On February 4, 2006, at UFC 57UFC 57
UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States.Headlining the card was an anticipated...
, Liddell faced Randy Couture in a rubber match
Rubber match
According to Paul Dickson's The New Dickson's Baseball Dictionary , a "rubber game" is "The last and deciding game of a series when the previous games have been split; e.g., the seventh game of the World Series." This tie-breaking sense of "rubber" apparently originated in the English game of...
, After an action packed first round, Liddell landed a big punch to Couture's face causing him to bleed, Couture bounced back with a take down of Liddell, but he was able to get up right away. Later in the second round as Couture moved in Liddell countered similar to in the second fight at UFC 52
UFC 52
UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 16, 2005, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada, and later released on DVD.-History:Headlining the...
knocking Couture out. defeating Couture for the 2nd time via knockout in Las Vegas, Nevada to retain the light heavyweight championship belt. After the fight, Couture announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
Liddell vs. Sobral II
In Liddell's next defense, at UFC 62UFC 62
UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 26, 2006. The event took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada.The main event was a Light...
on August 26, 2006, Liddell would best Renato "Babalu" Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
, who he had defeated nearly three years prior. Seconds after the fight started Sobral came running forward throwing punches, Liddell was moving backwards landing big punches, a right upper cut was the final hit in the onslaught ending the fight at 1:35 of the first round. It was announced during UFC 61
UFC 61
UFC 61: Bitter Rivals was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, July 8, 2006. The event took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States.-Background:The main event was a...
that, if he were to defeat Sobral, Liddell would face off against Pride Middleweight (205 lb) champion Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
. The fight failed to materialize due to the competing promotions' inability to reach an agreement. UFC president Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
attributed this to Silva's subsequent knockout loss to Mirko Filipović
Mirko Filipovic
Mirko Filipović is a former Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, mixed martial artist, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipović was a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2003 through 2007...
.
Liddell vs. Ortiz II
In what would be the most financially successful UFC event to date, Liddell fought a rematch with Ortiz at UFC 66UFC 66
UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 30, 2006 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada .-Background:...
, which took place on December 30, 2006. Liddell's takedown defense neutralized Ortiz's wrestling ability forcing Ortiz to stand up with a known striker. Although Ortiz did take Liddell down at one point in the fight, Liddell went on to defeat Ortiz via TKO in the third round to successfully defend his light heavyweight championship for a fourth time. It was later revealed that Liddell tore his MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
prior to the fight. In addition, during the fight he popped the tendon out on the middle finger on his left hand.
Liddell vs. Jackson II
In his fifth defense, Liddell would lose the title at UFC 71UFC 71
UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event took place on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
on May 26, 2007, in a rematch with Quinton Jackson. Liddell was knocked down by a right hook
Hook (boxing)
A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
less than two minutes into the first round and was unable to defend himself against Jackson's strikes on the ground, resulting in a TKO victory for Jackson. After the loss, Liddell was widely criticized after reports indicated he had been seen in night clubs the week before the event. He responded that it wasn't anything he hadn't done prior to his other fights in Las Vegas.
Liddell vs. Jardine
Yahoo! Sports
Yahoo! Sports was launched on December 8, 1997. It receives a majority of its information from STATS, Inc., employs various writers, and has team pages for teams in almost every North American sport...
that a rumoured bout between Wanderlei Silva and Liddell had been canceled indefinitely. Silva and Liddell were supposed to fight in the main event at UFC 76
UFC 76
UFC 76: Knockout was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The event took place on September 22, 2007 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. Instead, Liddell would face Keith Jardine
Keith Jardine
Keith Hector Jardine is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division and is best known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
.
In the main event of UFC 76
UFC 76
UFC 76: Knockout was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The event took place on September 22, 2007 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California...
, Liddell came out landing his signature right hand to the head of Jardine, rocking him backwards as well as multiple straight right hands but Jardine stayed in the fight. After the dominant first round for Liddell, Jardine started to land low leg kicks continuously through out the fight while Liddell was unable to time the odd formed southpaw. Liddell lost a close split decision, the first consecutive losses of his career.
Liddell vs. Silva
On October 23, 2007, White announced that a matchup between Liddell and Silva would finally take place at UFC 79UFC 79
UFC 79: Nemesis was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship , that took place on December 29, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
. The fight was all that it was billed up to be over the years, It was a back-and-forth battle between two of the best light heavy weights of all time. Liddell defeated Silva via unanimous decision, out-landing Silva with harder, more efficient punches and getting two takedowns later in the fight. Many fans and MMA critics called it the best fight of the year. Both fighters were awarded "Fight of the Night" honors. This fight was voted 2007's Fight of the Year at the first annual World Mixed Martial Arts Awards.
Liddell vs. Evans
On February 1, 2008, Mauricio "Shogun" RuaMauricio Rua
Maurício Milani Rua is a Brazilian mixed martial artist fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion...
revealed that he had recently signed a contract to fight Liddell,
however on March 4 it was announced on UFC.com that "Shogun" was receiving surgery on his knee and was forced to withdraw from the fight. It was later officially announced that undefeated wrestler "Sugar" Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans
Rashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
would replace Mauricio Rua
Mauricio Rua
Maurício Milani Rua is a Brazilian mixed martial artist fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion...
in a bout at UFC 85
UFC 85
UFC 85: Bedlam was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship , on June 7, 2008 at The O2 arena in London, England.-Background:...
in London, England. However, a hamstring injury forced Liddell to withdraw from the fight, as well.
On September 6, 2008, Liddell fought Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans
Rashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
at UFC 88
UFC 88
UFC 88: Breakthrough was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 6, 2008 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans....
. Despite Liddell pushing the pace and controlling the fight, At 1:51 of the second round, Liddell threw a right uppercut just as Evans connected with an overhand right, causing Liddell to fall unconscious to the mat.The knockout was dubbed "knockout of the year" by MMA-website Sherdog
Sherdog
Sherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts . The site is a member of the Crave Online network and provides MMA related content for ESPN.com.- History :...
and marking the first time Liddell had been knocked out cold. Liddell has been criticized for over-relying on the same coaches and training partners. Shortly following his knockout loss to Evans, long-time trainer John Hackleman confirmed that Liddell is participating in training sessions with American Top Team
American Top Team
American Top Team is one of the leading teams in mixed martial arts. It was founded by former members of Brazilian Top Team, Ricardo Liborio, Marcus Silveira and Marcelo Silveira but there is no formal affiliation between the two teams. ATT's main academy is in Coconut Creek, Florida but has...
to "round out his skills", although he is still officially associated with Hackleman and The Pit.
Liddell vs. Shogun
On January 17, 2009, Dana White confirmed during the UFC 93UFC 93
UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 17, 2009 at The O2, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland....
post fight press conference that Liddell's next fight would be against the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 97
UFC 97
UFC 97: Redemption was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 18, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It broke the UFC attendance record that was set 364 days earlier in Montreal at UFC 83, by 61 people.-Preliminary card:*Light Heavyweight bout: Vinicius...
on April 18 in Montréal, Canada.
On April 18 at UFC 97, Liddell was once again defeated by TKO due to strikes late in the first Round. After the fight, White declared that Liddell is retired from fighting. White said, "I care about him. I care about his health, and it's over, man. It's over." White went further, saying, "At the end of the day, I care about these guys. I don't want to see anybody stick around too long. You're never going to see Chuck Liddell on the canvas again." In May however, Liddell's trainer, John Hackleman, claimed 'with confidence' that Liddell isn't done yet and that he's "definitely on top of the food chain." Liddell has "more than one fight left in him." In an interview afterward, White went on to rhetorically ask "can I tell him not to fight? Absolutely not. If he still wants to fight, he can fight. I'm not saying, 'It will never happen. It will never happen.' But he made a deal with me [not to fight]."
Hall of Fame and Talks of Retirement
On July 10, 2009, at the UFC 100UFC 100
UFC 100 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
Fan Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
After UFC 101
UFC 101
UFC 101: Declaration was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
in August, Dana White stated that "I don't want him to (fight). He wants to, so we'll see what happens." Two days afterward, Liddell went on record to say that he was undecided on the matter and that "it's hard for an athlete to quit what he's done his whole life." Liddell went on to say that he would be "making that decision in the gym, not in the ring" after sparring sessions.
Liddell vs. Franklin
It was later announced that Liddell would be coaching against fierce rival Tito OrtizTito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
on the 11th season
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz was the eleventh installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship -produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. The show began taping in early 2010 and premiered on Spike on March 31, 2010...
of The Ultimate Fighter, with the two of them fighting each other on June 12, 2010, at UFC 115
UFC 115
UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 12, 2010 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Background:...
. However, in March, it was rumored that Ortiz was pulling out for as yet unknown reasons and Ortiz would be replaced by former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin
Rich Franklin
Rich Jay Franklin II is an American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion.-Background:...
. This was then denied by UFC president Dana White.
On April 7, 2010, White confirmed that Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 would be the main event for the card; however, on April 12, 2010, the main event was changed to Liddell vs. Rich Franklin
Rich Franklin
Rich Jay Franklin II is an American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion.-Background:...
.
On June 12, 2010, Liddell faced Franklin at UFC 115 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Liddell came out and looked the best he had since his prime years, landing brutal high kicks and a takedown, until Rich Franklin connected with a counter right hook knocking Liddell out cold in the first round with five seconds remaining until the end of the round, ending his legendary Mixed martial arts career. Earlier in the fight Franklin had broken his arm blocking a body kick from Liddell. Only a few hours after the match, UFC President Dana White declared that he guarantees Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell will not fight in the UFC ever again.
Liddell is tied for second place with Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
and Georges St-Pierre for the most wins in the UFC at 16, behind Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes (fighter)
Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
' 18.
UFC Retirement
Chuck stated that he had made the decision to retire after losing 3 consecutive fights by knockout, despite his belief that he could continue to fight. With the opinions and considerations of his family and friends in mind, he decided to end his fighting career on December 29, 2010. At the UFC 125 press conference, Liddell announced his retirement and stated he would be taking the position of Vice President of Business Development within the UFC. Liddell was visibly emotional at the announcement, acknowledging his retirement and an end to his fighting with words of farewell: "Most of all I want to thank my fans and my family. I love this sport and I'm excited to go to this new stage in my life and keep promoting the best sport in the world, the sport I love... now that I'm retired."Personal life
Liddell is associated with John Hackleman and The PitThe Pit (mixed martial arts)
The Pit is a professional mixed martial arts association and training camp that operates in Arroyo Grande, California. Founded in 1986, its fighters have competed in various promotions all which have been trained by Justin Jeffrey Lucas, who has trained fighters such as Chuck Liddell.-History:The...
fight team and earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
.
Liddell has a brother, Sean, who also competes in MMA, fighting last in the WEC
World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
. He also has a brother named Dan and a sister named Laurelai.
Liddell continues to train in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he attended college.
He has two children, a daughter named Trista, with female MMA fighter Casey Noland and son named Cade.
Chuck once dated the female host of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Willa Ford.
Liddell is no longer engaged to his longtime girlfriend Erin Wilson.
He is a former part owner of two bars in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, Dillinger's and NZone. He also owns a store called "Ultimate Iceman", a memorabilia store in San Luis Obispo.
Liddell endorsed John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Liddell proposed to his girlfriend Heidi Northcott on November 4, 2010. The couple is expecting their first child together, a daughter, in December 2011.
Print media
On May 9, 2007, Liddell became the first UFC fighter to be on the cover of ESPN The MagazineESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
. Liddell also released his autobiography, Iceman: My Fighting Life, on January 29, 2008.
Acting career
Liddell has also made several film and television appearances. He appeared as himself in the movie Bachelor Party Vegas, He appeared as "Graft" in the pilot episode of the TV series Blade: The SeriesBlade: The Series
Blade: The Series is a 2006 American live-action television program based on the Marvel Comics character and film series. It premiered on Spike on June 28, 2006...
, had a guest cameo in the first season of Inked
Inked
Inked is a documentary television series about the employees of the Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The series was created by Jeff Bowler in 2005, and was broadcast by the A&E Network...
on A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, and made a brief appearance in the 1981 film The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice is a 1934 crime novel by James M. Cain.The novel was quite successful and notorious upon publication, and is regarded as one of the more important crime novels of the 20th century...
with Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
.
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| Title
| Character
| Year
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| Hawaii Five-0
| Himself
| 2011
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| Blue Mountain State
Blue Mountain State
Blue Mountain State is an American comedy series that premiered on Spike on January 11, 2010. The series producers include Chris Romano and Eric Falconer and is produced by Lionsgate Television...
| Himself
| 2011
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| Passion Play (film)
| Thug of Happy Shannon the Gangster
| 2010
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| The Ballad of G.I. Joe
The Ballad of G.I. Joe
The Ballad of G.I. Joe is a video short released in 2009 on the website Funny or Die. Written by Daniel Strange and Kevin Umbricht, it parodies several characters from G.I...
| Gung-Ho
Gung-Ho (G.I. Joe)
Gung-Ho is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original Marine and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
| 2009
|-
| Drillbit Taylor
Drillbit Taylor
Drillbit Taylor is a 2008 comedy film starring Owen Wilson as the eponymous character and based on an original idea by John Hughes. It was directed by Steven Brill and the screenplay was written by Kristofor Brown and Seth Rogen. Paramount Pictures released the film on March 21, 2008.Drillbit...
| Himself
| 2008
|-
| MTV Series
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
– Punk'd
Punk'd
Punk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers...
| Himself
| 2007
|-
| HBO Series – Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
| Himself
| 2007
|-
| The Death and Life of Bobby Z
| Mad Dog
| 2007
|-
| Blade: The Series
| Graft
| 2007
|-
| Bachelor Party Vegas
Bachelor Party Vegas
Bachelor Party Vegas is a comedy film that was released in 2006 starring Kal Penn, Jonathan Bennett, Charlie Spiller, Diora Baird and Donald Faison...
| The Iceman
| 2006
|-
| Cradle 2 the Grave
Cradle 2 the Grave
Cradle 2 the Grave is a 2003 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak featuring martial artist Jet Li and rapper DMX.-Plot:...
| Ultimate Fighter
| 2003
|-
| How High
How High
How High is a 2001 stoner comedy starring Method Man and Redman, written by Dustin Lee Abraham, and director Jesse Dylan's debut feature film. Entertainment Weekly rated it third in their "Best Stoner Movie" top ten list...
| Tough Guy
| 2001
Good Morning Texas interview
In March 2007, shortly before UFC 68UFC 68
UFC 68: The Uprising was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 3, 2007 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UFC 68 was the first UFC event held in the state of Ohio, and coincided with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival...
, he appeared on Good Morning Texas (Texan version of Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
) for an interview, and to promote the film 300
300 (film)
300 is a 2007 American fantasy action film based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant...
, but appeared to be very drowsy and fell asleep in mid-interview. The Interview ended when Liddell asked the host who he would like to fight. UFC President Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
, along with Liddell's head coach Scott VanGilder, explained that Liddell had pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and had taken a large dose of sedatives the night before the interview. This is just one explanation offered by Dana White. In another interview when Dana White was asked about Liddell's behaviour on Good Morning Texas, he stated that Liddell had been out drinking the night before and had taken a sleeping pill when he got back to his accommodation so he would be ready for the interview the next morning.
He was named the "Most Dangerous Man" at the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards on June 13, 2007.
Sponsorships
Liddell has served briefly as a spokesperson on behalf of MonitronicsMonitronics
Monitronics International was founded in 1994 and is one of the three largest security alarm monitoring companies in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, the company provides burglar and fire alarm monitored security system services approximately 800,000 residential and commercial customers...
, a security system company.
He is currently sponsored by Iceman Fight Gear- a brand designed with his input.
Mixed martial artsMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
- Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting ChampionshipThe Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
- UFC Hall of Fame
- UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Four successful title defenses
- Fight of the NightBonus Awards-Background:UFC Bonus Awards are three different kinds of awards usually given to four fighters after a UFC event.Fight of the Night - Award given to the two fighters that fought each other and delivered the "most impressive" fight on the card....
(One Time) - Most wins in the Light Heavyweight division (16)
- Pride Fighting Championships
- Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinalist
- International Fighting ChampionshipsInternational Fighting ChampionshipsInternational Fighting Championships is an American mixed martial arts organization. Founded in 1996, the IFC was the vision of longtime martial artist and kickboxing promoter, Howard Petschler. Howard recognized that MMA would finally solve a lot of the problemsassociated with martial arts as a...
- IFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- SherdogSherdogSherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts . The site is a member of the Crave Online network and provides MMA related content for ESPN.com.- History :...
- 2006 Fighter of the Year
- Black Belt Magazine
- 2001 NHB Co-Competitor of the Year along with Tito Ortiz
- World MMA Awards
- Fight of the Year (2007) - vs. Wanderlei Silva on December 29, 2007
- Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards
- 2007 Most Dangerous Man.
KickboxingKickboxingKickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
- International Kickboxing FederationInternational Kickboxing FederationThe International Kickboxing Federation is a kickboxing sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.-Styles:...
- IKF Amateur International Rules U.S. Super Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- World Kickboxing and Karate AssociationWorld Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
- WKA Amateur International Rules U.S. Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- United States Muay Thai Association
- USMTA Amateur Muay Thai North American Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
|-| Loss
|align=center| 21–8
| Rich Franklin
Rich Franklin
Rich Jay Franklin II is an American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion.-Background:...
| KO (punch)
| UFC 115
UFC 115
UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 12, 2010 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:55
| Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| Retired from his MMA career
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 21–7
| Mauricio Rua
Mauricio Rua
Maurício Milani Rua is a Brazilian mixed martial artist fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion...
| KO (punches)
| UFC 97
UFC 97
UFC 97: Redemption was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 18, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It broke the UFC attendance record that was set 364 days earlier in Montreal at UFC 83, by 61 people.-Preliminary card:*Light Heavyweight bout: Vinicius...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:28
| Montreal, Quebec, Canada
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 21–6
| Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans
Rashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
| KO (punch)
| UFC 88
UFC 88
UFC 88: Breakthrough was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 6, 2008 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans....
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:51
| Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 21–5
| Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 79
UFC 79
UFC 79: Nemesis was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship , that took place on December 29, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 20–5
| Keith Jardine
Keith Jardine
Keith Hector Jardine is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division and is best known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| Decision (split)
| UFC 76
UFC 76
UFC 76: Knockout was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The event took place on September 22, 2007 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 20–4
| Quinton Jackson
Quinton Jackson
Quinton Ramone Jackson ;, also known as Rampage Jackson, is an American mixed martial artist and actor. He is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Jackson rose to prominence in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships where he was noted for his powerful body slams including a knockout victory over...
| KO (punches)
| UFC 71
UFC 71
UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event took place on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:53
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| Lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 20–3
| Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 66
UFC 66
UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 30, 2006 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada .-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:59
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 19–3
| Renato Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 62
UFC 62
UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 26, 2006. The event took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada.The main event was a Light...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:35
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 18–3
| Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| KO (punches)
| UFC 57
UFC 57
UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States.Headlining the card was an anticipated...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:28
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 17–3
| Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Graham Horn is an American mixed martial artist. He is one of the most experienced fighters in the sport with a professional record of 88–21–5...
| Submission (impaired vision)
| UFC 54
UFC 54
UFC 54: Boiling Point was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 20, 2005, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada...
|
|align=center| 4
|align=center| 2:46
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| Defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 16–3
| Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| KO (punch)
| UFC 52
UFC 52
UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 16, 2005, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada, and later released on DVD.-History:Headlining the...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:06
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| Won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–3
| Vernon White
Vernon White
Vernon Verdell White is a professional mixed martial arts fighter who has fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship , Pride Fighting Championships, Strikeforce, King of the Cage, Pancrase, and the International Fight League . He lives in California, and belongs to the fighting team The Lion's...
| KO (punch)
| UFC 49
UFC 49
UFC 49: Unfinished Business was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 21, 2004, at the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:05
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–3
| Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
| KO (punches)
| UFC 47
UFC 47
UFC 47: It's On! was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 2, 2004 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:38
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 13–3
| Quinton Jackson
Quinton Jackson
Quinton Ramone Jackson ;, also known as Rampage Jackson, is an American mixed martial artist and actor. He is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Jackson rose to prominence in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships where he was noted for his powerful body slams including a knockout victory over...
| TKO (punches)
| Pride Final Conflict 2003
PRIDE Final Conflict 2003
Pride Final Conflict 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on November 9, 2003 and had over 67,450 people in the audience. This event was host to the semi-finals and finals of the 2003 Pride Middleweight Grand...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:10
| Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
| Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–2
| Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem is a British born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer, signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and made history by being the only fighter in combat...
| KO (punches)
| Pride Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on August 10, 2003. This event was host to the quarterfinals of the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix tournament...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:09
| Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–2
| Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 43
UFC 43
UFC 43: Meltdown was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 6, 2003, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 2:39
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
| For the Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–1
| Renato Sobral
Renato Sobral
Renato da Cunha Sobral , also known as "Babalu", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. He is regarded as one of the best light heavyweights of the night, and noted for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. Sobral...
| TKO (head kick and punches)
| UFC 40
UFC 40
UFC 40: Vendetta was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 22, 2002, at the MGM Grand Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:55
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 37.5
UFC 37.5
UFC 37.5: As Real As It Gets was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 22, 2002.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Amar Suloev
Amar Suloev
Amar Suloev is a Russian-Yazidi-Armenian mixed martial artist with a record of 24–7–0. He is a kickboxer/wrestler who has last fought Jacek Buczko at M-1 Challenge, where he won by a TKO...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 35
UFC 35
UFC 35: Throwdown was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on January 11, 2002...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–1
| Murilo Bustamante
Murilo Bustamante
Murilo Bustamante |Lion's Den]], Ikuhisa Minowa, Ryuta Sakurai , Dave Menne and undefeated top ranked Middleweight Matt Lindland .-Instructor lineage:Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 33
UFC 33
UFC 33: Victory in Vegas was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 28, 2001. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–1
| Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger is a retired American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter . He is associated with Lion's Den Dallas...
| KO (punch)
| Pride 14
PRIDE 14
PRIDE 14: Clash of the Titans was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on May 27, 2001.-Results:...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:21
| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–1
| Kevin Randleman
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 31
UFC 31
UFC 31: Locked and Loaded was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 4, 2001...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:18
| Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1
| Jeff Monson
Jeff Monson
Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 29
UFC 29
UFC 29: Defense of the Belts was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 16, 2000 at Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.-History:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–1
| Steve Heath
| KO (head kick)
| IFC Warriors Challenge 9
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:39
| Friant, California
Friant, California
Friant is a census-designated place in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 549 at the 2010 census, down from 778 at the 2000 census. Friant is located north of Clovis, at an elevation of 344 feet .-Geography:Friant is located at...
, United States
| Won the IFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–1
| Paul Jones
Paul Jones (mixed martial artist)
Paul Jones is a former mixed martial artist. He began his fighting career in Extreme Fighting. His first match against Erik Paulson resulted in a draw. Paul Jones immediately went into USWF after his draw and won by submission. Jones then tried Shooto, which is located in Tokyo, where he won his...
| TKO (cut)
| UFC 22
UFC 22
UFC 22: Only One Can be Champion was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 1999 at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.-History:...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:53
| Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–1
| Kenneth Williams
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Neutral Grounds 11
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:35
| Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 2–1
| Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Graham Horn is an American mixed martial artist. He is one of the most experienced fighters in the sport with a professional record of 88–21–5...
| Technical submission (arm-triangle choke)
| UFC 19
UFC 19
UFC 19: Ultimate Young Guns was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 5, 1999 at the Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12:00
| Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,209. It is the county seat of Hancock County...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| José Landi-Jons
Jose Landi-Jons
José "Pelé" Landi-Jons is a Cuban-Brazilian mixed martial artist and vale tudo fighter known for his eccentric attitude and exciting style of fighting. Pelé's style is primarily Muay Thai, but he also practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in which he holds a black belt. Pelé was born in Cuba and at the...
| Decision (unanimous)
| International Vale Tudo Championship 6: The Challenge
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 30:00
| Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Noe Hernandez
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 17
UFC 17
-External links:**...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12:00
| Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, United States
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