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thedrifter
02-22-08, 05:19 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-- Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Dean “The Boogeyman” Lister and the stars of the TAPOUT Reality show visited and trained with Marines here Feb. 15. Chuck Liddell said it was no problem finding time for the Marines.

“They do a lot for us, so we wanted to stop by,” Liddell said. The fighters and TAPOUT stars first got a taste of the Corps’ newest warfighting tool: The Infantry Immersion Trainer. The indoor village and shoot house gave the group a feel of what patrolling through Iraq could be like.

After getting pegged with paint-filled pellets, the pugilists headed to the Country Store. Chuck Liddell signed copies of his new book, “Iceman,” for Marines and their families while the TAPOUT crew signed posters and promoted their clothing line. A line of “mohawked” children and anxious fans stretched from the entrance of the shopping center to the Country Store, where Chuck was waiting.

“I’m excited to see Chuck Liddell,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan K. Johnston, who waited in line for hours with his son Collin to see the mixed martial artist. Since the fans were willing to wait, so were the fighters and TAPOUT. The group stayed until almost everybody had an autograph and a picture.

The fighters and TAPOUT then zipped to Del Mar Beach to take a ride in an Amphibious Assault Vehicle. “We had a blast on the amphibious vehicle,” Liddell said. The group finished the day with a hands-on demonstration of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, led by black belt instructor Sgt. Vianney Ramirez. Ramirez then invited the UFC fighters to coach his younger Marines while they squared off on the sands of Del Mar Beach.

“It’s crazy how a lot of what we do is the same as what (the fighters) do,” Ramirez, 23, of Ammunition Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group. “It gives us hope and motivation to carry on.” The ammunition technician was just glad to see them come out. “I can’t thank them enough,” said Ramirez, of New York City. “It means a lot.”