White’s Twitter: Liddell and “Mask” To The UFC Hall of Fame

July 7, 2009, at 12:33 pm

As the historic weekend surrounding UFC 100 draws closer, the anticipation as to who would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame has come to an end as president Dana White announced on his Twitter page and via the UFC.com web site that former light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and TapouT founder Charles “Mask” Lewis would be inducted this Friday at the UFC Fan Expo surrounding UFC 100.

“Hey guys Chuck Liddell and Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at the UFC Fan Expo this Friday at 6:30 p.m.,” White announced on his Twitter page.

Liddell seemed to be a shoe-in for the UFC Hall of Fame after the stunning career the California native has had during his time with the promotion. With a championship run that included four-straight defenses, Liddell has been seen as the face of the UFC for several years, and his fighting skill has always backed up the hype for his celebrity.

Speculation has run wild recently whether Liddell would call it a career after a tough run in his recent fights, but on Friday night the “Iceman” will just look to celebrate as the UFC honors him as the latest inductee into its hall of fame.

There may not have been a bigger loss to the MMA world than earlier this year when TapouT co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis lost his life after a tragic car accident. Lewis was a giant piece of the puzzle for TapouT, which is seen as one of the most iconic brands in all of MMA.

I strongly disliked Lewis as a TV personality, but their is no doubt that he was a huge influence on the world of MMA. Not only was he a strong voice in The Ultimate Fighter, but his brand “TapouT” sponsored so many fighters that likely would have had to keep full time jobs if not for the money he gave them.

As for Liddell, There is no doubt that he deserves it. When the sport became a mainstream hit, he was the one at the helm of it all. His unique look combined with his ridiclous punching power allowed him a two year reign as Light Heavyweight champion that will only be matched when Lyoto Machida runs roughshod through the division.

However, don’t think that its over for Chuck. Randy Couture and Mark Coleman still fight despite being in the UFC hall of fame.