Dana White: Chuck Liddell is retired

[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

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

thats why I said UFC hype

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

The UFC name alone is good for about 100k-150k ppv buys. They could run a show with no specific fights announced and outdraw the fringe groups that have no TV.

With that said, Silva still only draws a little over 200k. He's easily the worst drawing headliner they have, which is why he was paired with Chuck this time around. It dosen't help that he's had terrible fights lately. Shamrock could fight Tim Botsch or James Irvin and outdraw Silva-seriously.

White is said to be livid, and will only book him from this point forward with decent strikers willing to cut from 205, who wont be afraid to stand. So forget about Okami or Maia or Marquardt getting a title shot anytime soon. Guys like Stephan Bonner or Wandy will get shots, deserving or not.

 

[Liquidrob]

The UFC name alone is good for about 100k-150k ppv buys. They could run a show with no specific fights announced and outdraw the fringe groups that have no TV.

With that said, Silva still only draws a little over 200k. He's easily the worst drawing headliner they have, which is why he was paired with Chuck this time around. It dosen't help that he's had terrible fights lately. Shamrock could fight Tim Botsch or James Irvin and outdraw Silva-seriously.

White is said to be livid, and will only book him from this point forward with decent strikers willing to cut from 205, who wont be afraid to stand. So forget about Okami or Maia or Marquardt getting a title shot anytime soon. Guys like Stephan Bonner or Wandy will get shots, deserving or not.

missed this post, W2BTD knows the deal about drawing power

 

[EmpireWF]

Of the UFC champs, I'd rank them as draws like this...

1 & 2 = GSP and Brock (each have a core group -Canadians/pro wrestling fans- and have done monster business since 2008)
3. Penn
4. Silva

Machida is an unknown at this point.


You want to talk about the UFC powerful brand name...UFC 78 in 2007 in Jersey did about 400k, with absolutely no real draw on the show. Some say the boost in that show came from the exposure to NY since they boosted advertising somewhat. I don't know about that, but that event proved the power of the UFC name.

Then in January of this year with the European show with no legit draws (Hendo/Franklin, Shogun/Coleman), they did about 350k.

 

[Liquidrob]

W2BTD needs to post more, 30 posts?