"I think the Rampage knockout softened Liddell up. Not mentally, but I think he became vulnerable. People had more confidence when they fought Chuck after Rampage. But he's still very life threatening because he can take you out in a half of a second. I just think other opponents like Rashad and others had a different mental approach to Chuck. He appeared more human to them rather than all of the hype he had before. People were intimidated by that."
I agree, I think alot of guys fought Chuck thinking there was no way to ko him & Rampage proved he could be ko'd so it gave other guys confindence that they could stop him on the feet not to mention too many concusions in a short period of time can definetly make it easier to get ko'd.
mrzipplokk - I disagree. I think Chuck is just as good as he always was. He's just gotten caught a few times.
Sorry Zipp, I can't bring myself to agree with this. Shogun had his right hand waay down when he wound up for that looping knockout left - which pretty much left him competely open. Chuck couldn't capitalize even though he launched his attempted left before Shogun swung with the knockout shot and Chuck seemed to have a much shorter distance to travel with his punch.
Time was Chuck was the only man in MMA could knock someone out when moving backwards. When Shogun clocked him, he was moving laterally, albeit shifting his weight to his rear leg.
I think Juanito's statement is a fair assesment. Herring said it best, Chuck had the intimidation factor going big time in his favor. He was in your head before you even got in the ring with him which is a huge advantage.
If anything Juanito should be commended for preparing Rampage to overcome the idea that Chuck was invincible, especially when the UFC was perpetuating that very idea, and also for taking Rampages boxing to the next level.
No matter what anyone says, the fact that Rampage became a great technical striker after working with Juanito is undeniable weather you think he's crooked or not.
mrzipplokk - I disagree. I think Chuck is just as good as he always was. He's just gotten caught a few times.
I respectfully disagree. Chuck used to really hurt guys with body shots, hooks and uppercuts. Now it seems those punches are not hitting their target and he doesn't defend the counters well. Chuck is a legend and one of my all time favorites but its clear to me that he has slowed down and other fighters are picking him apart now. Its kind of sad, but its the nature of the beast that is mma.
Chuck, even though he lost to Rampage in 2003 won 7 times straight after that and against fighters like Tito, Babalu, and Randy Couture twice and all of them were in their prime, you don't think Rampage could see that Chuck wasn't the same fighter he faced previously?
It had been 4 years and 7 KO or TKO wins by Chuck since they fought the first time, add that to the hype that the UFC and the public placed around him as the toughest man on the planet? I don't care if Rampage beat Chuck 10 times before that 4 year span, he had to feel the intimidation factor before that fight.
Graffight - Chuck, even though he lost to Rampage in 2003 won 7 times straight after that and against fighters like Tito, Babalu, and Randy Couture twice and all of them were in their prime, you don't think Rampage could see that Chuck wasn't the same fighter he faced previously?
It had been 4 years and 7 KO or TKO wins by Chuck since they fought the first time, add that to the hype that the UFC and the public placed around him as the toughest man on the planet? I don't care if Rampage beat Chuck 10 times before that 4 year span, he had to feel the intimidation factor before that fight.
No. If you've beaten a guy, you know not to believe the hype surrounding him afterward.
It's hugely unlikely Rampage felt anything close to intimidation: more like anticipation at knowing he could repeat what he once did, on an arguably bigger stage.