Can The Iceman Do It... Just One More Time?

in #steemsports5 years ago




SteemSports Presenter:@brandonk
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
If I said I wasn't worried I'd be lying. The 48 year old mixed martial arts legend in Chuck Lidell helped to sculpt the man I am today; he showed no fear in the Octagon and gave me the courage to test my mettle in martial arts as a clueless 13 year old just wanting to defend himself from the world.
Seeing this icon re-enter the combat sports arena is somewhat painful as I do believe it's more a ploy for money than anything, and anyone who watched the sport over the years knows Chuck has absolutely nothing to prove. The matchup against Tito couldn't be any better really...

...but to discredit Tito's evolution as a fighter would also be ignorant. Chuck may have had the mental game checked on Tito for years as a young champion, but as an older fighter out of the game for a decade, it just seems completely out of reach. I really hope the best for both men here.
Tito is no spring chicken himself, he is 43 years old and has had numerous surgeries to repair the body he's torn up over the years in mma. Tito also has had some of the best wins of his career while Chuck was enjoying retirement. Let's not forget that Tito has a win over the current Bellator champion Ryan Bader.

Will Chuck still have the power and counterwrestling he once had? Power never leaves you, and neither do your wits, but all the other intangibles that help those flow together surely do.... Chuck needs to establish himself as unafraid and tag Tito early to make him remember the old fights.
Tito was never completely out of the fights with Chuck in their first two, he would eventually succumb to blows but he was always willing to trade in the pocket to test it out. I am worried that if Chuck carries the same confidence he did in 2006, it could be an early night for him.

Chuck's chin is obviously the most worriesome issue here as Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, and Rich Franklin devastatlingly knocked Chuck out before sending him into retirement. Chuck represents the old era, and although he is my influence to mixed martial arts and an absolute legend...
...it doesn't mean I am any less worried about his current physical condition. He really did look slow on the pads, and his technique just looked labored. Even if he is 'sandbagging' as Tito claims, I don't believe he can pretend to give off such plain technique and elaboration of strikes.

It is an interesting bout to say the least, and as long as both men profit and make it home safe that's all I can really ask for as a fan. I look very forward to seeing what Oscar De La Hoya can do within the realm of mma (although this is quite a strange start). Will you be watching? Thank you for following @steemsports and you can find me @brandonk

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