The UFC tried to arrange a title bout with then-champion Tito Ortiz, but Ortiz cited scheduling conflicts. Chuck Liddellīy 2002, Liddell was considered the #1 contender for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, with growing popularity and support from his fans. Liddell was also the first UFC fighter to fight in Pride, where he represented the organization against fellow kickboxer Guy Mezger, knocking him unconscious. After a technical submission loss to top contender Jeremy Horn shortly after, Liddell began establishing his reputation as a top contender with dominant victories over Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort, Amar Suloev, Jeff Monson, and Renato Sobral. Despite being a heavy underdog in his opponent's home country, Liddell dominated the vale tudo fighter on the feet, and won via decision. In his next bout, he faced Brazilian fighter Jose 'Pele' Landi-Johns at an International Vale Tudo Championship event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was bare-knuckle. Liddell made his UFC debut in 1998 during UFC 17 in Mobile, Alabama with a decision victory over Noe Hernandez. Mixed martial arts career UFC Early success Liddell was inducted into the Cal Poly Hall of Fame in 2009. In college, he wrestled at Cal Poly, where he attended from 1988-93, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business/accounting in 1995. In high school, Liddell was a four-year starter on the football team at San Marcos High School, playing center and linebacker, and he also excelled at wrestling.

As Liddell wrote in his book Iceman: My Fighting Life, he often found himself in fights with drunk college students older than he. While growing up in Santa Barbara, he often frequented the Del Playa Drive, a street popular for parties in the UCSB college town of Isla Vista. Liddell began studying Karate at the age of 12 the tattoo on his scalp reads 'Koei-Kan' (幸栄館).

Early life īorn in Santa Barbara, California, Liddell was raised by his single mother and maternal grandfather, who taught Liddell and his siblings boxing techniques from a very young age.

On July 10, 2009, Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. He retired in late 2010, then came out of retirement for one match in 2018, a loss, bringing his career record to 21-9. Known as 'The Iceman', Liddell achieved a 16-6 UFC record, and an overall record of 21-8, with 16 of his wins coming by way of knockout. He is widely credited, along with fellow UFC fighter Randy Couture, with helping bring MMA into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. San Luis Obispo, California, United StatesĬharles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American retired mixed martial artist (MMA) who held the title of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Chuck liddell the iceman