(photo credit MMABay.co.uk)
The UFC has announced that Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell will be inducted into promotion’s Hall of Fame, news which really, was less surprising than finding out that the new Knight Rider TV show had been cancelled after one season. (You just can’t replicate the original Hasselhoff-KITT magic) Of course, Liddell’s induction is well deserved, as not only did “The Iceman” dominate the promotion’s light-heavyweight division for some time, but he also became one of mixed-martial-arts first mainstream stars. (It’s not too long ago that the ‘stars’ of bowling had a better chance of being recognized while walking down the street)
While Liddell has still not decided whether or not he’s hanging up the gloves, instead deferring that decision until next Spring, the former light-heavyweight champion will be inducted this Friday at the UFC 100 Fan Expo. Despite his recent setbacks in the Octagon, the 39 year-old-fighter’s career has been filled with many memorable moments. From his two smack downs of Tito Ortiz, his ‘holy sh#t this is good’ trilogy with fellow UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, to his more recent, ‘if there is a MMA heaven this is it’ slug fest with Wanderlei Silva, Liddell remains one of the sport’s more respected and popular fighters. (Plus fans tend to warm up to fighters who are capable of ending their opponent’s night with just one hellish punch)
In a story about Liddell’s induction on the official UFC site, he stated:
“I appreciate this gesture and I’m glad that people appreciate what I do and that they think that I deserve this, but I’m just one of the guys that fight out there.”
“It’s gonna be a little rough being that it’s Charles and me, but for us to go in together, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Liddell was referring to TapouT co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis, who will also be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this Friday. Lewis, who died in an unfortunate automobile accident earlier this year, is widely credited for being not only one of the leading forces in TapouT’s success, but also for helping further MMA as a sport.
Liddell and Lewis join Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Royce Gracie, Mark Coleman and Randy Couture in the UFC Hall of Fame.
