UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell responds to the tweets Jon Jones posted last month, claiming that the pound-for-pound king is a points fighter.
Former light heavyweight champion and UFC legend Chuck Liddell said he believed he could still pose problems to Jon Jones if they ever faced off in the Octagon. Jones, who was stripped of the 205-pound title last year for a hit-and-run incident, was quick to respond to “The Iceman” on twitter but didn’t bother tagging the Hall of Famer.
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Liddell took the comments in his stride but wished the pound-for-pound #1 had responded to him directly on Twitter.
“The funny thing is he goes back at me, but if you’re gonna go back at me, tag me,” Liddell said in a recent interview at the EA Sports UFC 2 video-game launch party in Las Vegas (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting). “Let me know you’re going back at me, so I can respond. I just thought it was kind of weird.”
The 46-year-old has been critical of Jones’ fighting style in the past and says he isn’t a fan of his somewhat conservative fighting style. Although most of Bones’ victories have come via decision since winning the LHW title in 2011, the Jackson-Wink fighter is still lauded for his dynmatic strikes and devastating throws.
Continuing at the launch party, Liddell compared Jones to Floyd Mayweather Jr and said they have a similar fighting style.
“He’s a great fighter,” Liddell said. “It’s like Mayweather. Mayweather is a phenomenal fighter, I don’t like watching him. I don’t want to watch a guy outpoint a guy just enough to win and cruise.”
Although Chuck isn’t a fan of Jones’ style, he recognizes his championship-level talent and praises him for the success he’s found in the UFC.
“If that’s the way you fight and you’re the best in the world, you should be champion. Whatever your style of fighting, if you’re winning by the rules that are set by everybody, you should be champion. I’m not mad at him for fighting that way. I understand it. Honestly, I talked about Georges St-Pierre the same way. As a coach, as a manager, I get it. Great. I understand what he’s doing. As a fan, not so much. I don’t get it so much. That’s not what I want to see. But to each his own.”
Jon Jones is schedueled for a championship rematch with Daniel Cormier at the upcoming UFC 197 PPV on April 23rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.