The MMA Digest

Photo: UFC.com

While many felt it would end before in round one with someone asleep on their back, Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva fought the full three rounds in a highly entertaining bout that lived up to its hype.

The most effective blows came on the feet, and the most devastating exchange coming in the third round when a spinning back fist landed and hurt Silva. Liddell pounced on the Brazilian trying to finish him, but Silva weathered the storm and fought back. Expending much energy, Liddell held back and gained some breath while Silva found some breathing room for himself to recover.

Nonetheless, all three judges gave the fight to Liddell at the end of three rounds of intense back and forth action.

The most interesting aspect of the bout was Liddell throwing a wrench into the system by taking Silva down. We suspected this may occur as Liddell stated he wanted to take Keith Jardine down in their last fight. Liddell indeed did take Silva down three times in the fight. At the end of the second round he took down the Brazilian, and most interesting was right off the bat in round three he charged out and double-legged Silva quickly to the mat. At the end of three, Liddell also went for and successfully scored a takedown.

It’s a good indication Liddell is adapting to the challenges the division brings. Being a one-punch KO artist as been an effective style for him up until his fight with Quinton Jackson and Keith Jardine, and again in this fight he wasn’t able to knock out Wanderlei Silva. So when the knockout doesn’t come, mixing up his attack with some takedowns can be effective in helping sway the judges in decisions as well as keeps his opponents on their toes. Not knowing whether Liddell is going to shoot or strike makes him more of an unpredictable and lethal threat in the cage.