Utlimate Fighting Championship head honcho, Dana White, is hoping we have seen the last of legendary mixed martial artist, Chuck Liddell.
A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Liddell was one of the biggest stars during the promotion’s early years.
He is known for his rivalry with Tito Ortiz, an opponent he defeated via knockout in two occasions, and for defending the 205-pound title for four straight times.
Following a three-fight losing streak from 2008-2010, ‘The Ice Man’ decided to hang up his gloves, capping his UFC career with a 17-7 win-loss record.
Eight years later, Liddell would make a shocking return to the cage only to be finished by Ortiz in their trilogy bout under the Golden Boy MMA Promotion.
Liddell’s rivalry with Ortiz was featured in a documentary on ESPN, where the former stated that he is uncertain about his future in fighting.
But if White were to asked, he wants the legendary fighter to retire from MMA for good.
Unhappy
Speaking to TMZ in a recent interview, the UFC president shared he was unhappy with Liddell’s decision to unretire last year.
“[Performs a facepalm]. Listen, Chuck is a very, very smart guy,” White stated, (transcript from MMA Fighting).
“I’ve said it many, many times. Tito, not very smart. Not an intelligent guy. He’s just not! I’m not being mean, I’m not being rude.”
“The worst thing about Tito is Tito’s one of those guys that thinks he’s smart but he’s not and those are the most dangerous type of guys.”
He also revealed that he made attempts to lure the MMA rivals out of that trilogy fight.
“Chuck is actually a smart guy and I tried to talk both of them out of this De La Hoya fight, told them that this De La Hoya thing was bad.”
“Chuck, I tried to talk out of the fight period. Chuck Liddell is 50 years old and should not be fighting.”
“He’s a grown man and he can do whatever he wants to do but let me tell you what, the commission that sanctions that fight, wow.”
A Good Man
Before taking over the UFC as its president, White worked as Liddell’s manager.
So if there’s one person who knows what kind of man Liddell is, that is no less than the outspoken UFC chief.
“Chuck Liddell is one of the greatest people you could ever meet.”
“He’s a good person. He’s a good guy. He’s a guy that you become friends with and you’re friends with that guy for the rest of your life.
“He’s that guy. He takes care of the people that are around him. All the people that were around him in the beginning of his career are still around him now and still friends with him.”
“He’s a good person. When you meet Chuck Liddell, when you get to know Chuck Liddell, you love Chuck Liddell.”
To this, White cannot deny the respect and love he has for Liddell.
“He’s one of the best human beings you can ever meet, he’s one of the greatest guys I’ve ever worked with in the fight game, I love him, I respect him, and the crazy thing is, all the reasons that we love Chuck Liddell are the same reasons he wants to fight.”
“To his core he is a fighter, it’s what he loves to do, but that third fight should have never happened.”
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Chuck Liddell and Dana White)