© Marc Wickert 
www.knucklepit.com 
August 27, 2008

On Saturday, September 6, Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell will be looking to move one step closer to regaining his UFC Light Heavyweight title when he faces off with undefeated Rashad 'Sugar' Evans in Atlanta, Georgia.  And Chuck is all amped up for the challenge.   "My training's going great, man.  I'm in great shape – just winding down now, getting ready to go," says Liddell.

This bout was previously scheduled for UFC 85 in London on June 7, but had to be postponed due to The Iceman suffering a hamstring injury in his right leg, which Chuck says has completely healed.  "It has fully recovered, one hundred percent.  When I first got back into training it was a little weaker than my left leg, I think.  But when I started training hard after getting through rehab, it wasn't bothering me much; however it was getting a little more tired.  Now they get equally tired.  They're working well."

Unfortunately, training to be the best in the world does require these elite athletes to push themselves to the limit, and injuries do occur from time to time.   But The Iceman shrugs off the training mishap nonchalantly: "It was just one of those things – a random thing.  I was doing a drill and my hamstring got caught weird."

If things go according to Chuck's plan in this upcoming fight, the victory is expected to place Liddell in good standing for a chance to reclaim his title.  This is the campaign Chuck is working on, but he says he's always ready to fight whoever the UFC puts in front of him.

Rashad Evans last fought at UFC 78, when he defeated Michael Bisping by split decision.  Rashad's previous bout was against Tito Ortiz at UFC 73 and was declared a draw.  Evans's MMA record stands at 11-0-1 going into his match with Liddell.

Chuck, seven of Rashad's twelve fights have gone to the judges.  Will this fight be won by decision?

"I'm planning on finishing it way before that.  I'm planning on giving him his first loss and his first knockout, so I'm hoping it doesn't go the distance."

Are you worried about getting writer's cramp in the fight due to all the books you've been signing?

"Oh, no… I'm alright now.  That was when it first came out."

Your book "Iceman: My Fighting Life" was on The New York Times Best Seller List for two consecutive weeks.  Were you happy with the response?

"Yeah, I was really happy: We were ninth for two weeks in a row and sixteenth the following week.  The publishing company thought it would never make top ten, so they were very happy with it."

What made you decide to write it?

"I was kinda talked into it by friends, and I was a little hesitant at first, but I really liked the way the book turned out."

Can you tell readers a bit about the book, please, Chuck?

"It's about my life from when I was born and there's some pretty good detail of some of my fights and leading into them… just my whole life."

Is the book also available in paperback?

"I think paperback comes out this year sometime.  They just sent me the thing saying it was coming out in paperback and when that was going to be, but I don't remember exactly when that is."

Before a fight, most trainers have to help their fighters to relax.  Is it the other way round with you and John Hackleman?  You're always so cool and he wears his heart on his sleeve.

"Yeah, that's probably the way it's been with us, but that's the way it works.  It's normal for me and I'm used to it for him.  I'm the same way if one of my buddies or one of the guys we train is fighting: I get nervous for them because you've got no control over things.  You train them and it's up to them to get it done."

What did you think of your bout with Wanderlei Silva?

"I liked it.  It was a great fight: The only thing that would have made it better would have been my ending it with a knockout."

Are you hoping to meet Rampage Jackson for a rematch?

"At some point, yeah, I would.  I want my title back, then we'll work on who is next."

The title's your first priority?

"The title's first, then I'll work on getting the people I want to fight."

What do you see as being Rashad's strengths and weaknesses?

"He's a good striker and he's improved his striking… He's hard to hit… It makes for an interesting fight.  I think I have a little reach on him and I'll make him eat some punches and look for a break."

What did you think of his performance against Michael Bisping?

"It looked like he got pushed and got a little tired in the end.  That's one of the things I'm going to try to do to him as well."

Chuck Liddell's sponsors: Hostility Clothing.

For more on Chuck Liddell: www.icemanmma.com, www.iceman.tv, www.jacked.com.

For more on UFC 88:  www.ufc.com.

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