Chuck Liddell reacts after being knocked during a fight at UFC 97 in Montreal Saturday, April 18, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Fighter Chuck Liddell opted for a western flavour on "Dancing with the Stars" on Monday night but his scores continue to go south.

The former UFC light-heavyweight champion kicked off the show with a country two-step, complete with cowboy hat and lasso. Fellow mixed martial arts fighter Dan Henderson watched from the front row as pro partner Anna Trebunskaya finished the dance by planting a wet one that left a lipstick imprint on the shaven side of Liddell's head.

Liddell was praised for giving it his all but once again the judges gave the fighter so-so marks, awarding him just 17 out of 30. That's the same as last week when he tied for 10th out of 13 couples. This week, Liddell was ninth out of 11.

Head judge Len Goodmann praised Liddell's entertainment value but questioned the 39-year-old knockout artist's dancing skills.

"There's a novelty value about you because you don't expect you to be able to dance and so that's always good. But eventually you've got to come down to the fact that this is a dance competition and your quality of dancing isn't there," Goodman said. "You've got to improve the quality of the dance."

The celebrities' fate is determined by the judges and fan voting. The good news for Liddell is he has the full power of the UFC behind him - the MMA organization is using the Internet and social networking to urge fans to cast their ballots for the Iceman.

One couple will be eliminated on the results show Tuesday.

Already voted off are actress Debi Mazar, former model Kathy Ireland, actor Ashley Hamilton and singer Macy Gray. Former politician Tom DeLay also went home, unable to continue because of foot injuries.

Monday's show featured the two-step, Charleston, Bolero and - "the forbidden dance of love" - the Lambada.

Singer Mya, who led last week, and actress Melissa Joan Hart tied Monday with 28 out of 30 with Mya and partner Dmitry Chaplin steaming up the dance floor with their Lambada.

"Mya, that was an erotic, exotic roller-coaster. You would want to ride that over and over and over and over again. Until you're left exhausted and exhilarated," said over-the-top judge Bruno Tonioli.

"Mya's on fire," added judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who like Tonioli awarded a perfect 10.

But Goodman, always the toughest nut to crack, said he thought he was "going to get a bit more."

Mya also got two 10s last week.

Hart scored with her flapper-inspired Charleston, garnering a 10 from Tonioli. That's up from a total of 19 the previous week.

"(A) breakthrough," said Inaba.

Said Tonioli: "You have the role 110 per cent."

Model Joanna Krupa and partner Derek Hough, who quickly lost his shirt, received a 26 after their torrid Lambada.

"I tell you folks, don't try this at home," said Tonioli.

Noting the Lambada is "fuelled by the crotch area," Inaba liked what she saw. "All I can say is I hope the children were in bed."

"I bet some of the adults are now," chimed in co-host Tom Bergeron.

Singer Donny Osmond, with his wife, kids and sister Marie watching, said performing the Charleston was like dancing and playing Twister at the same time. The judges liked what they saw, giving him a 24.

"This really shows a showman in his element," said Tonioli.

"You looked good and you danced good and watching you does you good," said Goodman. "It was really really well done."

Olympic champion swimmer Natalie Coughlin also scored 24 for her Bolero.

"I'm very very happy to see you found your 'Basic Instinct,' because at times it was like watching Sharon Stone. Beautiful and dangerous," said Tonioli.

After last week's unforgettable multicoloured puffy frilly sleeves, Liddell opted for a more in-character black-and-blue ensemble complete with leather vest.

The other two judges were slightly more appreciative that Goodman.

"You bring carnage and mayhem in everything you do but yet it still managed to look like somehow a two-step. I can't believe it," said Tonioli.

Inaba said: "What I love about you Chuck is that you may not have a lot of grace but you never let the dance beat you."

Only NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and pro snowboarder Louie Vito scored lower - with 16s.

Irvin was in the bottom two last week, just escaping the chop despite only getting a score of 14. And he could be on thin ice again this week.

"Your dancing is a little bit like the economy. Every week it's supposed to be getting better but nothing happens," Tonioli said of his Bolero.

"There wasn't enough dancing," said Inaba.

Vito also got a rough ride for his two step to "Sweet Home Alabama."

"Not enough," said Tonioli.

For the second week in a row, singer Aaron Carter got some tough love - accompanied by a score of 18 - at the judges' table for his Lambada.

"You have to chill out ... You're just going way over the top and it's really hard to watch. It makes people turn off to you. It turned me off, I'm sorry," said Inaba.

"It was a bit of a walk on the wild side," said Goodman, who wanted more raunchiness from the Lambada.