UFC 71 Preview - Liddell vs. Jackson

This is a great month to be a fan of MMA. Why? Because on May 26th we’ll finally get to see the long-awaited rematch between UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell and former PRIDE FC star Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. The event is scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Other events scheduled for the night are:

Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman (Welterweight)

Sean Salmon vs. Eric Schafer (Light Heavyweight)

James Irvin vs. Thiago Silva (Light Heavyweight)

Chris Leben vs. Kalib Starnes (Middleweight)

Din Thomas vs. Jeremy Stevens (Lightweight)

Quinton Jackson is an excellent striker with a record of 26-6. He is best known for his trademark slams against opponents in the guard position. If you want to see what I’m talking about, go to YouTube and search for “Quinton Jackson vs. Ricardo Arona.” That match will show you all you need to know. Jackson picked Arona up from the guard position and powerbombed him so hard that it knocked him out cold.

Jackson’s victory over Liddell came when the two met at PRIDE Final Conflict 2003. At 3:10 of the 2nd round, Jackson took control and battered Liddell so badly that his corner threw in the towel. To date, it is the only loss on his record that Liddell has not avenged.

Jackson also has wins over such impressive opponents as Matt Lindland, Murilo Rua and Kevin Randleman.

Chuck Liddell, on the other hand, has been the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion for quite a while (ever since sending Randy Couture into his first retirement). In the minds of most experts, he is the top 205 pound fighter in the world.

A feared striker, Liddell has a record of 20 wins and only 3 losses. His takedown defense is incredible, and he swarms on opponents using powerful kicks and punches thrown from unorthodox angles. Liddell is a legitimate crossover star, and his popularity in the UFC is matched only by “Captain America” Randy Couture.

The fight is still weeks away, but Bodog and other online sportsbooks are already taking action on the fight. The current betting line stands at:

Chuck Liddell -300

Quinton Jackson +240

When two talented strikers face one another, it’s really anybody’s guess as to who will come out on top. If you’re looking to introduce a friend to the sport of MMA, this impending slugfest might be the best opportunity that you’ll ever have.

For more on the UFC:

UFC Flashback - UFC 2

UFC 70 Results

UFC 71 Preview - Liddell vs. Jackson