Dana White says Chuck Liddell is Retired

Published on: 19th April, 2009

Dana White says Chuck Liddell is Retired | read this item

The end of the Iceman era in the UFC…

It seems the Chuck Liddell era is over in the UFC after his knockout loss at last night’s UFC 97 to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Dana White made it known that if Liddell did not “dazzle” him or show him a sign that he could still compete in the Light Heavyweight division that he wanted “The Iceman” to retire. Now Dana White has confirmed that the Liddell era is over in a new interview last night.

MMAJunkie.com quoted White in the UFC 97 post fight press conference.

“How we built this company – using boxing as the blueprint – (and we) don’t let guys hang around longer than they should,” White said. “I was pushing for retirement. He’s my friend, I love him, and I care about him. We sat down (prior to UFC 97). We had a two-hour talk. He wanted to do this (fight). I said, ‘If you take this seriously – if I hear you’re in one [expletive] nightclub, if you’re not training, if you’re not doing this, doing that – it’s over. That’s it. He said, ‘No, I’m taking this seriously.’

“And he did. He kept his word. He was in great shape. He came out guns slinging like he does, but that was it. If that (fight) was a toe-to-toe war and he got flashed (knocked down) a couple times and it went to decision, he’d still be retiring too. He’d still be retiring.”

White also said that the decision to not have Liddell back in the Octagon was one for his own good. He said he never wants to see Liddell unconscious in the Octagon again.

“I don’t want him to fight anymore,” White said. “He [expletive] doesn’t have anything to prove. Nothing to prove. He doesn’t have to prove anything to me or the rest of world. He has [expletive] loads of money. There’s no reason for it. … I don’t care how much he draws. I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

Liddell also said that while the decision is not 100% a done deal, he does want to take time to think about his decision.

“Yeah, that’s probably the case,” Liddell said. “I’m not going to make any decisions until I go home to talk to everybody, talk to my people and my friends. … But it’s probably safe to say (I’m retired).”

While I cannot say I am happy seeing one of the UFC’s (and MMA in general) biggest stars go, it is probably better for him at this point. I am sure no one here wants to see him hang around like Sakuraba is doing in Japan now and being knocked out on a constant basis by younger fighters. If anyone saw Sakuraba’s fight against Melvin Manhoef in Dream, you know how dangerous it is to have a fighter after his prime.

Alberto Martinez "The Narcisist" is the founding owner of URDirt.com. If you would like to post on the front page or in our New "Fan Jab" section all you need to do is register. Read more from this author

Readers Comments

Hellboi says:

April 19, 2009 at 10:09 am (Quote)

Good bye Chuck time to go I dont want to see him eating shots any more that could slow his speech down to Mouhammed Ali status

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Rider917 says:

April 19, 2009 at 11:04 am (Quote)

Good points Saku is fighting for money in japan and getting killed I thought he almost died when Manhoef kicked him in the face

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Hellbow says:

April 19, 2009 at 12:22 pm (Quote)

Where are all those people who said I was smoking weed or eating paint chips when I picked Shogun?

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- LHK22 says:
  
  April 19, 2009 at 12:40 pm (Quote)
  
  @Hellbow, you were dead on with your pick I saw people giving you shit but real fans stick with there fighters not front run like some people on here
  
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- LHK22 says:
  
  April 19, 2009 at 7:56 pm (Quote)
  
  Good luck Chuck on your retirment
  
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Gogo-13 says:

April 19, 2009 at 8:22 pm (Quote)

Rider917: Good points Saku is fighting for money in japan and getting killed I thought he almost died when Manhoef kicked him in the face

The difference is in Japan they always want you to come back as long as you try to win and here its win or go home

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keets kizzle says:

April 20, 2009 at 6:51 am (Quote)

@ hellbow
i give you your props you made the right pick. i thought shogun was going to come in out of shape again, but he didn’t and it looks like the old shogun is back!

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Rick Johnson says:

April 20, 2009 at 10:07 am (Quote)

Hellbow: Where are all those people who said I was smoking weed or eating paint chips when I picked Shogun?

My bad, bud. You were spot on. As the saying goes, I never saw it coming. Neither did Chuck. It’s kind of the UFC’s fault, in a way. He’s been the poster boy for so long, that inevitably, there arose a contender (or in this case, a style) to beat him. It was similar with Hughes, he was champ and dominant for so long, that eventually a fighter came along almost perfectly built to destroy hughes, gsp. (even though he’s a greasing cheater)

I give you respect, but to be fair, you had a 50/50 shot to be right…hahaha

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- Hellbow says:
  
  April 20, 2009 at 11:06 am (Quote)
  
  @Rick Johnson, I’m not sweating it I don’t take it personal that’s what makes this site good to argue on we all know each other are argue
  
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