WHY CHUCK LIDDELL IS GREAT
By Marcus Wampler on 1/28/2007 12:26 AM
O.K., so we all know the old adage: "There ain't no such thing as unbeatable", nor is there such a thing as "close to unbeatable". That is akin to saying that there is such as thing as "close to eternal" which just sounds silly. Many an argument has been waged in locker rooms and around office coolers concerning the aforementioned phrase as it relates to various fighters--for instance, Anderson Silva, the recently crowned phenom who won the middleweight title with ease in only his second UFC appearance--but arguing seeming invincibility is a moot point. Though it is all too tempting to get caught up in the glow of a rising fighter's undeafeted status and to begin debating the relative merits of his greatness, we all too often get caught up in the moment and run away with our imagination to the far, far away land of invincibility.
O.K., so nobody's invincible, but what makes a fighter great? Again, this is fodder for many an argument around the campfire, but the truth of the matter is that every great fighter has his own relative merits (aside from winning consistently) that casts his would-be foes into a full blown case of the jitters.
Which brings us full circle to this article: what makes Chuck Liddell great? Well, here are five reasons:
1. His ability to adapt and grow. The last decade has seen a Liddell that has continued to improve upon an already improved performance. His ability to adapt and perfect is second to none, period. With every fight the man just keeps getting better and better. This holds true as well for particular matches and rematches. To date, he has soundly thrashed every single opponent that has ever beaten him in the ring the first time with no end in sight. We're not talking beating his opponents by decision folks, we're talking a beating, and he is running out of people to re-match (that's you Rampage Jackson).
2. He has found his forte. People like to watch Chuck Liddell fight because he knocks people out, and people love a good slugfest. Don't get me wrong, a good, technical ground game is a thing to behold, but let's be honest with ourselves here: people love to watch a good beating. Many a fighter works hard at making their stand-up game better--it not only makes them a better rounded fighter, but also makes them a better crowd pleaser--but for Chuck, striking comes almost as second nature. Though its rumoured that he has a good ground game, people just have to take that little factoid for granted because it rarely gets to the ground, and if it does it doesn't stay there for long, which leads to the next point.
3. He has a striker's build. Chuck has a very long, lanky build and long arms which give him an amazing reach along with the ability to punch at really weird angles. Over the years, it could be argued, he has become the best striker in the UFC, perhaps the most effective striker in UFC history. His build is also very deceptive; at first glance he doesn't look like a powerful man, (indeed his physique is not rippling with sinued muscle) but he has the ability, developed over the years of training--put on top of a natural ability to strike, to drive forward from his feet, deliver through his hip rotation, and expel out the end of his fist--to knock a man out cold.
4. Bottom line: The man has talent. I've seen some good strikers in my day, but Chuck is unique in one important way; he can hit you, with precision, from almost any angle whether it is over the top, from the side, underneath, or backing up. If any of you that have his fights with Babalu and Tito on tape, take a close look at the upper-cuts he delivers when his opponents are low or on the ground: he actually uppercuts with a reverse hammer blow. Try this: take your right hand and make a fist. Now uppercut in the traditional way with palm up. Now do it again with your thumb facing up. The "thumb's up" version is not only faster, but easier. Chuck has found during his years of fighting just when to throw what, and from what angle.
5. He's cool under pressure. How many times have we seen a fighter go ballistic on Chuck in what seems like a fit of frustration or anger, only to see him on the floor a few seconds later? He has the ability to precision strike in the pocket under fire, and that's talent good money can't buy.
There's more to any great fighter's talent than five points, but understanding a man's greatness begins somewhere.
