It's still fight a worth making and one that mixed martial arts fans want to see. But if comments this week from UFC boss Dana White hold true, it's a fight we won't see any time soon.
The announcement at UFC 61 of a Chuck Liddell-Wanderlei Silva throw-down sent a buzz through the MMA world. The Iceman vs. The Axe Murderer had action-fight-of-the-year written all over it.
As White whet our appetites for the duel, the caveat was made that the fall tilt was contingent on Liddell disposing of Babalu Sobral (done) and Silva getting through PRIDE's Final Conflict Absolute (ah, not-so-done).
Silva was walloped by Cro Cop at FCA and, as far as White's concerned, since Silva finished that fight on his back, he doesn't deserve a shot at the UFC's top dog.
I agree with White's assessment about Silva's readiness. I don't have an M.D. after my name, but how could it be safe for him to fight in November after the beat down he suffered? No, it wasn't a 20-minute shellacking, but Cro Cop did a lot of damage in a hurry. For that reason, I question the logic of near-term fisticuffs.
Silva's loss, however, is a non-factor for me. He lost to a heavyweight; he's still a champion and the intrigue of PRIDE vs. UFC, with two of the biggest names in the sport, warrants the battle. It would draw a huge gate and do massive PPV business.
This much is clear - the fight won't happen this year. White said Liddell's next opponent is the winner of Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock, although I can't see how you can give Shamrock a shot at the Iceman. If Liddell wins that battle, White speculated that Rampage Jackson could be next.
The announcement at UFC 61 of a Chuck Liddell-Wanderlei Silva throw-down sent a buzz through the MMA world. The Iceman vs. The Axe Murderer had action-fight-of-the-year written all over it.
As White whet our appetites for the duel, the caveat was made that the fall tilt was contingent on Liddell disposing of Babalu Sobral (done) and Silva getting through PRIDE's Final Conflict Absolute (ah, not-so-done).
Silva was walloped by Cro Cop at FCA and, as far as White's concerned, since Silva finished that fight on his back, he doesn't deserve a shot at the UFC's top dog.
"It kind of defeats the purpose now. The guy just got, literally, destroyed. They're (PRIDE) still saying we can do a fight in November. They can't do a fight in November. The athletic commission would put them on suspension for 90 days. The guy got knocked out cold. First, he got beaten to death, then he got knocked out cold. There's no way the guy could fight again in a month and a half. Plus, he just lost."
White's not shy. You have to respect his in-your-face sound bites and the way he defends UFC turf.I agree with White's assessment about Silva's readiness. I don't have an M.D. after my name, but how could it be safe for him to fight in November after the beat down he suffered? No, it wasn't a 20-minute shellacking, but Cro Cop did a lot of damage in a hurry. For that reason, I question the logic of near-term fisticuffs.
Silva's loss, however, is a non-factor for me. He lost to a heavyweight; he's still a champion and the intrigue of PRIDE vs. UFC, with two of the biggest names in the sport, warrants the battle. It would draw a huge gate and do massive PPV business.
This much is clear - the fight won't happen this year. White said Liddell's next opponent is the winner of Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock, although I can't see how you can give Shamrock a shot at the Iceman. If Liddell wins that battle, White speculated that Rampage Jackson could be next.
