Chuck Liddell became one of the UFC’s early breakout stars in a very different era of the sport.
‘The Iceman’ was inducted into the pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2009 having played a crucial part in the promotion’s history.
Along with his rivalries with the likes of Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture, Liddell’s all-action style helped bring a lot of eyeballs to the Octagon.
MMA has changed a lot since his active years with Liddell crediting ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ as the moment that changed everything having coached the first season back in 2005.
He believes that one of the changes that the sport has gone through is the kind of competitors that you see in the UFC with Liddell crediting a fellow former light heavyweight champion as a fighter that would’ve fit in during his era.
Chuck Liddell says that Alex Pereira’s attitude makes him one of the last ‘real fighters’
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Chuck Liddell spoke about how fighters have changed as the UFC has continued to grow.
He believes that back when he was an active competitor, the roster was made up of guys who liked to fight and were able to make a living doing it.
Now, with the sport being so much bigger and having greater financial rewards, there are far more athletes stepping inside the Octagon.
Liddell believes that while there are plenty of athletes who have proven themselves, they’re not necessarily what he would call “real fighters”.
When asked to name one active fighter who fits in with the more old school mentality that Liddell and so many others brought to the table, he came to one answer.
Liddell’s long-time friend and training partner, Glover Teixeira, helped turn one of the most dangerous strikers in the world into an elite mixed martial artist, whose mentality has made him into a huge star.
“Oh, there’s quite a few about that,” Liddell said. “[Alex] Pereira is one of my favorites, but obviously he’s from Glover [Teixeira]. But I like his attitude about fighting. He’s a beast, man. So if I had to pick one, I guess [it’s Pereira].”
Alex Pereira’s attitude helped to produce one of the most memorable years that any UFC fighter has had
The attitude that Chuck Liddell speaks about in reference to Alex Pereira was on full display in 2024 where the star status of ‘Poatan’ continued to climb through the year.
Pereira was already a star heading into the year but a combination of his performances and willingness to step in and save the day skyrocketed his popularity.
| Alex Pereira’s 2024 Opponents | Event & Date | Result |
| Jamahal Hill | UFC 300, April 13 | KO – Round 1 |
| Jiri Prochazka | UFC 303, June 29 | TKO – Round 2 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | UFC 307, October 5 | TKO – Round 4 |
His title reign may have come to an end at UFC 313 earlier this year but Pereira’s time as the light heavyweight champion will always be a great chapter in the history of the promotion.