When it comes to legends in UFC, Chuck Liddell is one of the biggest names in the history of the promotion.
As a former light-heavyweight champion, the Ice Man did as much as anyone to put the UFC on the map.
These days, names like Conor McGregor have taken UFC and MMA as a whole to another level.
Liddell has an upcoming role in the wrestling/MMA crossover film, Cage Fighter. The film will premier on FITE in the UK on May 16 and it’s not Liddell’s first dance with the movie business.
‘Notorious’ is a man also probably destined to feature in film one day and there is known to be a lot of mutual respect between McGregor and Liddell.
So, when talkSPORT caught up with Liddell last week, we had to ask what he thinks is next for the Irishman as he pursues a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“In the last fight, I think he did what he needed to do to have a shot at beating Khabib,” said Liddell. “The problem was he was tired by the third round and he had nothing left behind his punches. He got Khabib a little tired and he had a chance to throw and he just had nothing left to knock him out.
“So if he can make it through those first two rounds and still have that snap he’s got, he can take a shot at him. It doesn’t seem like Khabib wants to give him a shot… and that doesn’t make sense unless Khabib is worried about getting beat. Maybe Khabib is worried
about Conor getting better and beating him, I don’t know.”
Liddell went on to explain how he’d love to see Tony Ferguson and Khabib also cross paths.
Of course, UFC have tried that make that fight five times now, but the latest cancellation was something no one could prevent.
“And I’d love to see Tony vs Khabib,” Liddell added. “I love Khabib, he’s a great fighter, man, but I think Tony matches up perfectly with him.
“He’ll probably take Tony down for the first couple of rounds, but Tony will make him work and make him work to take him down. And the thing is, Tony doesn’t get tired. When they come out for the third round and Khabib is starting to get tired and Tony is not, he’s going to have a real tough time taking him down at that point.
“He’s had a little bit of trouble in the third round in the past, trying to get his breath back before he takes guys down again. We’ll see. He’s evolving all the time, working all the time, too.”
If Ferguson was to become the first man to defeat Nurmagomedov, Liddell thinks that could set off one of the most lucrative set of fights in UFC history involving McGregor, Ferguson and Khabib.
“I think that’s a really interesting fight [Ferguson vs Khabib]. If Tony beats him – I love Tony and I’ve known him for a long time – I’d be a little worried about him fighting McGregor. He likes to exchange way too much and McGregor can crack. Everyone knows: McGregor has lightening in his hands.
“That could make for a great three-way: Tony beats Khabib, Conor beats Tony, Conor fights Khabib – he’d have to fight him then. But, that would be too perfect for the UFC [laughs].”
Cage Fighter, starring Chuck Liddell, Jon Moxley, former WWE star Christian and many others premiers on FITE in the UK on May 16.
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