Actress Debi Mazar was voted off "Dancing With the Stars" on Tuesday. Former politician Tom DeLay also went home, unable to continue because of injury.

Fighter Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell got an early reprieve, told early in the results show that he was staying to dance again.

It was down to Mazar and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin in the bottom two.

"I definitely know a few more steps and I've had a great time," said Mazar, whose partner was Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Previously eliminated were former model Kathy Ireland, actor Ashley Hamilton and singer Macy Gray.

The 62-year-old DeLay danced Monday despite stress fractures in his feet. A day later he said he couldn't go on.

"You can't practise and if you can't practise you make a fool out of yourself out here. And I don't want to do that to Cheryl," the former Republican House majority leader said of pro partner Cheryl Burke.

Mazar paid for her samba on Monday. The judges wanted more from the dance. "It was like cooking," head judge Len Goodman said. "You had all the ingredients but it lacked the flavour."

Mazar, who got a five out of 10 from Goodman, finished tied with Liddell at 17 out of 30 -- third worst among the celebrities. Only Irvin (14) and DeLay (15) fared worse with the judges.

Still Goodman summoned Liddell, still wearing his eye-popping puffy multicoloured sleeves from Monday, and pro partner Anna Trebunskaya back Tuesday for a repeat of their samba on the results show.

"This wasn't very high on the judges' leaderboard, and yet it was unique, it was totally unexpected, it was fun and entertaining," said Goodman.

DeLay and Liddell were quickly given the good news that they weren't going anywhere. But Irvin was told he remained in jeopardy.

"You don't think big football players get hurt, but it hurt right there in the heart," Irvin said of his low scores. "But we did have had fun."

Irvin got a second chance, however.

The celebrities' fate is determined by the judges and fan voting. And Liddell has the full power of the UFC behind him, urging fans via the Internet and social networking to vote for the former light-heavyweight champion.

There are now 11 couples left from the original 16.

Singer Mya, who tied Aaron Carter for the lead last week, earned two 10s -- the first of the season -- to lead the way Monday with a score of 27 for a slinky rumba with partner Dmitry Chaplin.

Olympic champion swimmer Natalie Coughlin also scored big (26) with her rumba.