Chuck Liddell is one of the best light heavyweight fighters of all time and thinks he could have taken the current light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, if the two met in their primes.
Though Liddell, 44, is impressed with Jones’ overall fighting, he believes he would have presented a very difficult matchup for the current 26-year-old champ.
“I think I would have been a horrible matchup for him,” Liddell told FOX Sports. “I would have walked through his punches and he wouldn’t have caught me with anything.”
The one area where the Iceman thinks Jones needs some improvement is in his punching.
“I think it’s too early to tell,” Liddell said. “If he finds his punching power — a good straight [cross], a good hook — then we’ll see. I mean, not only score with it, but hurt somebody. Then we’re talking.”
Liddell went 21-8 with 13 knockouts in his fighting career. He was known for his strong chin and great knockout power.
As good as Liddell was, Jones may be the best light heavyweight of all time. He has excellent reach, good striking and great wrestling abilities. Liddell says he would have been a tough matchup, but I’m pretty sure Bones would have been even more difficult.
Keep in mind that Liddell has been making a lot of noise this week because his training partner, Glover Teixeira, is facing Bones on Saturday at UFC 172. He’s naturally going to be building up his guy while downplaying Jones’ ability.
Glove touch to Bloody Elbow
