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After dropping a split-decision to Keith Jardine on Saturday at UFC 76, former champ Chuck Liddell now deals with the first back-to-back losses of his remarkable career. And while the most dominant champion in UFC history has entered uncharted territory, it's far too soon to feed him to the sharks.

With Liddell's July TKO loss to Quinton Jackson and Saturday's decision loss to Jardine, the pundits argue it's time for the 37-year-old Liddell to hang up the gloves.

Nonsense.

Is Ken Griffey Jr. the same player he was in the 1990s? Of course not. Has he been slowed a step or two by "Father Time?" Sure. But as he showed us throughout the 2007 Reds season, Junior can still dazzle crowds and put butts in seats.

Liddell can do the same in the UFC. It's time we all cut the guy some slack.

Liddell may not be the dominating champion we all remember, but he's far from being one of those beaten-up fighters who hang on way past their prime.

"The Iceman" still has plenty of fight left in him.

Hazelett shines

Dustin Hazelett, the 21-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom who trains in West Chester, picked up the biggest win of his career this past Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 11 in Las Vegas.

Hazelett, a late replacement who took the fight on just two weeks' notice, submitted Jonathan Goulet with an armbar submission just 74 seconds into the first round.

The victory — his third straight in the UFC — pushes Hazelett's overall record to 10-3. Although every one of Hazelett's UFC fights has been on un-televised undercards, his latest victory could earn him some vital TV time in the future.

"It was a big win for him," training partner and former UFC champ Rich Franklin said. "You're going to start seeing a lot of the kid."

Evans-Ortiz II unlikely

Back in July, light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz fought to a draw at UFC 73, and the rematch was tentatively scheduled to take place at the UFC 77 event Oct. 20, at Cincinnati's U.S. Bank Arena.

However, a heavyweight battle between Tim Sylvia and Brandon Vera will probably take co-main-event status instead.

According to sources close to both fighters, Evans vs. Ortiz II will now likely happen at UFC 78 in November — possibly as a main event.

As for UFC 77, tickets are still available. The UFC hasn't returned messages asking for a sales update, but a search in Ticketmaster shows seats available in most pricing categories. They range from $50 to $400.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content partner site of Yahoo! Sports. For the latest MMA news, rumors and fighter interviews, check out www.mmajunkie.com.