White: I love Chuck Liddell, he shouldn’t fight
Dana White: “I love Chuck Liddell. I love him. And as a friend, I don’t think he should fight. And anybody around him who cares about him shouldn’t let him fight either.”
UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell and UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz want to fight each other. Ortiz retired following a submission win over Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170 on January 21, 2017. Liddell retired in 2010, following a string of brutal KO losses. His friend UFC president Dana White created a no-show position in the company for him in exchange for retiring; ‘The Iceman’ believed it was for life. However, when the UFC sold, the position was cut.
Liddell has talked about a return for several months, and Ortiz recently expressed interest. It was widely believed that the bout would take place in Bellator MMA, which has done a remarkable job getting huge viewership for aged fighters. However, Bellator CEO Scott Coker recently said he thought Liddell was likely under UFC contract. And Ortiz said he wanted the fight in the UFC.
However, UFC president Dana White does not want to see his close friend Liddell fighting at 48. TMZ asked the UFC boss if he would promote the fight.
“No,” replied White. “No. No, Chuck’s almost 50 years old. … I love Chuck Liddell, but 50-year-olds shouldn’t be fighting.”
“I couldn’t do that fight. Listen, I love the guy. I love Chuck Liddell. I love him. And as a friend, I don’t think he should fight. And anybody around him who cares about him shouldn’t let him fight either.”
“I’m not interested in that.”