Wanderlei wants the fight with Chuck in November, Jardine rumored to face Chuck at 76

Gooner · 07-13-2007, 04:07 PM

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Wanderlei Silva responds via video posted on his website to the allegations that he turned down a fight with Chuck Liddell for UFC 76 in September.

In the video Wanderlei stated, "I never said that I wouldn't fight Chuck. I've wanted this fight for a long time"

The former Pride champion continued, "I received a contract with two options, I could fight in September or November. I have chosed to make this fight in November. I was the first to want this fight, but they kept avoiding this fight. Now there's a lot of people saying that I have ducked Chuck. This is not true"

According to Silva, the timing for the fight to take place in September did not work for him. He explained, "I am in a moment of transition in my life. I'm going to move to the U.S. in a few weeks. I'm going to live in the U.S. and there's a lot of things happening, and I'm not focused on training the way I want to be. I always fought at the time the promoters wanted. Sometimes I did things I should not have done, but this time I won't do that anymore."

Denying he ever turned down a fight with Chuck Liddell, Silva said, "I want to fight chuck in November and make a huge show, and make it the biggest show ever...I have no doubts it's the most important fight of my life. I know Chuck is a great name in the U.S., we'll do a great fight. I think I must be in my best shape, so I want this time to train better to be in my bets shape ever."

Wanderlei asserted, "This fight is on, if he Chuck doesn't hide behind this mess."

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (20-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) and Keith Jardine (12-3-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) are expected to headline Anaheim’s UFC 76 event in September. A source close to one of the fighters told UFCjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - UFCjunkie.com) of a tentative agreement that was reached earlier today.

Jardine will take the spot vacated by PRIDE standout Wanderlei Silva. Earlier this week, UFC president Dana White said that Silva turned down the UFC 76 fight with Liddell despite having a verbal agreement in place. UFCjunkie.com first broke the news of that agreement, but for reasons still unknown, Silva apparently opted not to take the fight.

Instead, Liddell will face Jardine, a cast member from The Ultimate Fighter 2 who worked his way into title contention before suffering a shocking, 48-second upset to UFC newcomer Houston Alexander back in May. Prior to that UFC 71 loss, Jardine had posted a 4-1 record in the UFC — with his only loss coming via a controversial unanimous decision to Stephan Bonnar at UFC Fight Night 4.

UFC blog for UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - UFCjunkie.com

So, the Jardine vs. Chuck fight is just a rumor at this point.
I don't think a lot of people will be picking Jardine if that fight happens.

Wandy's explanation does make sense, but since the UFC clearly NEEDS that main event for UFC 76, I don't see them taking Chuck out of the card so that he would fight Wandy a couple months later.

Which is too bad.

codkaz · 07-13-2007, 04:11 PM

why would they give chuck Jardine, who just got KO by Alexander. I know they are both coming off losses and no disrespect to Jardine but i dont think he is on the same level as chuck.

theEmpiric · 07-13-2007, 04:11 PM

i dont see jardine vs chuck as being that big of a ticket seller?

earvinarp · 07-13-2007, 04:13 PM

Wow, Jardine just got the chance of his life handed to him on a golden tray. You lose with Alexander and get Chuck!!!!! I hope he sends Silva a huge bouquet of flowers and some sweets.

Now, that said, it seems unlikely Chuck will fight again only two months later, doesn't it? It all smells of Dana's trying to pressure Silva to fight at whatever time Chuck feels like doing it. And they don't seem to want to wait for Wandy. This is nuts.

Osnodon · 07-13-2007, 04:14 PM

Well atleast that sounds positive. I'll be excited to see Jardine v Liddell, I've thought for awhile this would be a much better return fight for Liddell than Silva.

earvinarp · 07-13-2007, 04:16 PM

Jardine does not deserve this. But, hey, it's the UFC. Keith is in the right place at the right time. I think Alexander should be the opponent but, the UFC having all their 205 lbs big names booked... well, Jardine seems to be the man.

Cas2910 · 07-13-2007, 04:17 PM

Seriously i dont think it will be either. they might get the fans they already have who are eager to see Chuck fight, but not any knew fans. I dont understand why the fight with Wandy isnt happening then. If Wandy wanted the fight and never said "no", why isnt there going to be a fight. i dont understand this mess.

IYAOYAS · 07-13-2007, 04:19 PM

As posted by UFCJunkie.com. I think it will be a good fight with Chuck coming out on top in the second. Anyone else? I hope the UFC can eventually put together the Chuck vs Silva fight though.

earvinarp · 07-13-2007, 04:19 PM

What they should do is respect Silva, who is willing to cut short his one-year break, and wait until November. His reasons for the delay are more than just.

Why so much rush with this when they are waiting a year to have a WW title match?

Cas2910 · 07-13-2007, 04:22 PM

They should respect both the fighters and i think November would be good for them. I cant see Chuck choosing to fight Jardine instead of Silva just because its a couple months earlier.

codkaz · 07-13-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earvinarp

Jardine does not deserve this. But, hey, it's the UFC. Keith is in the right place at the right time. I think Alexander should be the opponent but, the UFC having all their 205 lbs big names booked... well, Jardine seems to be the man.

yah give chuck alexander....not
the UFC wouldnt risk chuck being brutally knocked out like Jardine was, it does make more sense and i think Jardine shouldnt be his opponent, but its what dana says goes i guess

codkaz · 07-13-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earvinarp

What they should do is respect Silva, who is willing to cut short his one-year break, and wait until November. His reasons for the delay are more than just.

Why so much rush with this when they are waiting a year to have a WW title match?

yes, ive said this before give GSP a rematch with serra if he beats kos, and have serra and hughes fight after TUF belt or no belt

OneStepAhead · 07-13-2007, 04:23 PM

This just made me spit out my Orange Vitamin Water...November is when UFC is rumored to come to New Jersey

This better happen!!

earvinarp · 07-13-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codkaz

yah give chuck alexander....not
the UFC wouldnt risk chuck being brutally knocked out like Jardine was, it does make more sense and i think Jardine shouldnt be his opponent, but its what dana says goes i guess

You are going to get a lot of people in this forum saying that the best should fight the best. I agree it is a safer move for the UFC to give Chuck Jardine. But that may backfire as well.

Why use one of the few fights Chuck has left in his system against Jardine!!!!!???? Wait for Silva, Dana White. You are crazy not to.

Cas2910 · 07-13-2007, 04:32 PM

I want to see Chuck fight again. Its unfortunate if it is not against Silva, but how long can they negotiate and make Chuck wait. If Silva wanted to fight Chuck and was ready and never said no i dont see what the problem is. But if there is going to be uncertainty to the fight they cant make Chuck wait too long. i suppose the deadline for the fight was to be made a couple days ago and Silva's team turned down the fight so they had to give Chuck an opponent.
UFC 76 in November i might go to see Chuck whoop some @ss

Gooner · 07-13-2007, 04:33 PM

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Originally Posted by earvinarp

Now, that said, it seems unlikely Chuck will fight again only two months later, doesn't it? It all smells of Dana's trying to pressure Silva to fight at whatever time Chuck feels like doing it. And they don't seem to want to wait for Wandy. This is nuts.

I think you could be right there. Maybe Dana offered Wandy those two options first, but then wanted it in September. And when Wandy declined, Dana gets pissed and just says that "Wandy backed out"... That would seem believable to me, but it's just speculation.

But right now, they are in this "mess" because so many big name fighters are tied and they really want that big main event for UFC 76 (bigger than Shogun-Lyoto). For the casual fans, that is. So, they pretty much have to keep Chuck on the card and put him against someone else.

I would have preferred Chuck-Vera personally, but I don't think Chuck-Jardine would be a disaster either. Now, Jardine is not at Chuck's level, but I can see them hyping this pretty nicely for the casual fans.
It's the champ who got KO'd vs. the guy who knocked out Forrest and then got KO'd. And as a fight, it should be pretty good while it lasts.

Jras0001 · 07-13-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earvinarp

You are going to get a lot of people in this forum saying that the best should fight the best. I agree it is a safer move for the UFC to give Chuck Jardine. But that may backfire as well.

Why use one of the few fights Chuck has left in his system against Jardine!!!!!???? Wait for Silva, Dana White. You are crazy not to.

If I had to guess about it, its probably more about Chuck wanting to fight and fight soon than it is about when Dana wants him to fight. Remeber back when he was supposed to fight Tito the first time and it fell through so he was going to have to wait for the fight? Well, he didnt wait...he took on Babalu the first time and got one of the best high-light reel KO's from it. Chuck has said many times that he wants to fight as much as possible and Im thinking this might be a case of that. They just needed to find him a descent opponent in the time frame they had to work with.

earvinarp · 07-13-2007, 04:35 PM

I know Chuck probably wants to rush back to the ring. But I still believe that the best solution for the UFC would be to schedule their WW title bout as the main event for that evening (won't happen because of TUF) and wait until November for Chuck to fight Silva.

But, hey, I am just a fan, and there is too much money and interests involved in all of this.

Osnodon · 07-13-2007, 04:36 PM

Gooner's thread > your thread

LinvilleGorge · 07-13-2007, 04:47 PM

I agree. Ever since the loss, Chuck has been saying he wants to get back in the cage ASAP. This is one of those situations where Jardine simply finds himself in the right place at the right time to get a dream fight. Best of luck to him, but he's going to get KTFO twice in row.