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| Liddell vs. Evans: UFC 88 |
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Written by Doug Jeffrey |
LAS VEGAS — On September 6th, legendary former champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and unbeaten rising star "Sugar" Rashad Evans will finally meet in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization's historic first trip to Atlanta for UFC 88: BREAKTHROUGH, live at Philips Arena.
"Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans is a battle between the former champion looking to get a shot at reclaiming his crown, and the undefeated contender looking to earn his first title shot," said Dana White, UFC President. "Chuck is a great wrestler and Rashad has shown improved striking skills so there is no way of telling what will happen when two fighters of this caliber collide. This is going to be another incredible fight, and I am so excited to bring UFC 88 to Atlanta."
Originally scheduled to face off against each other on June’s UFC 85 card in London, a torn hamstring sidelined Liddell and forced him to withdraw from his bout with Evans. But if anything, the additional wait has steeled the resolve of both men to not only win this fight, but to end it in spectacular fashion for the loyal UFC fans of Georgia.
UFC 88 marks the organization’s first event in the state since Augusta’s UFC 13 show in May of 1997, and it’s first ever event in Atlanta. To kick off this inaugural event, White stated he will hold a UFC 88 press conference with Liddell and Evans in downtown Atlanta June 24, and that later that day, the two fighters will attend an autograph session at Lenox Mall.
FIGHTER NOTES
LIDDELL
One of the biggest stars in American sports, Chuck Liddell (21-5) is a fighter who needs no introduction to fight fans. Fresh off a thrilling three-round win over Wanderlei Silva last December in a fight that easily lived up to more than four years of expectations, the 38-year-old owner of knockout wins over a Who’s Who of 205-pound stalwarts, including Randy Couture (twice), Tito Ortiz (twice), Renato Sobral (twice), Jeremy Horn and Kevin Randleman continues on his quest to regain his UFC light heavyweight championship from Quinton “Rampage” Jackson; but to get there, he has to get by Evans, only the third undefeated fighter Liddell has ever faced.
"I'm excited to be back in training, and I'm excited to have this Rashad fight back on - I’m going to put pressure on him and put him down, because, unfortunately everyone has to have his first loss," said Liddell. "It's been a white since I fought on the East coast, so I'm looking forward to going out there and giving this knockout to Atlanta."
EVANS
Evans (16-0-1) burst on the UFC scene in style in 2005 when he won the heavyweight division of season two of The Ultimate Fighter, winning four fights en route to the title. Dropping back to his natural weight class at 205 pounds, he has kept the momentum going with five wins and just one controversial draw against former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz in July of 2007. Among his victims are standouts Stephan Bonnar and Jason Lambert, and in his most recent bout at UFC 78 last November, he pounded out a three-round decision win over previously unbeaten British star Michael “The Count” Bisping. Now Evans has his sights on taking down a UFC icon on September 6th.
"I'm honored to fight Chuck, it's good to fight someone who has been where you want to be. This is going to be a tough fight though, I know someone is gonna be finished, and I think it'll be Chuck," said Evans. "I'm excited to go to Atlanta, I've heard great things about the city, I've never been there before, but I know there's no better way to experience a place than to have thousands of people all there to see you fight."
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