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Liddell 'going to come after' Ortiz in ultimate fighting bout

Alex Marvez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Published December 29, 2006 at midnight

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He's looking forward to making Tito Ortiz into ground chuck on Saturday night's Ultimate Fighting Championship 66 pay-per-view show.

Chuck Liddell will defend his UFC light-heavyweight championship against Ortiz in a match expected to draw the largest domestic pay- per-view audience of the year for any fighting-themed sport, including boxing and pro wrestling. Some projections are calling for more than 1 million orders, based on the success of the promotion's recent cards. Also, the live gate at the sold-out MGM Grand in Las Vegas will top $4 million.

Despite all the pre-show hype surrounding Liddell, the Mohawked fighter nicknamed The Iceman is staying cool. Liddell credits his longtime relationship with trainer John Handleman and surrounding himself with many of the same sparring partners from his early days in mixed-martial-arts fighting as keys to keeping himself grounded.

"I look at the attention and the money as something that comes along with having a job I love to do," Liddell said during a telephone interview. "Whether it's good or bad, it's part of the job. I don't thrive on the attention and all that stuff, but I don't let it get to me either."

As UFC's visibility has increased, so has Liddell's profile. A business and accounting major from Cal- Poly San Luis Obispo, Liddell was a four-year member of his college wrestling team while earning his undergraduate degree.

Liddell, 37, had his first UFC bout in 1998 and gradually climbed up the ranks thanks to his devastating striking ability.

He won his first UFC championship in 2005 by defeating Randy Couture, who'd beaten him for the belt almost two years earlier. En route to capturing the title, Liddell scored a second-round knockout victory over Ortiz on the UFC 47 pay-per- view show in April 2004.

Ortiz has won five consecutive fights since, but Liddell said he's eager to again face the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy."

"I'm going to come after him," said Liddell, who has won 12 of his 19 MMA fights by knockout. "I don't think I've changed much of my game plan from the first time. I think I've improved. He's improved his game, but his style is still the same, so the fight doesn't change.

"I feel great, and this is the best shape I've been in. One of the things I've concentrated on is his trying to take the long way by hanging in there, trying to get me tired. I'll be ready to go for five straight rounds if I have to, but I don't think he'll survive that many with me."

One of the few fighters who survived Liddell's onslaught is Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who defeated him via technical knockout in November 2003. Of Liddell's three career MMA losses, the one to Jackson is the only one he hasn't avenged. But if he defeats Ortiz, Liddell could have that chance, with UFC recently buying Jackson's contract from a defunct MMA promotion.

"I'm excited about that," said Liddell, who has won all six of his bouts since losing to Jackson. "I want to keep doing this as long as my body lets me. When I can't bang hard and get ready for fights, that's when I'll hang it up.

"Right now, I don't see that happening any time soon. I'm hoping to fight for two or three more years at least. We'll see."

QUESTION: Whatever happened to Bill Goldberg? - Hiram Gato Jr., Miami.

ANSWER: One of the industry's biggest superstars of the past decade, Goldberg continues to branch into nongrappling endeavors since his departure from World Wrestling Entertainment in March 2004. Goldberg will be featured this spring on Spike TV as host of Bullrun, which will chronicle 12 teams of two drivers using their own cars to cross the country in a road rally. Goldberg also is scheduled to serve as one of the announcers on the debut show of the Elite Xtreme Combat MMA promotion Feb. 10 on Showtime.

More wrestling news can be found at www.wrestlingobserver.com. Questions may be sent to Alex Marvez c/o the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, or e-mailed to amarvez@sun-sentinel.com. Please include your full name and city of residence. Because of volume, no phone calls will be accepted and letters will not receive written replies.