Loyal Sherdog.com visitors had much to say about January’s batch of op-eds, much of it printable. What better way to spend a Monday than to argue subjective opinions? It works for Bill O’Reilly five days a week. Below: comments on New Year’s, Couture’s new year, and the noisy testes of select athletes.

New Year’s reprieves

Could Tito Ortiz (Pictures) — after winning 3-5 fights — be given another shot at Liddell? I know it is not likely to happen soon but if he wins it might. Even after the loss this weekend both fighters knew that was as close to losing as Chuck will be in the near future.

As for Cro Cop: lets not go wild thinking he might be fighting Chuck anytime soon due to the fact he will clean up the HW division first. If that happens it wont be till mid-2008 that a CC vs. Chuck fight would be timely. Don’t you think the UFC could get Josh Barnett (Pictures) back or maybe Fedor?

Do you think 205 lbs. is the glamour or money weight is MMA? I do ‘cause not many people can identify with the HW division. – Chevrolet93212

Sentient cars: the Sherdog demo continues to grow.

I really don’t see Ortiz-Liddell III happening before Liddell decides to hang them up. The first two bouts left very little to the imagination, and not even a UFC barker show could convince fans of any other outcome. Ortiz’s only chance would be to catch Chuck hanging on for one fight too many, nabbing a TKO via youth.

The UFC’s recent installation of the WEC as fresh funnel for talent mimics what the WWE does with their — God help me — RAW and Smackdown brands. If Ortiz can’t overcome Liddell, he has a fresh chance at the gold in their ancillary show. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of Chuck’s recent victims make the lateral move over and help establish the promotion.

Jardine vs. Liddell and Renzo vs. the Experts

Great read. I also found Forrest crying admirable. I do, however, wonder why you only listed Rashad Evans (Pictures) and Quinton Jackson (Pictures) as the only challengers for Chuck. What about Keith Jardine (Pictures)? I mean the dude is basically undefeated in the octagon (BS decision against Stephan Bonnar (Pictures)). He stopped Forrest Griffin (Pictures) when everybody thought Forrest was the next contender. He also did what Tito couldn't do. I do feel Rashad deserves the title shot before Jardine, simply because Rashad beat him on TUF 2. Yet if Forrest was going to get a title shot, then Jardine should.

As for Renzo Gracie (Pictures), I love the guy but he isn't resurrecting his career. I was at Mohegan this past weekend (Great show and got to meet a lot of fighters) and Renzo did not beat Carlos Newton (Pictures). I was rooting for Renzo but even I couldn't give him the decision. I don't think Renzo had one single moment of offense. Newton gets screwed out of another decision. – Keith Shillan

Jardine has two major obstacles in his way when it comes to vying for Liddell’s belt: he hasn’t captured the hearts of fans and his fight style is so sleepy it should be considered a controlled substance. With Quinton Jackson (Pictures) in the mix and more marquee talent likely streaming in, I don’t see Jardine getting a lot of support, internally or otherwise, for a title bid.

Rashad Evans (Pictures) deserves the next shot; 5-0 in the promotion, he’s a more explosive wrestler than Ortiz has been in recent outings, and he’s probably the best pure athlete Liddell has had to face since Kevin Randleman (Pictures).

Renzo has had some admirable performances in the past two years, especially when you consider he was in the cage practically from the beginning. Of the mid-1990s contingent, he’s pretty much the only one still standing. It deserves mention.

Liddell’s place

The funny thing about Liddell's legacy is that he has not fought any of the top four 205-pounders in the world: Shogun, Silva, Arona, and Lil Nog. He is certainly ranked with those fighters, but yet hasn't faced any of them; Rampage is probably next in line and Liddell lost to him. The point I would be trying to make here is that your article on whether or not anyone can stop Liddell is really a question of whether or not he will fight anyone that has a chance to stop him. Any of the top four would give Liddell a very good fight and challenge him. If I were him I would demand a fight against one of them.

I totally disagree with your comment that the stoppage between Royler Gracie (Pictures) and Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) was ignoble. Royler is a great warrior but he was being punished the entire fight and obviously had no chance against Sakuraba. Why would the ref let the fight go on when his arm was in such a position? There was no way out and it was definitely a safety issue. Royler should be happy that his arm was not broken and permanent damage sustained.

Here's to the New Year and the exciting match-ups that could take place. – Centaur14

Liddell’s options are limited to who the UFC has the contractual right to put in front of him. “Demanding” a bout with someone out of their reach isn’t a productive way to spend his free time. His rank is relative to the talent pool in his corner of the world. The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship is exactly as advertised: the owner is the best in the UFC at that given time.

The Royler Gracie (Pictures)-Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) stoppage is seven-year-old news, but I think Japan’s penchant for controversial outcomes and dubious officiating says more about the legacy of that bout than anything. That Kimbo Slice bare-knuckle fight in a boatyard seemed more organized than anything PRIDE or K-1 has overseen.

Jackson & Tyson

Hello! Have we forgotten Jackson's utter dismantling of Liddell? Yes I know it was ‘03, but it wasn't like it was a close controversial decision. Jackson said, "Here's a platter with your ass on it, Chuck." It seems like the MMA world or at least Dana White's MMA world has forgotten this major 'bitch slapping' of their skilled yet sheltered champion. It seems we are suffering from a terrible case of selective amnesia here.

Oh yeah, before we prematurely give Chuck the mantle, have we forgotten that there are a few more badass spirits out their named Wanderlei and Shogun? I think these guys are pretty decent fighters. Here's one I haven't heard mentioned - what about a beefed up Anderson Silva? Let's not crown Chuck yet! And when Joe Rogan compares Liddell with Tyson … Spare me. He is not of the same ilk. – Kevin S.

Jackson’s win over Liddell will get plenty of play when the rematch becomes a reality. Until then, it’s probably not terrific business sense to bust out a reel of your biggest star getting laid out, especially if Jackson gets a flat on his road to the title.

Liddell taking on Anderson Silva would be interesting, but there’s a significant weight disparity there. And if Silva should grab the title, I imagine one of the 220-pound wrestlers that roam the division would flatten him in fairly short order. Stop listening to B.J. Penn (Pictures) and Royce Gracie (Pictures) — size matters.

Rogan’s comparison of Liddell to Tyson was probably more about Liddell’s stature in his sport, not their level of ability. Tyson was America’s boogeyman, someone who could hurt anyone at any time, and badly. Liddell is MMA’s current incarnation of that archetype.

Shamrock-Gracie to infinity

Wouldn't it have been nice to see Ken Shamrock (Pictures) and Royce Gracie (Pictures) meet each other in 2006 as oppose to getting pummeled by Tito Ortiz (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures)? I am sure Shamrock-Gracie III would've been much more evenly matched. It just goes to show how much the sport has evolved since the early days. – Scott Thompson

Gracie would have to make several trips through a Fatburger drive-through to make 186, which is the best-case scenario for that fight ever happening.

The recent influx of promoters with big money means that someone will probably try to make the fight, if they haven’t already. I think we’re going to see some very intriguing — and very depressing — bouts in 2007.