One of the more compelling fights on Saturday’s UFC 97 card is Chuck Liddell vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Each fighter has a lot to prove. Chuck Liddell needs to prove that he is still relevant in this day and age of mixed martial arts and Shogun has to prove that he still has a desire to be a top rated light heavyweight.

There was a time when Chuck Liddell was unstoppable. Period. Something happened mid way through his reign as light heavyweight champion and the sport evolved; Chuck didn’t. His one punch, counter striking style became obsolete. As mixed martial artists became better boxers, Chuck’s technique became outdated.

In order for Chuck to win this fight, he needs to stay cautious and not throw sloppy power strikes. I personally hope he decides to utilize some of his wrestling skills against Shogun and take the fight to the ground. We always hear about Chuck being a superior wrestler, but rarely see him shoot for a take down or work the clinch. I would like to see a more evolved Chuck Liddell. Chuck still has the desire to fight; he has fought on the highest level. He is still training hard and has a desire to wear UFC light heavyweight gold. Whether or not he chooses to evolve his game is up to him. If he doesn’t, retirement will become a harsh reality for The Iceman.

Shogun, on the other hand, has not shown up to fight in about 18 months. His miserable performances against Forrest Griffin and an overaged , shadow of his former self Mark Coleman dissapointed his fans all over the world. The guy known for his furious knockout stoppages in Pride has not shown up in the UFC. His win over Mark Coleman was painful to watch.

I predict that the Iceman is going to take this fight down and send Shogun packing from the UFC. According to Sherdog.com, 18 pros are taking Chuck over Shogun while only two think Rua will pull off a victory. I thought it might be a little closer, but apparently the pros share a similar opinion.

Chuck is still training hard and has the desire to win. Shogun doesn’t even care. As long as Chuck doesn’t get sloppy, he should be able to pull off a victory.