© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com 
11 August, 2006

Its Friday afternoon, and 'The Iceman' is in Vegas, chilling out with his friend, Scott Lighty, who will be competing at tomorrows K-1 event.

Chuck has also been busy training for his own match on August 26, when he defends his title against the highly accomplished Renato 'Babalu' Sobral at UFC 62. The pair previously clashed at UFC 40: Vendetta, on November 22, 2002, where the fight came to an abrupt halt after Chuck KOd Babalu with a head kick.

At UFC 61, PRIDEs Wanderlei Silva was in attendance again, as he was at UFC 49 when he challenged Randy Couture. However, Chuck is sceptical of these challenges.

"They announce Im going to fight him maybe in November. Its all maybe, maybe, maybe. Hes been at the UFCs before, and they talk about it back and forth. But I dont have any real confidence in it happening until he signs the contract," says Liddell.

"I think Randy would have beaten him anyway. But I dont think it would have been as exciting a fight as Wanderlei fighting me. I think Randy would have just taken him down and beat him up. Wanderlei and I would be a great fight: Wed stand there and strike.

"But honestly, I think its just a way for PRIDE to get exposure. Someone said he was Yahoos sixth most searched guy the day after that fight because everyone wanted to figure out who he was. MMA hard-core fans know him, but in the US, not everybody knows who he is."

For now, Chuck says hes just looking forward to the Babalu fight. "Oh, very much so. I cant wait. Im ready to go, Im in shape, and everythings good."

Although The Iceman defeated Renato before, Sobral has won his last 10 fights since then. And many fight fans are expecting him to be a different opponent this time. Chuck doesnt entirely agree.

"Well I dont see him as being different. Hes better at different things, but hes the same guy, same style… Hes not easy to knock out. That was not an easy knockout. Everyone thinks because it was the first round it was easy. But I kick really hard and hed never been knocked out before, and never since. I dont think hes even been hurt since, so… Its one of those things. Hes got a hard head and he can take a shot. Its not like one easy shot and hes out. Im going to have to wear him down and beat him down – and then knock him out."

Chuck Liddell vs Randy Couture III

Chuck, Babalus kicking techniques seem to have improved. Do you think his stand-up game will be a threat to you?

"Hes always had a decent stand-up, but I think Im better at stand-up than he is. The fact that he can strike is what made him a great fighter. He can stand and he has jiu jitsu."

Hes beaten some respected ground fighters, on the ground (eg. Trevor Prangley, Mauricio Rua, and Jeremy Horn all on the one night). Is that of concern to you?

"Not really. Not that I intend being down there."

And if it should go there, youve got a ground game that a lot of people havent seen.

"Ive been working it for a long time. Ive worked really hard on my ground game and Im decent at it. Its just not a place where Im good at finishing fights. Thats why I dont choose to be there."

Do you expect to be locking horns with Branden Vera down the track?

"Maybe. I dont know. I mean, I think hes got a ways to go before he deserves a shot. But if he keeps winning, and fighting on, and training hard…yeah, down the road. He keeps talking about it, but at this point, I think hes getting a little ahead of himself. At some point, if he keeps training… Hes got some talent. Maybe he could be a fight down the road."

So youll accommodate him then?

"Ill do it tomorrow. If they think its something they can sell tomorrow, Im good to go. I always fight whoever they think deserves a shot."

What about Tito: Does that look like happening?

"It looks like happening. It looks good and I think its just a question of whether hes got the balls. I know hes afraid of me. Or maybe theyve got enough money to get him in the ring (laughs). Maybe he thinks hes gotten that much better… I dont know."

Also on this months card is the Forrest vs Stephan bout. What does it feel like knowing everybodys queuing up for a shot at your belt?

"Thats great. Thats what they should be training for. Thats what we fight each other for – to determine whos the best."

How did you go in the Fox Sports Best Damn Badass Poll?

"I took second. People were complaining; they thought they were using some kind of box to do the voting. It was kinda funny. If you looked at it on the beginning of the last day, Cro Cop and I were about even. And then at the end of the last day, about a hundred thousand more votes were taken, and he got about ninety thousand of them. All of a sudden, everybody liked him and not me.

"But it was one of those fun things: It was a poll, it was funny, it was cool… whatever. But I thought it was cool that MMA names took the top two spots over football, baseball and hockey players."

Chuck, is there anything youd like to add?

"Just like always: Watch the fight. Its going to be fun."

Your sponsors?

"Xyience, Cobb 28, Tapout, and Sinister Clothing."

Chuck Liddell vs Randy Couture at UFC 57.

For more on Chuck Liddell: www.iceman.tv,

For more on UFC 62: www.ufc.tv.

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