Chuck Liddell is first MMA fighter to be honored at Madame Tussauds

Sam Morris

Chuck Liddell poses during an open media day for the eleventh season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ in Las Vegas.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Friday, May 28, 2010 | 9:33 a.m.

Vic Bonadonna/MGM Grand

SkySkrape, Chuck Liddell, Scott Epstein, Punkass and Jake Shields at the Tapout MAGIC after-party at the MGM Grand's Studio 54 on Feb. 17, 2010.

Danny Mahoney/XS

Chuck Liddell at XS in the Encore.

UFC legend Chuck Liddell will be immortalized in wax this morning by Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at the UFC Fan Expo at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The 40-year-old athlete becomes the first MMA star to be inducted into the famed collection located at the front of The Venetian.

Thousands of fans will watch as the 6-foot fighter with the most feared right hand in the sport is inducted into the museum. After the Fan Expo ends tomorrow, Chuck’s wax double will be moved to the museum and placed on display inside a UFC Octagon along with his UFC championship belt and trunks.

Chuck will make an appearance July 1 to see his figure for the first time at a VIP party and statue unveiling ceremony at Madame Tussauds.

Chuck began his martial arts career at age 12 and has become a superstar athlete famous for his seven-fight win streak in which he was pitted against popular MMA stars including Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz. He’s been a part of UFC for more than a decade, and his star power helped make it the fastest-growing sports organization.

In addition to guest appearances on many TV shows including HBO’s Entourage and Season 9’s Dancing With the Stars, our hometown hero also has appeared on numerous magazine covers. Chuck was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame last year in recognition of his status as one of MMA’s biggest stars.

Since it opened a decade ago as one of the first locations outside London, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas has attracted nearly 5 million visitors. Chuck joins more than 100 figures each costing an average of $300,000 to create. Other recent debut figures in Las Vegas included Snoop Dogg, Kathy Griffin and President Obama.

In other UFC weekend news, fight announcer Bruce Buffer and UFC fighters Kenny Florian, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Urijah Faber, Jose Aldo, Joseph Benavidez and Junior Dos Santos dined last night at Tender Steakhouse in the Luxor.

Signing autographs today at Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the Fan Fest will be Forest Griffin and 26 other MMA stars, while tomorrow, Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva and Frank Mir are among the 30 fighters meeting with fans.

After the match between Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans at UFC 114 tomorrow night at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Rashad will host his post-fight party at Tabu Ultra Lounge, and Forrest Griffin, Josh Koscheck and Cain Velasquez will host at Studio 54. Both nightspots are at MGM Grand.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.