Fighters.com's sixth-ranked light heavyweight "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-6-0) will teach striking techniques for MMA at a three-hour American Top Team-hosted training seminar in Cocount Creek, north of Miami, 7 December. Liddell's lead trainer at The Pit in San Luis Obispo, John Hackleman, will join Liddell. ...

Fighters.com's fourth-ranked light heavyweight "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-6) was asked by media after his knockout loss to "Sugar" Rashad Evans (12-0-1), "What happened?" ...

"Sugar" Rashad Evans (12-0-1) found out about his title fight versus Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) with the rest of us. Evans detractors should notice Evans's humility after the fight. ...

UFC President Dana White fielded questions on various subjects from the media after UFC 88 in Atlanta 6 September. ...

"Sugar" Rashad Evans (12-0-1) knocked out Fighters.com's fourth-ranked light heavyweight "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-6) with a right hook in the second round Saturday night in Atlanta. Liddell lay unconcious on the canvas for several minutes after the punch. Evans jitter-bugged around a stalking Liddell the entire fight.  Liddell never really got a beat on him, but landed a straight right in the first round.  Evans back-pedalled and taunted Liddell with a dance. In the second round, Liddell lunged for an uppercut and took Evans's counter right hook square on the jaw to end the fight at 1:51. Franklin Finishes Friend "Ace" Rich Franklin (24-3) TKO'd his friend and former training partner "Hammer" Matt Hamill (4-2) at 39 seconds of round three with a left kick to Hamill's floating rib in Franklin's return to 205. Franklin had landed the same kick consistently through the first two rounds.  In the third, the kick dropped Hamill and Franklin landed two punches before referee Mario Yamasaki waved the fight off. ...

Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) won a decision over second-ranked "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7), but was TKO’d by seventh-ranked "Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (13-4-1). Jackson lost a decision to Griffin, but won a decision over third-ranked "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) and knocked out fourth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5)...twice. ...

Wednesday in Atlanta, “Sugar” Rashad Evans (11-0-1) told Fighters.com, "I'm going to do whatever I want to do to Chuck Liddell." Evans fights Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) Saturday. ...

Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) fielded questions before his fight versus “Sugar” Rashad Evans (11-0-1) Saturday in Atlanta.  Fighters.com also spoke with Liddell about the fight in San Luis Obispo 28 July.   ...

Fighters.com attended the UFC 88 open workout in Atlanta Wednesday afternoon. Fighters.com's fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) bounced in place as reporters lined-up to interview the former UFC champion before his fight versus "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1) Saturday night. Playful and boisterous, Liddell told Fighters.com he was ready to fight Evans today in a video interview that will be posted shortly. Evans was a bit more low-key, focusing on the biggest fight of his career and rolling with middleweight training partner Nathan Marquardt (26-8-2), who fights "Hitman" Martin Kampmann (13-1) Saturday night. Co-main event second-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (23-3), moving to 205 Saturday versus former training partner "Hammer" Matt Hamill (4-1), skipped his scheduled session. Sources in Franklin's camp alternately told Fighters.com that Franklin wasn't feeling well and that he was eating to maintain the weight of his new division. Neither excuse gives much solace to Fighters.com after Franklin's comments about his uncertainty about fighting his former training partner and moving to 205 pounds. ...

"The Ultimate Fighter" is now truly the ultimate fighter in the UFC's ultimate weight class. In Las Vegas 4 July, Fighters.com's new Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) worked over now top contender "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7) with leg kicks in a close unanimous decision. Though Griffin hopped seven spots to take the championship, the decision loss was close enough that Jackson only drops one rank. Jackson has declared his next opponent to be sixth-ranked "Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), who drops a rank on Griffin's ascension; but, no official word has come from the UFC. Jackson versus Silva would make a trilogy that Silva dominated 2-0 in PRIDE. Griffin will probably fight the winner of fourth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) versus "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1), which gets on in Atlanta 6 September, but may also take on the winner of fifth-ranked "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (13-0) versus tenth-ranked Thiago Silva (13-0) in Birmingham 18 October. The debate rages across Internet message boards about who the top contender to Griffin's title is: Jackson, Liddell, or Machida? ...

While in So Cal for Affliction, Fighters.com drove north to San Luis Obispo to talk to "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5), who runs his own website at MMAJacked.com. Liddell treated me to a Central Coast tri-tip sandwich and told Fighters.com that he deserves a title shot if he beats "Sugar" Rashad Evans (13-0-1) in Atlanta 6 September and, just as emphatically, why "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (13-0) does not. Checkout Chuck's site: MMAJacked.com. ...

I'm not lying!  However, the headline of this article is not a fact, but a probability. 'Page in Memphis The fact is that the UFC, led by Vice President Mark Ratner, and the FedExForum in Memphis lobbied diligently this year to set-up a commission to regulate mixed martial arts in Tennessee. Success at last!  And, as I write this, the State of Tennessee is scrambling to staff and organize their new commission. (Tennessee readers should contact their State representatives immediately to be considered for the commission.) FedExForum's reward is the return of Memphis native son "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-7), who testified before the Tennessee legislature on behalf of MMA regulation. FedExForum's collaboration with the UFC was all but predicated on an eventual Rampage main event in Memphis. ...

It's with a heavy heart that Fighters.com's June Middleweight Rankings saw legendary "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) fall from the top ten. But, the cold, hard ledger reveals Hendo' hasn't had a win at 185-pounds in two years. Hendo's previous rank was filled by tenth-ranked "Mayhem" Jason Miller (20-6), falling a notch to newly ninth-ranked "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (9-1). Souza debuted in the top ten after pulling off a tight two-round unanimous decision over Miller in DREAM's Middleweight Grand Prix 15 June. Also in June Japanese action, "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2) cemented his seventh ranking with a UD over "Pink Pounder" Logan Clark at Sengoku. Misaki now seeks revenge over new Sengoku add-on, seventh-ranked "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (16-6). No Sengoku match-up has been announced for Trigg; but, one would assume Misaki's home nation promotion wants to match the old enemies as soon as Trigg is ready. Sixth-ranked "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) was pulling away from "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4) in the third round of their EliteXC title fight 31 May in Newark, west of New York City, when a thumb to Smith's eye rendered the result a No Contest. Lawler held steady in June, as did the entire middleweight top five. ...

The UFC announced Monday that Fighters.com's fourth-ranked light heavyweight "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) versus "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1) will happen at UFC 88 6 September at the Philips Arena. It will be the organization's first event in Atlanta. Liddell and Evans should have headlined UFC 85, but a torn hamstring forced Liddell to withdraw. Evans was also removed from the card when Liddell's replacement, "The Sandman" James Irvin (14-4), also suffered an injury. Liddell last fought in December against "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) when he won a unanimous decision over his rival. Evans also hasn't fought since last year, with a split decision over "The Count" Michael Bisping (16-1) in November. ...

Fighters.com was live in Las Vegas 24 May to witness the fights that shook-up June's Welterweight Rankings.  What a night! Of course, "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) remains Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion and will defend his UFC title versus eighth-ranked Forrest Griffin (15-4) 5 July in Las Vegas. But, Jackson's nemesis from the past, "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), closed in on a rematch with the champion he's conquered twice before. Silva demolished "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (13-4-1) in 36 seconds, jumping five spots to the fifth ranking and sending Jardine down two rungs to number six. If he takes out Griffin, Jackson may first have to unravel the riddle that is his new top contender, "The Dragon" Lyoto Machida (13-0), before a rematch with Silva. Machida retired previously ninth-ranked "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) from the top ten and the UFC in a unanimous decision "W".  Can we all say "elusive"? Machida's win welcomed a fellow undefeated Brazilian, another Silva in fact, to replace "The Axe Murderer" at number ten. ...

Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) appeared Wednesday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live in the States. 'Page talked about his family, knocking out sixth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) twice, and his upcoming fight versus fifth-ranked Forrest Griffin (15-4). ...

The suspects are usual on Fighters.com's May light heavyweight roster; but, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2) fell three rungs to the seven spot as fourth-ranked "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine's (13-3-1) 2006 loss to "American Psycho" Stephan Bonnar (11-4) and fifth-ranked Forrest Griffin's (15-4) 2006 loss to ninth-ranked "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) passed their two-year expiration dates. Of course, 205 king "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) is matched versus Griffin for July; and, we all await fireworks between the two jolly light-giants on season seven of TUF. Third-ranked "The Dragon" Lyoto Machida (12-0) and Ortiz cross paths at the end of May as their careers cross roads. Who says UFC President Dana White doesn't make big fights in his fighters' last contract fights?  A win for Ortiz before his promised exit to greener pastures could reignite "The Bad Boy's" box office appeal. A notch in Machida's belt may mean he has to shop for a new belt, a shiny, gold one. Jardine and tenth-ranked "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) will tell the same tale of fighters colliding as their careers move in opposite directions. Sixth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) was yanked from his match-up versus "Suger" Rashad Evans(11-0-1) in London with a pulled hamstring, leaving on the table the originally scheduled UFC 85 main event between Liddell and eighth-ranked "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (16-3), also on the disabled list, to be fought in September. Before being bumped down the Fighters.com rankings, Sokoudjou got bumped off the televised card at UFC 84, where he's matched versus fellow judoka "Kaz" Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-7). The next three months could turn the 205-pound division upside down with all of the top ten action. May Light Heavyweight Rankings 1. "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) Jackson is 4-0 since bringing his "Rampage" to the cage. He’s out-wrestled Olympians Lindland and Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice. He’s earned Fighters.com’s top rank, but losses to Rua and Silva whisper questions from the past. 2. "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-6) To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page.  Until next time? 3. "The Dragon" Lyoto Machida (12-0) Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to ascend. 4. "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (13-3-1) A blip on Jardine’s record to Houston Alexander belies focused performances over Liddell and Griffin; or, is it the other way around?  Regardless, “The Dean of Mean's” roller coaster will play bumper cars with "The Axe Murderer" this month. 5. Forrest Griffin (15-4) The TUF 1 champ dug himself out of the “one hit wonder” abyss with an impressive stoppage of touted Rua and earned a UFC gold run versus Jackson.  But like Jardine, Griffin has proven beatable on any given night. 6. "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine.  He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva. 7. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2) Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”. His career has been too brief to predict whether his future is north or south of his Fighters.com #7 ranking. 8. "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (16-3) Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura.  His injured knee leaves him off active duty until a probable September date with Liddell. 9. "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) Ortiz has served as gate keeper to the UFC gold in a win over Griffin and draw with Rashad Evans, but was unable to last three full rounds with then champ Liddell.  Machida at the end of May will show whether Ortiz is ready for another run at the top. 10. "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) It hasn’t been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” that last two years, but he’s been the victim of two of the best light heavyweights in the world in Henderson and Liddell. ...

Fighters.com's numero dos heavyweight "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) told CagePotato today, "The exclusivity has to go away or else we’re going to have the same problems with becoming a fractured sport the way boxing has." With respect to MMA's classiest act, I disagree. The UFC's stranglehold over the top of the sport has ensured the best fighters fight each other. The best match-up in boxing right now is WBC welterweight titlist Floyd Mayweather, Jr. versus WBA and IBF welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto. For those not in the boxing know, it ain't happenin'. Mayweather is ducking the young bull Cotto for more lucrative, less competitive rematches with Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.  Those happen to be match-ups Mayweather is more likely to win.  Hell, he's already beat them both. It's the UFC's umbrella over the sport that has made sure champions fight contenders, not pretenders who allow champions to hold on to belts maximizing the marketability of their reign. You see, when free agent fighters and their management pick their opponents, whether in boxing or MMA, they tend towards safe fights. Exhibit A:  Everyone's favorite MMA ducker, sixth-ranked heavyweight "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1). While a showdown with third-ranked "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (21-5) has been an option, Emelianenko has picked fights against middleweight "The Law" Matt Lindland (20-5) and kickboxer "Techno Goliath" Hong Man Choi (1-1). Such is matchmaking when managers and free agent fighters seek to prolong their marketability versus the safest reasonable opponents. I mean, Lindland and Choi are both world champions, right?  Nevermind that their championships were in a different weight class and sport respectively than Emelianenko. I'm not advocating for the UFC.  I could care less about which promoter logo is atop a fight card.  It's the card itself that interests me.  The fact is, the UFC's centralized organization of the sport has produced the best fights and, by definition, avoided "becoming a fractured sport the way boxing has." Notes From Around MMA * Top Strikeforce lightweight contender “The Punk” Josh Thomson (14-2) maintains “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (23-9) oiled up before their March 2006 title fight, won by Guida by UD.  Thomson claims, “I mentioned it to Clay's brother one time.  I said, ‘Clay was really slippery in that fight…’  He just looked at me, shrugged, and said, ‘You do what you have to do to win.’  I just thought, ‘Whatever, douche bag.’  But, Clay…I think his career has leveled off.  He got a few big wins, but he's taken some losses the last couple of years.” * Couture (16-8) told IGN he’s pursuing a video game deal with EA Sports.  He also claimed, “I don't care where the fight happens,” in response to a question about fighting sixth-ranked Emelinanenko in the UFC.  Couture had previously expressed his desire not to fight Emelianenko in the UFC. * UFC middleweight Rob Yundt (6-1), who lost his UFC debut in February to “Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-2), will return to the Octagon 21 June on the TUF 7 finale versus one of the TUF contestants.  The UFC won’t reveal Yundt’s opponent to him until that fighter is eliminated on the show. * The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize and sanction MMA in the state by a vote of 95-2.  The bill is held-up in the Senate by Senators Dewayne Bunch of Cleveland and Bo Watson of Hixson.  The two southeast Tennessee legislators have attached an amendment earmarking the profits from MMA events for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Division I wrestling team.  According to the Nashville Post, the amendment may violate NCAA rules.  Tennesseans are urged to contact their state Senators and urge the passing of the bill next week without the earmarking amendment. * Fourth-ranked welterweight “The Terror” Matt Serra (9-5) and UFC light heavyweight "The Hammer" Matt Hamill (4-1), both New York state residents, and UFC executive Marc Ratner were lobbying New York state Senators Tuesday to legalize and regulate MMA in the state.  A bill legalizing and regulating the sport in New York has passed the state’s assembly, but is opposed in the senate. * Canadian kickboxer “Black Sniper” Michael McDonald (1-1), 2002 and 2004 K-1 North American Grand Prix Champion, won a decision over American kickboxer “The Jet” Rick Roufus (1-1) in an MMA bout fought under the radar in Romania last month. * “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) and “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (1-1) will go head-to-head 31 May in a ratings battle.  SpikeTV will air Ultimate Iceman to compete directly with CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights at 9:00 PM EST.  SpikeTV will air an entire day of UFC programming on 31 May, beginning at 11:00 AM EST. * Star magazine reported that actress/singer Mandy Moore has a crush on top-ranked welterweight “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (16-2).  Moore was in the UFC 83 crowd last month when St. Pierre claimed the UFC welterweight title from Serra (9-5). * You know it’s a slow MMA news cycle when eighth-ranked lightweight “The Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (32-2-1) testing negative for steroids in a Nevada State Athletic Commission test is a headline.  Of course he tested negative!  The headline is if he had tested positive…again. * As I concluded after the first episode of this season's The Ultimate Fighter, Jeremy May (5-5) is a douche bag and nothing could've made me happier than seeing him get smashed by fellow-Cincinnatian Matt Brown (9-6) last night. ...

None of us should fool ourselves into believing there's a difference between combat sports and an ol' fashion street punch-up.  True, combat sports are the artistic expression of our most base intuitions, like lobster bisque is to an ol' fashion lobster boil. You know what though?  Sometimes, you just want to boil a live lobster, slather it in butter, and make a mess. "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (2-0) hasn't elevated his MMA to an art form, like "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (22-5) has; but, "Slice" keeps us all honest. When "Slice" tells Liddell, "We can always take it back to old school.  That'll work for me," I believe him.  In fact, I'm not convinced he won't show-up at "The Pit" if Liddell responds to this video: "Thousand Oaks, California!  Elite MMA!  I'm right he'ah!" ...

Today the UFC announced the match-up between Fighters.com's seventh-ranked heavyweight "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and "The Truth" Brandon Vera (8-1) will be the main event in London 7 June. The former co-main event was promoted after "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) was removed from his match-up versus "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1) with a pulled hamstring. Vera, whose father is Filipino, is in the Philippines promoting the fight. Evans has been removed from the official card and there's no word whether he'll be matched against a light heavyweight replacement for Liddell. ...

Fighters.com's seventh-ranked light heavyweight "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) has been pulled from the 7 June UFC 85 main event by UFC President Dana White. "Unfortunately, Chuck Liddell tore his right hamstring during training last week, and being the warrior that he is, he still wanted to fight, which is the reason why everyone in the world loves him," said White at the UFC website.  "But, I wouldn't let anyone fight with his leg looking that way.  Let him heal and come back and fight when he is 100 percent." A photo posted at the UFC website showed a deep crimson raspberry on the back of Liddell's right leg. "This is the first time I've ever had to pull out of a fight.  I've fought injured plenty of times," a disappointed Liddell explained in a video at MMA Jacked.  "I was training and I popped my hamstring pretty bad.  I'll be fighting maybe August, September.  We'll see who they come up with." The UFC hasn't announced a replacement to fight Liddell's scheduled opponent, "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1). "We're adding fights to the card and rearranging it so the UK fans won't have to worry, we'll still be bringing an amazing card to London and the O2 Arena," White promised. ...

The light heavyweights fall in line in Fighters.com's April rankings, the only rankings that matter. 1. "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) Jackson is 4-0 since bringing his "Rampage" to the cage. He’s out-wrestled Olympians Lindland and Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice. He’s earned Fighters.com’s top rank, but losses to Rua and Silva whisper questions from the past. 2. "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-6) To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page. Until next time? 3. "The Dragon" Ryoto Machida (12-0) Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to ascend. 4. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2) Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”. His career has been too brief to predict whether his future is north or south of his Fighters.com #4 ranking. 5. "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (13-3-1) Blips on Jardine’s record to Houston Alexander and Stephan Bonnar belie focused performances over Liddell and Griffin; or, is it the other way around? Regardless, “The Dean of Mean” has ridden a roller coaster of inconsistency the last two years. 6. Forrest Griffin (15-4) The TUF 1 champ dug himself out of the “one hit wonder” abyss with an impressive stoppage of touted Rua and earned a UFC gold run versus Jackson. But like Jardine, Griffin has proven beatable on any given night. 7. "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine. He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva. 8. "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (16-3) Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura. 9. "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) Ortiz has served as gate keeper to the UFC gold in a win over Griffin and draw with Rashad Evans, but was unable to last three full rounds with then champ Liddell. 10. "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) It has been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” the last two years, but he’s been the victim of two of the best light heavyweights in the world in Henderson and Liddell. ...

Slim pickins'. When "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (16-3) blew his ACL and comeback shot versus "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) scheduled for 7 June in London, there was really only one fighter who could step-in. The UFC announced today that Rua's replacement will be TUF 2 champ Rashad Evans (11-0-1) of Jackson's Submission Fighting. Every other light heavy worth mentioning in the UFC is already committed to announced bouts. As I speculated Tuesday, the undefeated former collegiate wrestler was the most likely candidate. But, that's unfortunate. This is the kind of matchup I hate to see an accomplished fighter like Liddell take, the kind that's only significant if he loses. Big names and best-selling books aside, Liddell's take down defense and spot on, double-barrel fisticuffs blesses him with the favor of the odds. But, in MMA odds are what the fighters wipe their feet on before entering the Octagon.  I take the attitude fighters remind me of everyday.  Any fighter who steps into the Octagon can step out a winner. That's why Evans is an unfortunate matchup for Liddell, who's KO'd a Hall of Fame list of mixed martial artists.  Evans might win. I favor Liddell, you say?  If Liddell is so good, he should defeat any challenge. All true.  However, it's an unfortunate matchup because Evans hasn't earned it in the Octagon, only in Nielsen ratings. Evans's last two Octagon appearances have been thresholds to bigger fights. Versus "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) in July 2007, Evans fought  hard, but was physically and tactically over-matched by his fellow wrestler.  The fight ended in a draw. As a headliner in November 2007, Evans faced "The Count" Michael Bisping (14-1), who was coming off what most believed should've been his first loss, a generous split decision victory over Matt Hamill (3-1). The odds were heavily in Evans's favor in a situation much like Liddell faces in this matchup.  The outcome was only significant in Evans lost. Evans eeked out a split decision "W", convincing Bisping he's better suited to 185-pounds, but convincing no one that Evans is ready for bigger fights at 205. Evans failed to traverse both thresholds, and had been rumored to be matched against Thiago Silva (12-0) of American Top Team in London before Rua's injury. Despite the loss to Forrest Griffin (15-5) in September 2007, Rua's record of vanquished opponents compared to Liddell's, including a 2005 KO of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6), a unanimous decision over "Minotoro" Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and a KO of Ricardo Arona (13-5). Evans's most notable "W" may be that split decision over Bisping, a fellow TUF champ. Liddell now faces the same situation he did before losing a split decision to "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (13-3-1). In Evans, Liddell faces a dangerous competitor made doubly-dangerous because he has little to lose and a title shot to gain. ...

"Shogun" Mauricio Rua (16-3) has withdrawn from his UFC 85 matchup versus "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) according to a Thomas Gerbasi report posted at UFC.com. Gerbasi reports Rua re-ruptured the ACL in his left knee, the same injury he had surgery for following his third round submission loss to Forrest Griffin. The fight was scheduled as the main event for 7 June at 02 Arena in London. A new opponent will be announced shortly; however, most of the UFC's top 205-pound guns are tied up in announced bouts. Two possibilities jump out. "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) is 0-2 in the Octagon and emerging from a disappointing submission loss to 185-pound phenom "Spider" Anderson Silva. Regardless, his efforts in both UFC fights, versus Silva for the 185-pound title and "Rampage" Quinton Jackson for the 205-pound title, have kept him in the top of the rankings in both weight classes. Liddell's matchup with Rua was a path back to a title shot.  UFC President Dana White is loyal to his friend and the UFC's biggest draw, Liddell.    Substituting Hendo keeps Liddell on course. The question is whether Hendo has the desire to ride the yo-yo back to 205-pounds, where he prefers to fight, and enough time to prepare for a third top, but very different kind of fighter. Since the rumored clash of 205-pound rising stars Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva hasn't yet been officially announced, the UFC may consider reshuffling the deck to give Liddell a top 205-er. The most likely candidate is undefeated Rashad Evans.  Evans comes off a split decision victory over "The Count" Michael Bisping, who has since left the weight class. Evans (11-0-1) has less clout than Hendo among MMA faithful, but, because of his TUF victory on American cable TV, makes a brighter marquee among the general UFC public, who've only watched Hendo lose. The outside shot to get the call is Wilson Gouveia. Gouveia (10-4) is surfing a four-fight win streak, all by stoppage, since losing a decision to Keith Jardine in June 2007.  He last knocked out Babalu-beater "The Punisher" Jason Lambert in January. ...

Tuesday the UFC officially scheduled a home and an away game slotted for 24 May in Vegas and 7 June in London. Loose lips had already divulged details for both events. At the MGM Grand Garden Arena 24 May, "The Prodigy" BJ Penn will defend his UFC Lightweight Championship against the improper advances of former 155-pound champ Sean Sherk, returning from a banned substances suspension. My Portuguese is a little rusty, but Wanderlei Silva has also confirmed via his blog that he's signed to fight Keith Jardine on the Vegas strip. Other rumored bouts include: Ryoto Machida v Tito Ortiz Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou v Kazuhiro Nakamura Rashad Evans v Thiago Silva Wilson Gouveia v Goran Reljic Rousimar Palhares v Ivan Salaverry Dong-hyun Kim v Jason Tan Terry Etim v Jeremy Stephens Shane Carwin v Christian Wellisch At 02 Arena in London 7 June, light heavyweights Chuck Liddell and  Mauricio Rua will headline in a fight that not too long ago would've been considered the king-maker at 205. Brandon Vera has also confirmed he'll return versus Fabricio Werdum in London. Brock Lesnar is also rumored to return on this fight card. ...