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Working pick
2009 Topps UFC Round 1 #5 Chuck Liddell / Noe Hernandez — front
#5
Rookie card guide

Chuck Liddell
Rookie Card

Which card is actually the rookie, how to tell it, and what gets mistaken for it.

  • Working pick2009 Topps UFC Round 1 #5
  • SubjectChuck Liddell / Noe Hernandez
  • Year2009
  • ManufacturerTopps
  • ConfidenceHigh confidence
  • Print runUnknown — not estimated
High confidence×2Uncertain×1View sources & research

Why this is the working pick

2009 Topps UFC Round 1 #5 is his first card in a UFC-licensed product (released 23 Feb 2009 per TCDB). It shows his UFC debut, TCDB flags it RC, and the eBay catalogue sells it as (RC). It is the working pick, not an undisputed rookie. TCDB also RC-flags his first solo card, Round 2 #39. Cardboard Connection says that 'none of them are deemed official rookie cards' and names Round 1 #5, Goodwin Champions #70 and Round 2 #39 as his first-year base cards. SportsCardsPro's data field marks #5 'No'.

Liddell's first card in a UFC-licensed Topps product (Round 1, released 23 February 2009 per TCDB). Like the rest of Round 1's fighter cards, it's a 'UFC Debut' card, showing his UFC 17 win over Noe Hernandez on 15 May 1998. TCDB flags it RC and the eBay catalogue lists it as (RC).

The dispute

TCDB puts an RC flag on both Round 1 #5 and Round 2 #39. Cardboard Connection says none of his 2009 cards is an 'official' rookie.

Commonly misidentified

Sellers list Round 1 Silver /288 and Gold parallels as 'the rookie', although they are parallels of #5. Cardboard Connection's Round 2 review also names Liddell as a Round 2 autograph subject, but TCDB's Round 2 autograph checklists don't include him.

Identifying it

  • #5 on a horizontal card with a red nameplate reading 'CHUCK LIDDELL vs NOE HERNANDEZ'
  • Silver-foil 'UFC DEBUT' logo with '5.15.98 UFC 17'
  • Base has no serial number; Silver parallel is numbered /288

What gets mistaken for it

What you'll readWhat's true
Silver /288 copies listed as the base rookie.The Silver parallel is serial-numbered /288; the base card is unnumbered.

Parallels

Base
—
Unnumbered
Gold
—
High confidence
Silver
/288
High confidence
Red
/1
High confidence

Grading & population

Population figures will be taken directly from the grading companies and dated when they are. None are shown yet.

Sources & research High confidence×2Uncertain×1

Every factual claim on this page, the evidence behind it, and an honest confidence level. Where sources disagree the disagreement is kept, not quietly resolved.

High confidence

Chuck Liddell's rookie card: 2009 Topps UFC Round 1 #5 — Chuck Liddell / Noe Hernandez.

2009 Topps UFC Round 1 #5 is his first card in a UFC-licensed product (released 23 Feb 2009 per TCDB). It shows his UFC debut, TCDB flags it RC, and the eBay catalogue sells it as (RC). It is the working pick, not an undisputed rookie. TCDB also RC-flags his first solo card, Round 2 #39. Cardboard Connection says that 'none of them are deemed official rookie cards' and names Round 1 #5, Goodwin Champions #70 and Round 2 #39 as his first-year base cards. SportsCardsPro's data field marks #5 'No'.

High confidence

2009 Topps UFC Round 1 #5 — Chuck Liddell / Noe Hernandez.

Uncertain

TCDB flags both this card and Round 2 #39 as RC; Cardboard Connection says none of his first-year cards is an 'official' rookie.

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