Dana White: Chuck Liddell is retired

[JayDizzle]

I don't blame the UFC if they did make the call and they really did have Liddell's health at heart. The comparison to boxing is interesting but only so relevant - its unlikely that MMA is ever going to cause the kind of long-term brain damage that boxing has done. Its early to have any scientific proof yet, but so far as I understand it, the damage from boxing is caused by the cushioned blows that cause damage to accumulate over time. The sharp blows that cause a knockout are apparently less likely to cause damage.

It makes me wonder if there's a study out there that compares the long-term effects of a boxing career to a MMA career.

(My big tangent that was meant to go somewhere but I lost my train of thought: )

I'd have to change my stance of just head trauma/brain injury to overall damage to the body when it comes to a long MMA fighting career to make my next point though...

While as a boxer, you'd have to worry about blunt force trauma to your ribs, head and organs such as your kidneys (not to mention your hands/wrists as a result of using them to inflict said damage).

MMA however, with its multitude of submission manuvers from BJJ and other fighting styles only add to the list of things that can go wrong when you fight in a cage... shit like torn ligaments and leg damage from so many kicks.

Overall, I'd say that a fighter like Liddell can train all he wants but in the end he may eventually suffer from the collection of abuse he's suffered through over the years.

(My real point, minus the addition of Liddell fighting off injuries due to submission moves and other tactics that don't include him dodging fists to the skull: )

I would look at the knockout shots and "bombs" being thrown in an MMA environment and compare them to a boxing setting that has similar things going on (taking jabs, hooks, etc. out of the conversation for a moment...).

Now aside from the glove differences between the sports and the way said blows are delivered, I can't see much of a change in the effects they might have on a fighter like Chuck Liddell.

[RosettaStoned]

Now aside from the glove differences between the sports and the way said blows are delivered, I can't see much of a change in the effects they might have on a fighter like Chuck Liddell.

Volume.

[Steel Mamba]

There's boxing matches where a fighter will suffer more blows in one round than an MMA fighter will in an entire fight.

[Herm]

Chuck has tons of fans and is an exciting fighter, I really think White is looking out for Chuck's best interests here. Chuck has been brutally knocked down/out in 4 of the past 5 fights. Its time to give it up before long term damage is done IMO.

[Liquidrob]

long term MMA affects are no where near a boxer

chuck has suffered 3 on the button KO's, nothing like a KO in the later rounds of a boxing match, MMA fighters probably take more damge in training and sparring than actually in ring damage over the long haul

MMA is quick and looks more violent, but long term is nothing like a boxer where your brain is just rattled all fight long

[RosettaStoned]

There's boxing matches where a fighter will suffer more blows in one round than an MMA fighter will in an entire fight.

Boxers probably take more power shots to the head in a fight than an average MMA fighter will take in a career.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Rob nailed this on the head.

White is simply making a business decision under the guise of pretending to be a humanitarian.

Chuck is washed up, but would shatter the Ken/Tito, Kimbo/Thompson records with a fight on CBS vs. Tito or Kimbo. White is simply cockblocking this.

I believe Chuck when he says he dosen't want to fight outside UFC. He probably really feels that way. But a year down the line, when someone throws huge money his way, and he's feeling the itch...

Eventually, White will have two choices...let Chuck walk and draw a big tv rating for someone else, or, lead him to slaughter and put him back in the cage to build new stars.

[EmpireWF]

I think this is different though b/c of White's and Liddell's friendship. If this was another top megadraw, would he be forced to retire? I doubt it.

[CrimsonGhost56]

chucks gonna come back one day, but you best believe its going to be against another 40+ year old washed up fighter.

[Liquidrob]

I think this is different though b/c of White's and Liddell's friendship. If this was another top megadraw, would he be forced to retire? I doubt it.

not really, they basically retired Ken from the UFC that night, he didnt even know

[EmpireWF]

not really, they basically retired Ken from the UFC that night, he didnt even know

You talking about the last Tito fight? Was there a fight out there for Ken that would have done tremendous business (minus Frank)?

[Liquidrob]

You talking about the last Tito fight? Was there a fight out there for Ken that would have done tremendous business (minus Frank)?

Ken is probably still a bigger PPV draw than And1 Silva

Put Royce vs Ken on PPV and it will out drew almost all Silva fights

Ken with UFC hype is gold

[Steel Mamba]

Ken is probably still a bigger PPV draw than And1 Silva

Put Royce vs Ken on PPV and it will out drew almost all Silva fights

Ken with UFC hype is gold

Only if Ken/Royce was a UFC promotion, otherwise it would surely bomb.

[Warner2BruceTD]

chucks gonna come back one day, but you best believe its going to be against another 40+ year old washed up fighter.

If it's outside the UFC, yes, absolutely.

If it's for UFC, he will be booked against a young up and coming guy who the company wants to build. See Franklin/Shamrock, and see Coleman/Lesnar (which obviously ended up not happening).

There is no point putting Liddell out there unless it's to build a new star. Especially while beating him still might mean something.

[Liquidrob]

Only if Ken/Royce was a UFC promotion, otherwise it would surely bomb.

thats why I said UFC hype

Ken with the UFC behind him still out draws more than And1 anyday