Filed under: UFC
Stylistically, Chuck Liddell‘s night got easier when Tito Ortiz was forced to withdraw from their fight and he was replaced by Rich Franklin. Competitively though, it likely got more difficult.
After facing and beating Ortiz twice, Liddell has a very good idea of nearly everything Ortiz brings to the table. He understands his strategy, setups and execution. He’s experienced his spacing, striking and shooting. He’s seen it all in 3-D and conquered it. That’s not to say that the third time around would be automatic, just that the variables that go with unfamiliarity are non-existent.
Franklin, too is a familiar opponent, but in a different way. The former UFC middleweight champion has been around the MMA game long enough that he has few secrets in his arsenal, but Liddell has yet to experience them in person. He doesn’t know how quick his hands are, how strong he is, or what kind of power he packs with his striking. And that’s what makes the main event of UFC 115 compelling.