Chuck Liddell Earns Massive KO Win Over Guy Mezger in Pride Debut | Pride 14, 2001 | On This Day

On this day in 2001, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell made his debut in the Pride fighting promotion, becoming the first UFC fighter to compete in Pride, where he earned a big second-round KO win over opponent Guy Mezger.
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#UFC

[@Benny_From_NY]

Chucks run as the light heavyweight champ was some of my all time favorite years ever in the UFC.

[@Zepper-xs6bu]

UFC is probably one of the biggest jokes today...it's a shame when you had killers like Lyoto, Randy, ShoGun, (prime) Sugar Rashad

[@Benny_From_NY]

@@Zepper-xs6bu I always say styles make up great fights, in those days you had fighters who had very distinct fighting styles, now it’s like these fighters come off assembly lines styles are all the same it’s boring now. Even in the early days of ufc you had a wrestler vs boxer or karate vs BJJ or even wrestler vs BJJ it was amazing to see just who the tougher animal was.That’s where the whole name mixed martial arts came from you’re mixing martial arts mixing different fighting styles vision was completely different back then. If I started a fighting league it would be limited to what you can train you’re allowed to train one specific fighting style and then you go up against someone who has a different fighting style and see who the better fighter is.

[@nader5873]

@@Benny_From_NY you people love crying 2021 is arguably the best year of ufc

[@Benny_From_NY]

@@nader5873 that’s your opinion.

[@00piper18000]

@@Benny_From_NY I get what you are saying about the early days, it was like bloodsport in real life where it was one single fighting style against another single fighting style, It was cool. To say that today's MMA is boring is insane to me, it's better in almost every way. Sure there's a lot more well rounded/balanced fighters but there is still plenty of fighters with their own unique fighting styles. I've been watching this sport since the mid 90s and I have enjoyed watching the sports evolution in to what it is today.

[@milkweedreflections]

Been watching a bunch of early Pride lately, and Mezger is crazy underated. Dude was legit in his era, way ahead of a lot of his contemporaries. Great striking, and well rounded skill set.

[@bigbrotherlivefeeds8625]

You should comment this on one of his wins

[@TheAntManChannel]

no shit, casual

[@alxofficial1541]

Lol. Casual. Anyone who knows MMA or Pride knows Guy Metzger

[@tacoconch7678]

Yeah, he gave Wanderlei a lot of trouble too before getting knocked out.

[@robdubent]

I'm guessing you commented this before 2:07

[@cornking6]

Guy Mezger is a legend of the sport and should be in the HOF in his own right.

[@RelentlessPedigree]

Negative.

[@m.b.593]

@@RelentlessPedigree Casual

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

Gay mezger

[@captd80]

Guy Metzger would’ve finished most people with some of those strikes, Chuck just had an amazing chin… till he didn’t.

[@tacotacotington3638]

They just don’t make them the same anymore. Guy had 45 fights in around 8 years and ended with almost a 70% win rate. Fighters nowadays don’t even have a third of those amount of times.

[@thesaint9276]

Guy Mezger was legit. His fight with wanderlei was good too.

[@ractorstudios]

Ya he had Chucks number too. But his chin was the best back then

[@julybeeb4614]

Chuck the OG of the fight game. Does not look powerful but when he connects lights go off real quick.

[@skitzcunt4213]

chuck always looked off balance, even uncoordinated to me...

[@tmackn6592]

"Does not look powerful"? Chuck's built with broad shoulders, a solid core, sledgehammers for fists and overall large bones, the guy's got 'I'll knock you out cold!' written all over him, hahaha, kid's these days!

[@BRAINFxck10]

Maybe he doesn't look powerful to you because his opponents all had steroid juice monkey muscles

[@bobthemadmonkey]

@@tmackn6592 For real, his build looks like he has thrown a million punches he's all torso

[@tmackn6592]

@@bobthemadmonkey And if you want to go to the next level of powerful core punching power, just look at Fedor or Mark Hunt! Very heavy hands being launched from those trunks

[@benflyt9827]

Man the sport is different now. It’s cool to see chuck in beast mode. I became a fan as he was on his way out of the top 10

[@ShutUpBubi]

Sports weak now

[@samcooke343]

@@ShutUpBubi Any of today's fighters would dominate fighters from back then. Just how it is.

[@BiffBuffchest]

looks like they were both gassed after a minute or two

[@Cum007]

@@samcooke343 yeah but this is a point fighting era now Not even exciting

[@dudedog7914]

@@ShutUpBubi not nearly as weak as that super poser profile picture🤣

[@KannyNguyen]

I believe when Chuck was born, he already had a beer belly.

[@mattimeikalainen3434]

*HGH belly

[@dudedog7914]

@@mattimeikalainen3434 *your moms belly

[@m-train2334]

Most babies and toddlers have em.

[@richardcarroll9864]

I no, I h8 that guy.

[@fightermma]

He actually had a six pack in his early fights. He has a six pack here too but has a distended stomach.

[@donalosullivan1455]

Liddell my favorite UFC fighter ever, a true warrior and always went for the kill and he lived the life too.

[@Jamie-js3qw]

@notfiveo yeah, except it was a combo of five or so. It wasn't the upper-cut, it was the right cross.

[@donalosullivan1455]

@notfiveo don't get ya?

[@zeroman155]

Chuck Liddell is one of my favorite mma fighters. Always came to fight. He understood that this is a fight. He had a whatever happens, happens mentality. Like Mike Tyson. Kill or be killed attitude. Iceman!

[@philthorne2791]

Chuck’s chin in his prime was unreal. Even at his retirement his skills were at the top of the division. True legend of MMA.

[@PieterDaniell]

Sure, he will be remembered as a drug abuser

[@phillabong520]

@@PieterDaniell I mean his nickname was “iceman” for more than one reason lol

[@jehezkielkennethbarantian5386]

@@PieterDaniell no evidence

[@TheLinkremmy]

He lost 5 of his final 6 fights not exactly top of the division still a legend though

[@chetarmlin1196]

@@TheLinkremmy What he did in his prime made him legendary. He should have retired sooner. He legit thought he was just getting caught. Couldn't except the fact his chin was gone. Loosing to Tito convinced him of that

[@ohtebowah]

That was actually a lovely technical finishing sequence from Chuck there. Rear handed right superman punch step through into lead right hook? And then sweeping right hand to cut through the guard and catch Guy blind? Just lovelyyyy

[@greenarcher7887]

This is where legends are made.

[@jamesrobert4106]

When the leg completely folds underneath it is a lights out shot. I am amazed there isn't horrible leg damage when that happens.

[@graciegjj]

Maybe leg damage does occur

[@donnypotsmoker]

There is horrible leg damage, trust me!

[@Im-just-Stardust]

Probably the most OG of UFC.

[@ethxer7534]

Great fight between two legends. Those were good times.

[@devinburkett9036]

We *NEED* *BAS* *RUTEN* *Back* in the Commentary *booth* for the *UFC!!*

[@jaysonbarber33]

"Chuck Liddell.. a very interesting looking individual" 😂😂

[@tmackn6592]

Like Joe Rogan said, "he's got eyes like a leopard seal, he's a straight up predator" and the Slayer concert inspired mohawk doesn't hurt his image either!

[@ehrenloudermilk1053]

Metzger had massive amount of heart to stay in the fight against that absolute beast

[@FightNightPicks]

Career wins over Tito Ortiz, Funaki and Semmy Schilt…Mezger might not be HOF worthy right there but he was featured in an episode of *Walker Texas Ranger* and that gets him in for sure

[@solodolo4098]

That's a no for me tbh. Might as well give everyone that came out on Walker Texas ranger a nomination.

[@nimzo2000]

@@solodolo4098 Chuck Norris would knock out Ngannou and choke out Khabib.

[@solodolo4098]

@@nimzo2000 chuck Norris will most likely preach to you about the bible and make sure you don't use foul language

[@madgavin7568]

Mezger is HOF worthy, he won the UFC 13 Tournament and became the Pancrase Openweight Champion with two defences of his title.

[@turdzilla1675]

@@madgavin7568 agreed.

[@markmatthews281]

Chuck wasn't afraid to take a shot to land his, not a smart way to fight, but it worked for him for a while plus he was so damn entertaining.

[@madgavin7568]

It worked for Chuck until it didn't.

[@dudedog7914]

@@madgavin7568 you really like to repeat the same s*** over and over again don't you? Trust me, your thoughts really aren't that entertaining or impressive.

[@fishingtacklechannel]

I can’t believe it’s been over 20 years!!! It still feels like yesterday when I saw the UFC 1 via video cassette and first episode of TUF on Spike TV .

[@kevinworrell3713]

Yeah, I know. I watched UFC 1 live on November 12th, 1993 with my buddy and it sure doesn't seem like almost 30 years ago. ☕😅

[@LP3me]

Fun fight while it lasted. These old fights are crazy different from how MMA is now, literally no foot or head movement. Just standing in front of each other exchanging.

[@Whit3WolfXArcadia]

Now its more bjj and wrestling heavy Oriented

[@amyalewine]

Fights were real in the old days. Now it is sports entertainment. That is the difference.

[@rellikbackwards2308]

@@amyalewine Lol casual

[@theJoachimMurat]

2:44 no head movement? bruh there's head movement in 1930s boxing, why would people wanna get hit 70 years later?

[@jasonmelvin9102]

​@@amyalewine lol dude stop being salty and lying

[@tomsgreengallery]

The way Chuck caught himself when he went down, just remarkable. Crazy good fighter

[@nathj4818]

Chuck Liddell was, is and always will be my favourite MMA/UFC fighter of all time 💯 thanks for the memories Chucky you BEAST!! 👍

[@kevbarnes9459]

Agreed

[@sexuallobster134679]

My favorite thing about being an mma fan is seeing the progression of the sport. It's just what happens in sports, especially newer sports. The movement and striking defence in mma has come a looooooooong way. It might actually be my favorite part of watching old fights too

[@pdxraves]

The confidence that build after this fight was so next level

[@FUNDIR5]

They both looked gassed after one minute. Those punches took the life out of both fighters. Hard fought match.

[@shaunszalai3823]

This is a shortened clip, it went into the 2nd round, with the 1st round being 10mins

[@blahmcjones2308]

When I first watched the clip I initially thought the same thing, hahah. I knew it had to be edited because I've never seen anyone gas anywhere near that quickly.

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

Chuck was one of the best counter punchers while falling back in the business. He was more lethal in retreat than on attack. Here he shows shear power.

[@johndeagle4389]

His KO shows he was attacking not retreating.

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

@@johndeagle4389 - exactly what I said

[@BoyDanny93]

Agree

[@impracticallyperfect8987]

I can't believe how quiet the pride crowds were

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

The Japanese are reserved and respectful, unlike Western fans, most of whom are probably already boozed up halfway through the event.

[@cowwy3130]

A legend was made

[@jeremyh9978]

Man back then I really wanted to see Chuck vs Wanderlei too!!

[@herrzyklon]

Been around the UFC for a long time and I always though Mezger for the short end of the stick for some reason. Always put himself on the line, was around since UFC 2 I believe, and was a very honest fighter.

[@nickeverything4433]

Yup. Dude was injured and put a clinic on Sakuraba.

[@inthecrosshairs4480]

The day Rashad Evans knocked out Chuck Liddell, I knew it was over. That knock out sent Chuck on a trip through the universe from which the ICEMAN never returned. He was a beast and definitely GOAT status.

[@user-oi9dn4ej5g]

One of the all time greatest fights in mma, Liddell vs overeem was amazing aswell

[@zatchg1212]

Chuck, Tito, Randy, Wanderlei, Rampage, Vitor. Early/mid 2000’s was arguably the best era of mma

[@cavscout62]

Chuck The Iceman and this era is when all the MMA stuff was about Real Street Fighting and it was entertaining.

[@ghostface3655]

@0:30 Guy just missed that left hook....(obviously there were a lot that could've done it) but, it would've been a career KO for him. So crazy to think that one split second, could make, or break your career...That's why I love MMA!! Preciate the videos!!

[@uso_Jus2SmooTh94]

I remember this fight. After that first exchange looked like Guy used up his whole gas tank. The next shot Liddell landed was for sure the fight 💥

[@bobthemadmonkey]

They didn't really comment on it because guy's punch knocked him down but chuck did damage in that exchange

[@MacPNW]

Met Chuck at a bar in San Diego. Super nice guy even though our group was pretty drunk and obnoxious. We all did a shot. Good times.

[@MikeCho]

Chuck was an ABSOLUTE BEAST , one of my top 5 mma fighters of all time !!

[@thundarrisaboss2725]

mezger was WAY better than i gave him credit for, back in the day. super class act, too.

[@cherokeeredman2756]

Chuck the Iceman is the man. I always pulled for him. His punches were like hammers from hell. I'd hate to get hit by him.

[@cardiocain2122]

One of underrated chuck Liddell win

[@chain2chain2]

*Chakkuuuuu Leeeeddel*........,🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jasonrobbins4227]

Did they miss that knee to Guy's face? Dude got rocked so hard

[@rodneyleon3645]

They did. Everyone in the comments missed it too. He was cuckoo. He also touched gloves again because he wasn't alogether there. He was just waiting to get knocked out.

[@MrWilljthrill]

gotta love liddels style he was like a light heavyweight ngannou

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

Liddell always had a sus chin.

[@MrWilljthrill]

@@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564 he just leave his chin open not about it being bad or anything but yeah your chin most likely will get worse as u keep taking shots to the brain

[@johnyoung9203]

Chucks chin, and ability to recover fast was great in the early years of his career. I really wish he would have retired sooner though it's sad listening to him talk now. He has severe CTE and its heartbreaking because I loved watching him fight. His light heavyweight run was the most exciting like a mma Mike Tyson.

[@TheAntManChannel]

Chuck put Guy in his prime on ICE!

[@bambam0413]

I miss pride

[@JasonVictorEverett]

Chuck’s KO of Overeem in the next round was epic.

[@awickedtribe]

"And he stunned Liddell!"... Chuck was "Guns like that and that's all you got?" kind of stunned

[@davidcolley4756]

Well when ya take one that sends you on your ass, i hope thats not all you think. He recovered well, falling like that means your legs went out, which means nerves were shocked, which means it's an objective fact you got rocked.

[@BallinOutOfControl08]

Damn when I first started watching mma 15 years ago I thought Chuck was unstoppable. Now looking at this fight, dude was always awkward striker like a playground bully. No head movement or foot movement even in his prime.

[@hitmanm818]

Just noticed it too a decade later fighters have evolved

[@berzerkbankie1342]

His striking defense was to knock you out before you got close enough to knock him out

[@lutasquequerover1632]

Justamente, porque os lutadores evoluiram, e só percebemos isso ao olhar para o presente e ver a movimentação dos lutadores modernos!

[@jacobsaunders1092]

Touch of death in his hands

[@rizzledizzle9801]

Great entertainment though

[@rufus576]

I definitely didn’t get “Chuck Liddell” from that commentator in the first few seconds 😂😂

[@johnsaint2283]

Boy was this fight edited. Guy was kicking his ass. Props to Chuck for wailing one of those Kempo Karate(sp) haymakers that connected...Guy Mezger was so underrated.

[@alyberop1]

"Chuck can take a punch"...aah those were the days

[@Meltymorty]

Pride was legendary

[@dinkyramirez9866]

Chuck Liddell in his Prime!! 🥶

[@bananapatch9118]

Love watching the old Iceman videos. Beast !

[@robwithrbk]

Chuck really launched the UFC with others. But he was a star. What a chin back then too. He was getting pieced up early.

[@8-bite393]

I love Chuck‘s raw style, cus mine is so similar

[@jacobcopeland1818]

Pride never dies

[@simonyoung6815]

Guy Mezger was a bad man, as well. This fight wasn't his but he was a warrior. Seeing Chuck in his prime is always a pleasure.

[@tomdobbs2733]

Chuck found his chin in the end . The ice man is the reason I got into mma . I remember when rampage came over from pride to the ufc good times

[@marcusaurelius5149]

Prime Chuck Liddell: Low kicks, wrestling, movement, granite chin.

[@michaelhowe8674]

Pride was the number one organization in the world for 10 years, Guy and Chuck put down a great fight. Mezger was no slouch, a legitimate world class fighter. Chuck laid it down after getting caught. Wish fights like this were brought about more often

[@SB-jn8cw]

What a lot of people forget or unaware is that the reason fighters like Guy and Wandy left the UFC for PRIDE is because the pay was much better.

[@michaelhowe8674]

@@SB-jn8cw ohhh yeah for sure man. Pride fighters were making bank

[@jackjackson811]

Proof that Chuck had one of the best chins in the game at one point.

[@tomhank9575]

I love that Chuck Liddell is the best

[@meissnerflux]

One of Chuck's biggest wins.

[@BamM88]

Pride was something else

[@whattheshrek9046]

The man back in the day Chuck Liddell!

[@lemondishonor7736]

I remember Tito Ortiz used to call him Gay Metsger.😂

[@sharronclark7485]

Didnt think much of chuck at first but over time I learned to respect him!🤠👍

[@travyzf2880]

one real fight thats not bought and sold, Liddell and challenger give me hope, respect

[@engine2truck6]

Guy was a PIONEER of the sport.

[@johnconnor6725]

Chuck is a truly Great Fighter ! !

[@lindsayporsche8548]

Pride was awesome. Bas and Steve made the fights even better.

[@iconofsin4578]

Chuck Liddel the Legend!!

[@thdgcfx]

Pride fighting was so brutal and brilliant

[@Krashout00]

Chuck is my favorite fighter of all time

[@SetaSayin]

My favorite chuck Liddell fight

[@Superbowfin60]

I don't know if Fight Fans knows this, but Chuck has turned into a Silverback. I've seen the videos. It started five years ago, and now his metamorphosis is complete.

[@Steventhrowsbirds]

The knee is what had him rocked. You can see immediately after it his pace stoped. Reaching for a glove touch was him trying to regain his composure. 💪🏻

[@jwamerica84]

Yep. He was done before the fight started again.

[@ilikemyowncomments9065]

"He tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL, and his meniscus to boot!"

[@jadizm]

"Chukkaaaaaaa!!!!!.........LAHHHHHaHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

[@TroubleOnTheWaters]

Leg folded up like Cro crop vs Gonzaga!

[@coltc413]

These guys are tough. Thought the guy in blue shorts was going to lose and came back. Entertaining fighter.

[@j_h_o]

Chuckuhhhh Lidehhhhhhaaahhh

[@aaronc8101]

The Iceman cometh! Really don't need the drum machine going through video, UFC kiddies in production ; )

[@thundarrisaboss2725]

this should be the FULL fight! grrrrr!

[@chris-vj5wu]

Chuck was a bad dude!He was a real one.

[@bL33ds]

Back then chuck could take a punch. What a beast.

[@johndoe123xyz]

As someone who's not familiar with different mma companies, I thought the title meant they got 2 gay people fighting lol

[@1962jet]

"metzger has this round in the bag" 20 seconds before his leg is folded and he is unconscious

[@NL-fg6it]

Mezger gassing and breathing heavily after 80 seconds was a surprise.

[@josealvesaraujo]

Chuck liddell foi um fenômeno no ufc 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@papagotyou3876]

There ain’t never gonna be another fighter like Chuck! Neva evaaah!! Jus think he was a wrestler that avoided the ground to throw hands. Even at the end of his career when he was rocked he went down swinging instead taking fights to the ground to win by points. I feel he did it for the fans but he really jus liked to bang

[@random__joe]

Love the commentary team so much from Pride. Bas and Quadros. Never realized how well Metzger did in this fight, he definitely had his moments, but Chuck is a beast

[@ktothec24]

I forgot how Guy actually clipped Chuck first. A little more power in that overhand right and he could’ve ended it!

[@silverblack8312]

Pride had different types of characters like a video game

[@jwamerica84]

If Uncle Chael had been in this bout it would have been much shorter. Undefeated, undisputed, never lost a round, never lost a minute. GOAT