Five Possible Fights for Chuck Liddell

Per reports, “Iceman” Chuck Liddell is coming out of retirement to fight in the octagon once again. With that, fans are listing his top opponents, but here are my top five fights that Liddell should have in his return to the UFC.

Ilir Latifi

Ilir Latifi has been on a great run in the UFC, with a recent win over Ovince Saint Preux from a standing guillotine. Latifi has been a part of the UFC light heavyweight division for over five years, and has a current record of 7 wins and 3 losses. A fight against Chuck Liddell would make a lot of sense, since both men would look to keep it standing.

Jimi Manuwa

Jimi Manuwa is an amazing light heavyweight who has had dominant wins, devastating losses, but has proven himself as a longtime fighter in the UFC. In order to escalate his career, a fight against Liddell can give Manuwa the next step he needs in order to become a contender.

Tito Ortiz

This is the feud that can never get old, as Liddell and Ortiz once had one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history. In their two encounters, Ortiz was knocked out in both bouts. Now that Liddell is officially out of retirement, he has stated that he’d love to fight Ortiz again. If Ortiz comes out of retirement from Bellator, this trilogy would be special.

Daniel Cormier

The current reigning and defending Light Heavyweight champion has been on a huge run since winning the strap from Anthony Johnson at UFC 187. Cormier has gone on to defeat Alexander Gustafsson, a rematch with Johnson, and also Volkan Oezdemir. While Cormier is an Olympic wrestler turned MMA fighter, Liddell is more of a pure striker.

The matchup that Liddell had his UFC days included Randy Coutore, a natural wrestler who defeated Liddell in the first of three fights between them (that Liddell won in the last two).

Jon Jones

Jon Jones is the greatest light heavyweight to ever step foot in the octagon, and proved it by becoming the youngest champion to never lose a fight (if you don’t count his disqualification loss to Mark Hamill). Outside of that, Jones has been a factor in why the light heavyweight division is relevant today. With the Twitter exchanges heating between the two, this fantasy is one we wish would become a reality.

Jones holds victories over Rashad Evans, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Shogun Rua, and if ever booked, possibly Chuck Liddell. If Jones gets his head out of the gutter, there is a possibility that Dana White makes this fight happen.