Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell Retires from the UFC

Chuck Liddell, nicknamed "The Iceman" for his abilities to freeze fighters with a single punch, has fought his last fight in the UFC last Saturday, according to UFC President Dana White. Liddell ends his illustrious career with a record of 21 wins and 7 losses in all of MMA and a career record of 16 wins and 6 losses in the UFC. The 16 wins in the UFC are the most by any fighter and is a record. Liddell is one of the original pioneers of the UFC, being in the company since 1998 and made it what it is today. Liddell's major accomplishments include winning the UFC Light Heavyweight Title from Randy Couture and defending it four times before losing it to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. He was also the first fighter in the UFC to be featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

Liddell's retirement comes after losing four of his last five fights. Three of those four losses have come by brutal knockout. The only win Liddell had in his last five fights was against Wanderlei Silva in what was regarded the fight of the year by many fans and earned "fight of the night" honors but since that win, Liddell had been knocked out cold by Rashad Evans in the second round in what was the knockout of the year for 2008 and a knockout loss to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in the first round. In the Rua fight this past weekend, Liddell looked much slower than previously, and Dana White had said that for Liddell to continue his career, he would not only have to win, but win impressively.

When asked about Liddell's future at the UFC 97 post fight press conference, Dana White said, "He can still sell out shows and he can still sell pay-per-views, but he's done. I care about him. I care about his health, and it's over, man. It's over. At the end of the day, I care about these guys. I don't want to see anybody stick around too long. You're never going to see Chuck Liddell on the canvas again." Chuck Liddell, himself, has said that he probably is retired but Dana White has apparently made the decision for him. Liddell turns 40 years old this year and it has seemed to effect him.

Even though Liddell didn't have a great ending to his UFC career, he shouldn't be remembered for that, but for all the great battles and knockouts he achieved in the prime of his career. Liddell has had wins over Tito Ortiz twice, Randy Couture twice, Renato Sobral twice, Kevin Randleman, Vitor Belfort, Jeremy Horn, and Wanderlei Silva. His trilogy with Randy Couture was the UFC equivalent of boxing's trilogy between Ali and Frazier. At one point in his career, Chuck Liddell was the best fighter in the UFC and that's how he should be remembered.