This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Chuck Liddell Turns 44

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For a time, no star in mixed martial arts burned brighter than that of Chuck Liddell. “The Iceman” will celebrate his 44th birthday on Dec. 17.

Inducted into the Ultimate Fighting Championship hall of fame in July 2009, Liddell still ranks fourth on the promotion’s all-time list in appearances (23) and wins (16). He held the UFC light heavyweight championship from April 16, 2005 until May 26, 2007, successfully defending it on four different occasions, with wins over Jeremy Horn, Randy Couture, Renato Sobral and Tito Ortiz. One of the Zuffa-era UFC’s first crossover commodities, Liddell graced the cover of ESPN the Magazine in May 2007 and appeared on Season 9 of “Dancing with the Stars.” However, his in-cage exploits are what endure. The only man to defeat Couture twice, he also owns wins against Wanderlei Silva, Alistair Overeem, Vitor Belfort, Murilo Bustamante, Kevin Randleman and Jose Landi-Jons.

Liddell lost five of his final six bouts before retiring following his June 2010 knockout defeat to Rich Franklin at UFC 115 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday the week covering Dec. 15-Dec. 21:

DEC. 15

Yasubey Enomoto (30)
Ivica Truscek (26)

DEC. 16

Jadamba Narantungalag (38)
Elaina Maxwell (35)
James Thompson (35)
Takeya Mizugaki (30)
Won Sik Park (27)
Cody McKenzie (26)

DEC. 17

Chuck Liddell (44)
Kiyoshi Tamura (44)
David Loiseau (34)
Joe Ray (29)

DEC. 18

Kim Couture (38)
Evan Dunham (32)
Roland Delorme (30)

DEC. 19

Michihiro Omigawa (38)
Satoshi Ishii (27)
Jack Marshman (24)

DEC. 20

Mark Coleman (49)
Steve Granieri (39)
Taiyo Nakahara (31)
Alexei Kudin (29)

DEC. 21

Mark Kerr (45)
Masakatsu Ueda (36)
Mike Bannon (31)
Brad Tavares (26)

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