Liddell asked about retirement following loss

In 2007 UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell lost his UFC light heavyweight championship to Rampage in May, dropped a Split Decision to Keith Jardine in September, and won the fight of the year vs. Wanderlei Silva in December. Then Liddell fought just once each in 2008, 2009, and 2010, losing each by T/KO.

His boss and close personal friend Dana White gave the fighter a no-show desk job in return for retiring. Liddell had believed the position was for life. However, when WME-IMG bought the UFC, they cut costs, including White’s use of a corporate jet and a number of personnel including Liddell and fellow Hall of Famer Matt Hughes.

Liddell and fellow Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz had a trilogy fight on Saturday, in an event promoted by Oscar de la Hoya. The last time Liddell and Ortiz fought, Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones, and Daniel Cormier hadn’t turned pro. Liddell looking diminished, and got taken out in Round 1. Afterward, he was asked what’s next.

I don’t want to think about that right now, said Liddell, as transcribed Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting. I mean, I’m not in the right state of mind to really talk about whether or not I’m done or not. But I felt good out there and I had fun, so we’ll see.

I loved being in there. You’ve got to understand, I love fighting. I don’t do this for money. I never did this for money or fame. That’s not why I started. I did this because I love being out there, I love fighting, so I was at home in there. I was ready to go. I wish I’d done a few things different, obviously, but it happens.

I was kinda gonna slow play him, just make sure he didn’t get any confidence, get a cheap takedown, but I should’ve fought the way I normally do. I don’t care if you take me down, I’ll get back up. And I should’ve came at him with a fast pace. I was kinda back and forth between hanging back and moving fast. I went with the ‘hang back,’ kinda get it going and figure out what he’s doing, and I should’ve gone after him fast. But then again, would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. Would it have changed the outcome? Who knows, so whatever.

I feel great right now. I mean, I’m fine. I don’t feel bad. I don’t think it was a bad knockout. I was able to answer all of the questions in the corner right away when they came up and asked me, ‘Where do you live? Where are we?’ All of the questions, I was able to answer them all right away, so I’m fine.

The one takeaway I have from this is that I will definitely be in a training camp again. I don’t know if it’ll be for me or for someone else, but I miss being in the gym and getting ready for a fight, or getting someone else ready for a fight. So I will now be more involved in training guys — at least training guys if not fighting, but for sure training guys.