UFC 17: Chuck gets his start

Chuck Liddell would go on to become the biggest draw and most popular fighter in UFC history. But at UFC 17 at the Mobile Civic Center on May 15, 1998, in Alabama, Liddell made his mixed martial arts debut in a non-televised bout against Noe Hernandez. He’d go on to win a decision “The Iceman” wasn’t the only man who’d go on to a prominent career in MMA on the show. Dan Henderson, who became the only man to simultaneously hold two weight class titles in major MMA history, also made his debut in a fight against Allan Goes. Henderson was knocked down twice by punches from Goes, air jordan shoeswho wasn’t known as the striker. And Henderson may have been submitted had Goes not committed a foul. After the second knockdown, Goes kicked Henderson, which was against the rules when a man was down. He immediately went for the rear naked choke and probably would have gotten the submission. But referee Joe Hamilton broke them and stood them up, because of the foul. As a result, Henderson was able to clear his head and recover. Like Liddell, he won a unanimous decision. The card had a strange format, with a middleweight tournament, a middleweight title bout, three super fights and a fight billed as an exhibition. Frank Shamrock successfully defended his middleweight belt by submitting Jeremy Horn, who’d go on to be a UFC staple for years. Color commentator Jeff Blatnick, the Greco-Roman wrestling gold medalist in the super heavyweight division at the 1984 Olympics, was officially named the UFC commissioner, play-by-play man Mike Goldberg announced during the broadcast. Goldberg noted that Blatnick would attempt to get MMA sanctioned Air jordannationally. The card was dubbed “Redemption” as a reference to Mark Coleman’s return after a surprise defeat to Maurice Smith at UFC 14. He was to face Randy Couture, but Couture withdrew from an injury. Instead, he met Pete Williams, who knocked Coleman out with a kick to the face. Tank Abbott escaped a rear naked choke attempt and an arm bar attempt to pound out Hugo Duarte in less than a minute. Significantly, Abbott dropped over 50 pounds for the fight and didn’t have the large midsection for which he’d been known. Middleweight tournament Alternates Chuck Liddell def. Noe Hernandez, unanimous decision Semifinals Dan Henderson def. Allan Goes, unanimous decision Carlos Newton def. Bob Gilstrap, submission (triangle choke), 0:52 Finals Henderson def. Newton, split decision. Other matches Andre Roberts def. Harry Moskowitz, unanimous decision Mike Van Arsdale def. Joe Pardo, Air Max 90submission (keylock), 11:01 Tank Abbott def. Hugo Duarte, TKO, 0:44 Pete Williams def. Mark Coleman, KO, 12:38 UFC middleweight championship Frank Shamrock def. Jeremy Horn, submission (kneebar), 16:30 (Shamrock retains title.

UGG Adirondack Boot II UGG Adirondack Tall UGG Belfair UGG Brookfield UGG Brookfield Tall