Sun Jun 29 12:00:00 UTC 2025: **Shaquille O’Neal Reveals the UFC Fight That Hooked Him – And It’s a Classic**
Las Vegas, NV – International Fight Week is in full swing, and it’s not just fighters and fans descending on the fight capital of the world. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has revealed the bout that turned him into a UFC enthusiast: the iconic clash between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.
O’Neal was in attendance at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony, invited by long-time friend and UFC Hall of Famer Vitor Belfort. Belfort is credited with introducing the basketball star to the world of mixed martial arts.
While many celebrities have been spotted this week, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson inducting Mark Kerr into the Hall of Fame, O’Neal’s presence highlights the sport’s wider appeal. When asked which fight he would show a newcomer to get them hooked, O’Neal didn’t hesitate. “I’d probably show them Tito and ‘Iceman’. Yeah, Tito and Chuck. All of that.”
He was referencing the UFC 47 main event in 2004, where training partners turned rivals Ortiz and Liddell finally settled their differences in the cage. Liddell ultimately won by second-round TKO, setting the stage for a memorable rivalry.
Recalling his initial impressions of the sport, O’Neal described his first experience as a “legalized bar brawl” with “kicks to the head, knees.” He credited Belfort for getting him involved and praised the Fertitta brothers and Dana White for taking the sport “to the next level.”
The focus now shifts to UFC 317 on June 28th, where Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will battle for the vacant lightweight title, closing out a massive week for the UFC. Celebrity predictions are already rolling in, with Drake sharing his thoughts on the main event via social media. But for O’Neal, it’s the historical rivalries and explosive finishes that truly define the allure of UFC.
First Piper 