Liddell: I don’t like playing it safe. I never did
“I don’t like playing safe, I never did,” said UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell. “It still worked out for me. I guess it’s a different time.”
UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell recently appeared on MMAJunkie Radio and discussed whether fighters used to go for the highlight reel finish more often, and talked about his protege Glover Teixeira,, who challenges John Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 172 in April.
You’re always going to have people comparing, but what it comes down to is, fighting is fighting, said Liddell.
Glover’s one of my favorites, but that has a personal thing to it. I like watching Anderson fight, and I like watching Hendricks fight. I like Aldo – he’s a slick striker and he goes after it. I just really like guys who try to finish fights, whether you’re a ground-and-pound guy, if you’re a slick jiu-jitsu guy.
I can’t really speak for (other guys), but guys need to be themselves – be a fighter. Worrying about winning and losing, I don’t like playing safe. I never did. It still worked out for me. I guess it’s a different time. I understand both sides – I understand playing it safe, and from a coaching standpoint.
But at some point, I like to watch guys try to finish fights. That’s what makes it entertaining for me.