Is this the end for Chuck Liddell?

One punch that is all it takes.

For much of Chuck Liddell's career he was the one distributing the punches, but these past two years the dynamic has been utterly reversed. Liddell is now the victim of three knockout losses and the fear that surrounded his striking has all but evaporated. What were once whispers of retirement have now become a loud chorus from fans and critics a like.

How the mighty have fallen indeed.

There isn't much positive to look at in Liddell's recent resume. Just one victory and four losses, three of which were by knock out. The only bright spot was the long awaited bout with Wanderlei Silva. Liddell proved victorious but now with both fighters careers resembling the Wall Street bear market, that victory appears a small shimmer of satisfaction for what could of been the signature fight of Liddell's career.

Much has been written about 'the Iceman's' struggles and the obituary will continue to be written even if Liddell doesn't retire; though we have every indication to believe he will. Liddell turns forty later this year and for most athletes to even be competing at a high level at that age is a blessing.

Pessimists will wonder if Liddell was ever really that good to begin with. Whether the new infusion of talent from Pride and The Ultimate Fighter accelerated the decline of a fighter that had always been the beneficiary of favorable match-ups. Liddell's dominant era consisted of him out striking grapplers and wrestlers who were never known for their punching power. Was Liddell's chin ever that solid, or was he simply being hit by weak opponents? Doubts now permeate Liddell's legacy. Since 2007, when the striking talent that Liddell faced took a serious jump, Liddell is 1-4. The detractors will point to this as evidence of favoritism or a more accurate representation of his skills, but such an analysis does a disservice to Chuck and the era of the UFC that he will be forever linked to.

From 2000 to 2007 Liddell was a dominant force inside the UFC's light heavyweight division. Two victories over Tito Ortiz, two victories over Randy Couture, two victories over Renato Sobral. Victories over Vernon White, Jeremy Horn and Alistair Overeem. A seven fight win streak, four straight title defenses, 14 wins via knockout. Clearly an impressive resume that deserves celebration and admiration. The only blemishes during Liddell's high water mark were losses to Quinton Jackson and Randy Couture Liddell defined an era, but like any sports one era gives way to another.

In 2007 it appeared that Liddell would enter a second phase of his career. The long awaited arrivals from Pride would set up mega-bouts that could of solidified Liddell's place as the greatest of all time. Unfortunately for Liddell this wasn't a Hollywood script. Ironically it wasn't just the arrival of the Pride fighters that doomed Liddell, the new arrivals from The Ultimate Fighter accelerated the fall even more. Liddell's tactics and strategies stayed relatively stagnant as others around him evolved their skill sets. The Keith Jardine fight demonstrated how static Liddell had become. Chuck's partying lifestyle probably didn't help produce the longevity needed to compete at his age. In the end it seems appropriate that Mauricio Rua, the one time top ranked light heavyweight in the world, and a Pride fighter, may be the one to send Liddell packing.

There are still some fights possible for Chuck Liddell, though his status has certainly changed. No longer on the periphery of contention he is now a gatekeeper and if he wishes to continue fighting he must accept that role fully. Liddell is still extremely popular and will always be loved but there is a certain masochistic quality tow watching an old man be knocked out over and over again.

Maybe, just maybe the UFC will give Liddell a swan song. A fight that will allow him to leave as triumphing hero not a defeated soldier. Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture instantly come to mind. That could give Liddell the chance to be a victorious Cincinnatus returning to the civilian life not a washed up, burnt out Colonel Kurtz.