Ranking Chuck Liddell’s 3 Greatest Knockouts
Whether fans of mixed martial arts like it or not, the reality is this: At 48 years of age, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell (21-8) will be coming out of retirement to take on fellow former UFC champion and longtime rival Tito Ortiz (19-2-1) in the main event of Golden Boy Promotions’ first MMA card.
The event is set to take place this Saturday (Nov. 24, 2018) live on pay-per-view from The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Given Liddell’s age, it’s understandable why fans are concerned about him returning to action. He hasn’t competed since 2010 when he retired following a 1-5 streak that saw him on the wrong side of a finish five times.
And while the harsh ending to his career may be more fresh in the minds of fans, it’s also important to remember that Liddell is a pioneer of the sport. A feared knockout artist, The Iceman was once one of the biggest stars in MMA.
With that being said, let’s take a look back at some fonder memories of Liddell, highlighting his top-three career knockouts ahead of his comeback fight this weekend:
3. TKO1 Renato Sobral – UFC 40
Chuck Liddell vs Babalu Sobral at UFC 40 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV on November 22, 2002. #DWCOTD pic.twitter.com/DZC0qikw6S
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 22, 2016
At UFC 40, Liddell took on Renato “Babalu” Sobral in Las Vegas, Nevada in a fight that ultimately earned him a shot at the interim UFC light heavyweight title.
Heading into this fight, Liddell was riding a nine-fight winning streak. But his previous three victories had come via decision, leading some fans to forget about what truly made Liddell a special fighter: his devastating fight-ending power. When the dust settled, it was safe to say that The Iceman left fans with a clear reminder.
Just minutes into the very first round, Liddell landed a vicious left high kick that floored Sobral. He then followed it up with a barrage of ground strikes that forced the referee to intervene. The stoppage has lived on Liddell’s highlight reel for years and it undoubtedly ranks as one of his best knockout victories to date.
2. KO1 Randy Couture II – UFC 52
Following his victory over Sobral, Liddell took on Randy “The Natural” Couture at UFC 43 on June 6, 2003 for the interim UFC light heavyweight title. In a bit of surprising fashion, Liddell suffered a TKO loss to Couture and it would be just under two years until he got the chance to exact his revenge.
When that opportunity came at UFC 52, The Iceman delivered in emphatic fashion.
After coaching opposite each other on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter, the rematch between Couture and Liddell represented one of the biggest fights the sport had to offer. The bout, however, proved to be one-sided.
Having stopped Liddell in their first fight, Couture was willing to stand and engage in the rematch, a game plan that didn’t work well for The Natural. Minutes into the opening frame, Liddell wobbled Couture with a left hook. Couture then charged forward, but Liddell was able to step off and create an angle before landing a picture-perfect right hand. A few more shots on the ground were all it took for Liddell to become the UFC light heavyweight champion.
1. KO2 Tito Ortiz – UFC 47
Despite the fact that both men were coming off of losses, the first bout between Liddell and Tito Ortiz proved to be a massive fight, going down at UFC 47 on April 2, 2004.
The pre-fight bad blood between the former friends was at an all-time high and the rivalry grew as the days wore on.
Liddell, however, proved himself superior when the cage door closed.
Towards the end of the first round, The Iceman unleashed a vicious flurry of strikes on “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy.” Ortiz survived, although not for long. Under a minute into the second period, Liddell once again unloaded on Ortiz, forcing the referee to call an end to the action, handing Liddell one of the most iconic victories of his career.
The Iceman stopped Ortiz again in their highly-anticipated rematch at UFC 66 in December 2006, seemingly putting an end to their heated feud—or so we thought.
