For those of you that have been following UFC for years, you will realize that Chuck Liddell has already brought back stand up fighting. Where would the sport have gone if Chuck would have been in his prime back in 1993 when Royce Gracie was submitting 300 lb’ers like that were kids. Gracie became a Legend by submitting “unskilled” fighters by today’s standards. Everyone was rushing out to learn Jiu Jitsu as stand up fighters were quickly taken to the ground and overcome. For those of you that were part of the ground movement, congratulations, you learned a valuable fighting skill that is necessary in the Octagon and can be used for self defense. But don’t you feel a little deceived by Gracie. I mean how does Chuck defeat ground fighters so easily. The truth is - he doesn’t defeat them easily, he only make it looks easy in the Ocatagon as his training to stay on his feet is the best in the world. We see many other stand up fighters taken down and submitted just like it was 1993 all over again. Everyone can’t be like Chuck, just like everyone can’t be like Royce. Tho one thing for sure, Chuck is to stand up as to what Royce is to the ground. As Jiu Jitsu places were popping up everywhere in the 90s, Muay Thai classes are now being taught in all the neighborhood community centers.
So where would the UFC be today without Chuck? Do today’s fans really understand all the chess like strategies of Jiu Jitsu? Why do they boo when a fight stays on the ground with no “ground and pound?” I mean, I can enjoy a good chess match on the ground but the average fan is not me. Certainly Zuffa has done an incredible job of marketing MMA through reality television. But even Zuffa had to make rules to better accommodate stand up fighters. The UFC was forced to lean on Chuck Liddell when they were unable to reach a contract agreement with their poster boy Tito Ortiz. I don’t think they ever realized the true impact that Chuck would have. The UFC went from ground fighting to people getting kicked in the head and knocked out - and that is something that every fight fan understands. Chuck didn’t try to bring back stand up, he just went out did what he loved doing best. There was no contract dispute that was going to keep him from a chance to knock somebody’s ass out. Nothing against Tito, I respect his promotion of himself to take care of himself and family financially. It is just that its hard to find a true fighter like Chuck in this day and time. Perhaps that is why he seems so unstoppable right now. So who can beat Chuck? One thing for sure, he has dismantled a who’s who list of ground fighters (Randy Couture, Jeremy Horn, Renato Sobral, Kevin Randleman and TitoOrtiz). Since the ground guys can’t seem to do it without getting knocked out, it will probably be the next great stand up fighter - which is exactly how Chuck is still bringing back stand up. So thanks Chuck, for giving the UFC the type of fight that everyone can understand.
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