Niceman Cometh: Liddell Faces ‘Dean of Mean’

Back in my day, we'd get one UFC show every six months and had to walk 10 miles in the snow just to see it.

Now the UFC is promoting so many events, my bank account has become Time Warner Cable's main source of income.

You spoiled youngsters get to skip the hike on Saturday and watch the reinvented UFC light heavyweight division as it begins to take shape with a trio of pivotal match-ups. Also on the agenda is Tyson Griffin (Pictures)'s selfish quest to win every Fight of the Night award he can get his grubby hands on and a showdown between Jon Fitch (Pictures) and the staph monster growing out of Diego Sanchez (Pictures)'s knee.

So join me as we discuss Chute Boxe's similarities to A Tribe Called Quest. We'll also reveal a syndrome that is running rampant in Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools everywhere.

Keith Jardine (Pictures) vs. Chuck Liddell (Pictures)

In a sport that uses four-ounce gloves, the likelihood of knockout losses veers toward inevitable. Both Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine learned that lesson in their last UFC bouts.

Liddell's loss to Quinton Jackson (Pictures) in May marked the end of his first UFC light heavyweight title reign. With the goal of a second reign already set, Liddell must rediscover the form that left the entire division struggling to find an answer for his unorthodox striking and impenetrable takedown defense.

Lately the questions surrounding the former champion have more to do with his love of the nightlife than any in-ring concerns. While Liddell brushes off inquiries about his preparation, there is no denying that his idea of a night out is more apropos for the life of a Hollywood starlet than a professional fighter.

Against Jardine, "The Iceman" has the perfect chance to prove that the only thing he and Nicole Richie have in common is a love for painted toenails.

Jardine is no anorexic celebutant, though, and he has already proven his worth inside the cage on several occasions. Most notable is his TKO win over Forrest Griffin (Pictures) in which Jardine weathered Griffin's improved boxing and finished the family-friendly Tyler Durden with a vicious hail of punches late in the first round.

Seemingly headed toward title contention, Jardine then ran into an unexpected roadblock against a virtual unknown in Houston Alexander (Pictures). An early knockdown scored by Jardine proved to be a false auspice, as Alexander did his best Tony Twist impersonation with a stunning string of punches inside the clinch.

Forty-eight seconds into what was supposed to be a showcase for Jardine, and it seemed as though any title dreams had been put to bed. Luckily for him hope springs eternal in MMA. A win over Liddell sends Jardine right back into title contention.

Given Liddell's stalking style, Jardine must stay mindful of overcommitting with strikes and giving Liddell the openings on which he so deftly capitalizes. The best route for Jardine would be to create angles and use his powerful leg kicks to force Liddell to step outside his usual counterpunching game plan.

The problem inherent in that approach, however, is that Jardine may not be able to survive the exchanges that Liddell forces.

Long known for his looping yet accurate punches and sturdy chin, Liddell has shown a weakness against opponents who can step inside the pocket and avoid his punches while delivering their own. The strategy is set, but Jardine lacks the movement and counterpunching ability to implement it.

He'll rack up points early with leg kicks. When Liddell starts moving forward, though, this fight will turn around faster than the last five minutes of "The Usual Suspects."

A trademark Liddell overhand right sends Jardine to bed like an Al Gore documentary -- an inconvenient truth for Jardine and anyone who bets on him.