This Saturday night in Las Vegas, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell takes on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Fighting for the UFC light heavyweight championship, this could be one of the biggest UFC fight cards of the year.
Liddell’s only had three losses in the last ten years, one of which was to Jackson four years ago. He’s already taken down Randy Couture and Jeremy Horn, the other two fighters who defeated him in the past, and now Liddell says he’s going to get revenge on Quinton Jackson at UFC 71.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight with Rampage for a long time. I’m excited about it, and I will knock him out. This is the last loss on my record that I have to avenge, so I want to put that behind me and then look at new challenges,” Liddell said. “It’s something I’ve been wanting since I lost in ’03. I’m just real excited. I can’t wait.”
Jackson says that although he understands Liddell’s need for revenge, he thinks he’ll be able to beat Liddell once again.
“I know how badly Chuck wants to avenge that loss to me, but you can’t always get what you want. I’m going to whip Chuck’s [butt]. When the bell rings, I’m just going to come out and whip his [butt]. The referee had better get out of the way.”
Liddell says that last time he fought Jackson he just wasn’t prepared as well as he should have been.
“I wasn’t in great shape for that fight. At that point I think I had gotten pretty cocky and thought that it wouldn’t make a difference,” Liddell said. “But that fight taught me a little humility. I’ve changed a lot of stuff since that fight. I think as a fighter I kept improving. My movements improved, my accuracy improved. I think it’s going to be a lot different for me in this fight. I never have a confidence problem when someone’s beaten me. Both the other guys, I went back and avenged those losses. I really thought I should have beaten them the first time.”
UFC President Dana White has said that “When people think of the UFC, the first fighter that comes to mind is Chuck Liddell. He’s a great person, a good friend and one of the best fighters I’ve ever known.”
“Nobody deserves this more than Chuck Liddell,” said White. “He is a true ambassador for the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts.”
UFC 71 is expected to set a pay-per-view record this weekend.
-Mel, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: USA Today, Philadelphia Daily News
Photo credit: UFC
Staff Columnist, BuddyTV
