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[carbondioxide830]

nice article i found on ufc about ufc 88. i'm really looking forward to chucky/rashad ever since i thought it was gonna happen in london.

UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Home to some of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts, the UFC® light heavyweight division is without question the most competitive in the sport. On Saturday, September 6th, two of the weight class’ best - legendary former champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and unbeaten rising star "Sugar" Rashad Evans – will finally meet in the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization's historic first trip to Atlanta for UFC 88: BREAKTHROUGH, live at Philips Arena.

"Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans is a battle between the former champion looking to get a shot at reclaiming his crown and the undefeated contender looking to earn his first title shot," said Dana White, UFC President. "Chuck is a great wrestler and Rashad has shown improved striking skills so there is no way of telling what will happen when two fighters of this caliber collide. This is going to be another incredible fight, and I am so excited to bring UFC 88 Atlanta."

Originally scheduled to face off against each other on June’s UFC 85 card in London, a torn hamstring sidelined Liddell and forced him to withdraw from his bout with Evans. But if anything, the additional wait has steeled the resolve of both men to not only win this fight, but to end it in spectacular fashion for the loyal UFC fans of Georgia.

UFC 88 marks the organization’s first event in the state since Augusta’s UFC 13 show in May of 1997, and it’s first ever event in Atlanta. To kick off this inaugural event, White stated he will hold a UFC 88 press conference with Liddell and Evans in downtown Atlanta next Tuesday, June 24, and that later that day, the two fighters will attend an autograph session at Lenox Mall from 2 to 4pm ET.

Tickets for UFC 88: BREAKTHROUGH will go on sale Sunday, June 21 at 12 Noon ET and will be priced at $604, $404, $254, $154 and $79. Tickets for UFC 88 will be available at Philip's Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 404.249.6400.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, June 18 at 10am ET via the website UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, June 20 starting at 10am ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®.

UFC 88: BREAKTHROUGH is available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

One of the biggest stars in American sports, Chuck Liddell (21-5) is a fighter who needs no introduction to fight fans. Fresh off a thrilling three round win over Wanderlei Silva last December in a fight which easily lived up to over four years of expectations, the 38-year-old – owner of knockout wins over a Who’s Who of 205-pound stalwarts, including Randy Couture (twice), Tito Ortiz (twice), Renato Sobral (twice), Jeremy Horn, and Kevin Randleman - continues on his quest to regain his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Quinton “Rampage” Jackson; but to get there, he has to get by Evans, only the third undefeated fighter Liddell has ever faced.

"I'm excited to be back in training, and I'm excited to have this Rashad fight back on - I’m going to put pressure on him and put him
down, because, unfortunately everyone has to have their first loss," said Liddell. "It's been a white since I fought on the East coast, so I'm looking forward to going out there and giving this knockout to Atlanta."

Evans (16-0-1) burst on the UFC scene in style in 2005 when he won the heavyweight division of season two of The Ultimate Fighter®, winning four fights en route to the title. Dropping back to his natural weight class at 205 pounds, he has kept the momentum going with five wins and just one controversial draw against former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz in July of 2007. Among his victims are standouts Stephan Bonnar and Jason Lambert, and in his most recent bout at UFC 78 last November, he pounded out a three round decision win over previously unbeaten British star Michael “The Count” Bisping. Now Evans has his sights on taking down a UFC icon on September 6th.

"I'm honored to fight Chuck, it's good to fight someone who has been where you want to be. This is going to be a tough fight though, I know someone is gonna be finished, and I think it'll be Chuck," said Evans. "I'm excited to go to Atlanta, I've heard great things about the city, I've never been there before, but I know there's no better way to experience a place than to have thousands of people all there to see you fight."

The remaining bouts for UFC 88 will be announced in the near future.

Liddell should take this pretty easily. Rashad wont be able to take him down,and on the feet Rashad doesnt pose any real threat.

[LookitsLance]

Yeah, I'm not really sure how Rashad has any chance against Chuck...

[SHUA]

if chuck can stay on his feet, this fight ends with awesome KO 1st round. war chucky

[chungt79]

I say Rashad has just about same chance as Jardine.

What other fights are on this card? First show in Atlanta and the main event is not attractive enough for me to go at this point.

[LookitsLance]

Originally Posted by chungt79

I say Rashad has just about same chance as Jardine.

What other fights are on this card? First show in Atlanta and the main event is not attractive enough for me to go at this point.

I really don't think Rashad has the same chance, his striking just doesn't look like it would be effective against Liddell, but I could be wrong, I say KO Rd 1.

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by chungt79

I say Rashad has just about same chance as Jardine.

What other fights are on this card? First show in Atlanta and the main event is not attractive enough for me to go at this point.

I was hoping W.Silva but hes not fighting till December

[carbondioxide830]

i'm anticipating a highlight reel knock out for chuck, but keep in the mind, when this fight takes place, it'll be nearly a year after jardine did what you people are saying rashad can't do and that's out score chuck to a decision; and i'm sure having the dean of mean as a training partner doesnt hurt either.

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

Originally Posted by chungt79

I say Rashad has just about same chance as Jardine.

Rashads striking is nowhere near where Jardines is. I think Jardine also has alot better cardio then Rashad.

[atj-lucko]

Originally Posted by chungt79

I say Rashad has just about same chance as Jardine.

What other fights are on this card? First show in Atlanta and the main event is not attractive enough for me to go at this point.

This is what I gonna say, if Jardine can last 3 rounds with Liddell, then Evans should be able to it.