Liddell: ‘It’s just not OK’ to make contact pre fight
“If someone starts to press my face, I’m immediately pushing them away, if not hitting them,” said Chuck Liddell. “If they come back the wrong way, they’re getting hit.”
During the TUF National Finale weigh ins, Dustin Poirier put his hands on Akira Corassani, who shoved him in return. The pair fight on the main card of the TUF Nations Finale, Live on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 PM ET.
UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell would have shoved back too, or more. Liddell also expressed disappointment with the Wanderlei Silva vs. Chael Sonnen brawl on the TUF Brazil 3 set.
I’m sorry, I’m a pretty respectful guy, and I don’t get upset before a fight, said Liddell to MMAjunkie. I figure the staredown is for the fans, because we’re not fighting for another 24 hours, so there’s no reason to fight, right? You’re going to get upset right now? You waited too long to get fired up for 24 hours.
So if someone starts to press my face, I’m immediately pushing them away, if not hitting them. If they come back the wrong way, they’re getting hit. It’s just not OK.
To me, touching is not OK. We’re fighting. Don’t touch me. I remember the first time I was fighting in Brazil. I fought ‘Pele’. He came up to me before the fight, bumped into me, threw a shoulder into me at the weigh-ins. I’m like, ‘Dude. C’mon, man. We’re getting paid to fight in 24 hours. C’mon, relax.’ He didn’t understand what I said, I think. But whatever, man. I laughed it off. We’re fighting in 24 hours. Relax.
There’s no reason to get excited. I understand, and Wanderlei Silva pulling that card, they were teammates. So I get it.
