Fighter Chuck Liddell showed off both his torso and the tango Monday night on "Dancing with the Stars," with one judge calling him sexy but scary.
The former UFC light-heavyweight champion started his tango wearing just dress pants and suspenders with partner Anna Trebunskaya draping a suit jacket over him. After the conclusion of the dance, to a version of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army." Trebunskaya removed the jacket and Liddell struck his trademark Iceman pose made famous in the cage.
The judges' comments were positive but the marks were near the bottom -- 19 out of 30.
Singers Aaron Carter, who led the male celebrities last week, and Mya led the way Moday with a score of 27.
"That is the real deal," guest judge Baz Luhrmann said of Mya. "That is fantastic."
"Spectacular," Bruno Tonioli said of Carter.
Donny Osmond, at 51, also impressed with a score of 25 for his jive to "Secret Agent Man."
"Mission accomplished," said Tonioli.
Model Kathy Ireland and former U.S. House of Representatives majority leader Tom DeLay were at the other end at 18.
DeLay, battling a foot injury, had a rough ending to his tango.
"It's fine. The foot hurts but we're going to dance until it breaks," said the former Republican heavyweight.
The other scores ranged in a tight band from 19 to 21, with pro snowboarder Louie Vito and actress Melissa Joan Hart joining Liddell at 19.
Scores are determined by the judges and fan voting. Week 2 results will be announced Tuesday.
Actor Ashley Hamilton and singer Macy Gray were the first celebrities to go last week.
Liddell was third out of the blocks Monday.
"Chuck, savage and primeval but always a tango," said Tonioli. "I can say I see the work you put into this. You really worked very very hard. You did all the steps OK, they were not perfect. But you really are a competitor. I really want you to stay in this. Please vote for this guy. He's amazing."
"That dance had impact," said fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba. "I love that you fully committed to it . . . It was sexy but kind of scary, which is I guess kind of good."
"I thought it was fantastic," said Luhrmann, the Australian director behind "Strictly Ballroom," "Moulin Rouge," and "Australia," who was filling in for head judge Len Goodman.
NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who narrowly escaped dismissal last week, rebounded with a 20 this week.
"Compared to last week, this is like a touchdown," said Inaba.
It was Goodman who advised Liddell last week not to be so aggressive in a somewhat wooden foxtrot. But the non-nonsense, no-smiles tango was in the mixed martial arts fighter's wheelhouse. Liddell was fifth out of the eight male celebrities last week.
"This tango is about as close to my world as possible," Liddell said prior to the dance. "If I can hit all my moves, it's going to be down for the count."
Liddell (21-7) was once the face of mixed martial arts, with knockout power in his hands and feet. But he has lost four of his last five fights, most recently a knockout at the hands of Mauricio (Shogun) Rua at UFC 97 in April in Montreal, and his fighting future is in the air.
