Chuck Liddell | Ep. 188

Summary

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FULL SEND PODCAST Ep. 188: Chuck Liddell – UFC Legend Reflects on His Career, Coaching, and Life After Fighting

Date: March 12, 2026
Host: Full Send Podcast (SHOTS Media)
Guest: Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep with UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, exploring his legendary run during MMA’s explosive 2000s era, rivalries with icons like Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture, his unexpected adventures in pop culture, and reflections on the evolution of the sport. Liddell opens up about fighting philosophies, the grind of weight cutting, coaching on The Ultimate Fighter, post-fight parties, and how authenticity and going for the finish made him a fan favorite. He also reveals current projects and muses on possible future ventures—all with the chilled humor and straight-talk that made "The Iceman" famous.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Golden Era of Light Heavyweight (02:11–04:48)

• Host introduces Chuck as an icon of the UFC’s “Spike TV days,” asking if that period was the best ever.
• Chuck: “I’m a little biased...but it was a good time. It was fun. We had a great time.” (02:34)
• On the division’s size and prestige then:
  “At that time [light heavyweight] was...the premier division.” (02:43)
• Chuck acknowledges the UFC’s expansion: “There’s five or six [events] a year. Not, you know, 45...I’m glad there’s a lot more guys fighting now.” (02:57–03:06)

2. Breaking Out & The Ultimate Fighter Boom (03:21–04:55)

• Did Liddell foresee the UFC getting huge? “I always thought it would get there...But I thought it would take a lot longer. It was just so hard...getting on free TV, getting people to understand.” (03:29–03:42)
• On The Ultimate Fighter’s explosive impact: “Dana said it was this Trojan horse to get a free fight on TV...It exploded. For me, it went from being able to walk through a mall and...that guy maybe knows me, to sixty-year-old ladies coming up: ‘Hey, good fight the other night.’ Almost overnight.” (04:00–04:37)
• Liddell won the title the week after TUF's finale, amplifying his fame.

3. Cameos & Pop Culture Moments (05:00–05:44, 39:52–45:51)

• Chuck loved appearing in Entourage: “That was...my favorite show back then. Probably the last show I actually went out of my way to watch when it aired.” (05:06)
• On Dancing With the Stars: “My dancing abilities...it’s one of those things. Michael Irvin said it really well...I’m used to telling my body what to do, and it just doesn’t. But dancing’s not the same.” (40:08–40:14)
• Blue Mountain State cameo fun story: “That move I do in there...we do at the end of training camp, goof around and do Karate Kid type stuff...if I could land that, it was a walk-off.” (44:48–45:33)

4. Coaching, Technique & Evolution in MMA (05:45–08:43, 20:34–22:30)

• On coaching The Ultimate Fighter: “It taught me a lot about showing details...I do something naturally that makes it work, and I need to break that down for others.” (05:47–06:15)
• Evolution of training: “We were trying to figure out how to train, how to mix it. Everyone was coming from one discipline, learning the other two...Now, kids start training everything at 5. It just keeps evolving.” (20:34–22:06)
• Modern game is about balancing all skills; specialization is out.

5. Rivalries, Iconic Fights, and Paydays (07:11–07:51, 12:11–14:32, 16:03–16:49, 47:39–48:43)

• Biggest payday/favorite fights: “If I had to pick one...[it'd] be the fight with Randy, the second fight, because I avenged my loss. I finally got the title I was after.” (07:31–07:41, 16:06)
• Rivalry with Tito Ortiz: “Tito was fun, but I always knew [from training with him]...that’s not taking anything away from him.” (07:20–07:31)
• Dana White as manager & UFC purchase insight: “He was my manager. He had to quit [when] they bought the UFC...He started managing me, and that’s how Dana decided to buy the UFC with Lorenzo.” (13:27–14:34)
• Low points? “Anytime you lose...Retiring was tough. But the hardest [was] losing to Randy the first time...I let Tito off the hook. That really sucked.” (47:41–48:33)

6. Fighting Philosophy: Go for the Finish (08:20–12:17, 49:16–50:14)

• “A lot of guys try to finish today...for a while, guys were just trying to edge out a win, point fighting. I like it when you’re trying to finish, I don’t care how.” (08:20–08:32)
• Critique of “lay and pray” wrestling: “If you’re just taking the guy down and holding him there...I don’t want to watch this.” (09:08–09:14)
• Big emphasis on fighters needing to know how to get off their back: “If you can’t get off your back, that’s your problem.” (09:22)
• “I knew I could finish best on my feet...During my fight career, I concentrated mostly on just getting off my back and standing.” (49:26–50:00)

7. Favorite Fighters, Greatest of All Time, and Dream Matchups (07:54–08:43, 17:04–18:26)

• Current favorites: “Alex [Pereira]...He trains with Glover, and Glover’s my guy...I like watching a lot of fighters. As long as you’re trying to finish, I like to watch.” (08:01–08:32)
• GOAT? “My favorite was Anderson Silva...BJ and Matt Hughes—good friends, love watching those guys.” (17:07–17:21)
• Dream matchup: “I think I matched up well with Jon Jones...A lot of times, by the time you figure out I’m longer than you thought, it’s too late.” (17:34–18:10)

8. Wrestling as the Best Base? The Mindset of a Champion (18:27–20:24)

• On discipline: “You have to be balanced...But if I had to pick, I’ll take an All-American wrestler. I know you’re tough, I know you can make weight.” (18:44–18:54)
• Mental approach: “I always thought I could beat someone...As a fighter, you should always think, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna beat that guy.’” (20:11–20:24)

9. Media, Promotion & Brand Building: Then vs. Now (22:37–25:40, 26:55–27:47)

• Media grind, pre-social media: “There were only a few people people knew. So, okay, we want you...A lot of the stuff I get now is because of all the PR we did trying to promote the sport.” (22:47–23:04)
• Learning interviews: “Best advice I got: Whatever question they ask you, answer yes or no, then talk for a minute and a half...You give the DJ something to look good, they help you, you look good.” (24:37–25:32)
• Contrast with today: “Social media is a skill set—a fan favorite can build a whole career off social media...Back then, we were doing it by radio.” (26:55–27:11)

10. Cutting Weight and Fight Week Stories (28:08–32:33)

• On weight cuts: “If guys want to cut that much weight, great...I didn’t like cutting that much weight...I had to cut 19.5 pounds in one day.” (28:16–28:44)
• Fight week routine: “I used to cut 8 pounds of water pretty easy. I like to diet down.” (31:38)
• Weight confusion after The Ultimate Fighter: “I found out [for title fights] you don’t get a pound allowance. I was like, oh, damn it...ran back, jumped in the sauna.” (31:11–31:26)

11. Afterparties and Celebrations (32:15–34:55)

• “I was actually the first guy to announce my afterparty after winning at UFC.” (32:26)
• Venues became strict after he hosted a party off-site: “After that, all my after parties had to be wherever the venue was.” (33:06)
• On post-loss parties: “Two ways: celebrating or getting paid. You got paid, it is what it is.” (33:28, 33:35)

12. International Experiences: Japan, Canada, Brazil (34:54–36:53)

• Favorite place to fight? “Vegas.” (34:54–34:57)
• On Japanese fans: “When you fight, Japanese are quiet—they do it out of respect...You could yell instructions, and they could hear you...But they’re very polite.” (35:06–36:53)

13. Legacy, Authenticity, and Style (48:43–50:17)

• Why is Chuck so beloved? “I think authenticity is big...I was never a character. I just go out and fight. My style—I like to finish, and people happen to like that.” (48:49–49:07)
• His shorts, knockouts, and heavy-handed brawler persona helped build the brand.

14. Life After Fighting, Current Projects, and Future Plans (51:21–52:36)

• Plugging new clothing brand:
  “Yeah, the new clothing—ICEMAN. Shout out kingofwking.com.” (51:23–51:35)
• Looking at opening a gym, raising kids, focusing on family: “I stayed away from a fight team for a long time...I prioritize watching them [kids], but looking at opening one soon.” (51:57–52:15)
• Still active on social media/YouTube with “Out Colds” reaction videos.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On TUF explosion:
  “It was a Trojan horse to get a free fight on TV...After that, 60-year-old ladies were coming up: ‘Hey, good fight the other night.’” (04:00–04:33)

• On weight cutting:
  “I had to cut 19 and a half pounds in one day.” (28:44)

• On being a coach:
  “It taught me a lot about showing details...there’s a little detail I do naturally that made it work.” (05:47–06:11)

• On MMA evolution:
  “We were inventing the sport almost, right?”
  “Yeah, we were trying to figure out how to train, how to mix it...if you stopped evolving, you died.” (21:24–22:07)

• On pop culture:
  “My dancing abilities...Michael Irvin said it: ‘I’m used to telling my body what to do...but dancing’s not the same.’” (40:08–40:14)

• On authenticity:
  “I think authenticity is big...I was never a character. I just, I think my fighting style is something people like.” (48:49–49:07)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Golden Era of UFC / Light Heavyweight Glory: 02:11–04:48
• Ultimate Fighter and Fame Explosion: 03:29–04:55
• Pop Culture: Entourage, Dancing With the Stars, BMS: 05:00–05:44, 39:52–45:51
• Coaching & Technique: 05:47–06:53
• Most Iconic Fights: 07:31–07:51, 16:06
• On Dana White as Coach/Manager: 13:23–14:34
• Fighting Philosophy, Finishes vs. Point Fighting: 08:20–12:17, 49:16–50:14
• Weight Cutting Stories: 28:14–31:26
• Post-Fight Celebrations: 32:15–34:55
• International Fight Stories / Japan: 34:54–36:53
• Media & Promotion: 22:37–25:40, 26:55–27:47
• Authenticity & Brand Building: 48:49–49:14
• Life After MMA: 51:21–52:36

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Flow, Vibe, & Tone

The episode stays true to the Full Send spirit: casual, full of locker-room laughs, and sometimes raw, but deeply insightful about what makes legends—like Chuck Liddell—endure in fight sports and beyond. Liddell’s genuine, no-nonsense attitude and openness about both triumphs and struggles make this a must-listen for fans of MMA, sports, or just larger-than-life personalities.

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Tip: Skip the ads (first 2 min and at breaks throughout) for pure content.
Follow Chuck: Check out ICEMAN clothing (kingofwking.com), his reaction videos, and stay tuned for his possible gym opening!

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For those who missed it: This episode is a treasure trove of MMA history, fighter wisdom, and colorful stories—plus, plenty of Iceman humor and life lessons straight from the source.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

all right, guys, welcome back to another full send podcast. We have an absolute legend, and I mean legend, in the building today. Chuck the Iceman Liddell. Crazy great to have you, bro. We've been. We've been wanting to have you on for a while. I remember watching you, I think I was in, like, probably eighth grade and, like, the Spike TV days when I remember those fights. That's got to be the best era of the ufc. Would you agree?

[Chuck Liddell]

I'm a little biased.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

But it was a good time. It was fun.

We had a great time.

[Podcast Host]

Do you think that was, like, the best time in a division ever, like, the light heavyweight division at that time?

[Chuck Liddell]

Well, it was the biggest. Yeah. At that time was one of the. It was the premier, you know, division, I guess.

But, yeah, there's a lot of great fights back then.

So, you know, it was a lot bigger. Like, well, that, you know, it was a UFC.

There's five or six a year. Not, you know, 45. You know, it's a little more.

I'm glad there's a lot more guys out there.

A lot more guys fighting, a lot more fights.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I just remember how deep it was. It was like, you, Tito Rampage, like, was that Machida Shogun?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Rashad Evans.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, yeah.

A lot of good guys.

[Podcast Host]

When you're fighting back then, did you kind of see the UFC getting as big as, like, a sport as it was, or how was it back then?

[Chuck Liddell]

Like, a lot of times, the way I put it is I. You know, I always thought it would

get there because I think it's the greatest sport in the world, but. But I thought it would take a lot longer. And I think, you know, that us getting on, it was just so hard to break into getting on free tv, getting people to understand even that, what kind of fan base we had, even at that time.

And then. But the.

The, you know, the reality show top just exploded. I mean, it made, you know, it was a genius. I mean, it was great.

It was there. It's like.

I think that Dana said it was this Trojan horse to get a free fight on TV and get people to see, you know, see the sport and

got to see, you know, meet guys

that are fighting, to see them training, see them doing stuff, it was a.

And it exploded.

I mean, I can tell you, for

me, it went from me being able

to walk through a mall and go,

okay, that guy probably knows who I am.

And that guy with the tap out shirt, Han, he knows me. And that guy maybe to 60 year old ladies coming up.

Hey, good fight the other night.

Wow.

Like, it's like.

And it was over almost overnight from the Ultimate Fighter.

From Ultimate Fighter. Yeah, the Ultimate Fighter before Ultimate Fighter. To like that. I. Because we had the Ultimate Fighter had, you know that.

And then I, I won the title the week after and it was just, it was insane. How much difference.

[Interviewer]

How much of the reality TV did you like? Because I know you did a cameo and Entourage too.

[Chuck Liddell]

You got got. Yeah, well, I like cameo.

[Interviewer]

Parking lot.

[Chuck Liddell]

That was a lot of fun, dude.

[Interviewer]

That's one of my favorite episodes.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, that was, that was awesome. And that was my favorite show back then. Like. Yeah, I was probably the last show.

I actually went.

Went out of my way to try

to each episode right when it air.

[Interviewer]

So how did that even come together?

[Chuck Liddell]

I, you know, I don't know.

I asked everybody I knew like, hey, man, give me.

I want to. I just wanted to do like a

cameo on the show. I just want to walk in and say I had events or something. My favorite show. And then someone got me on there and they're like, you know, hey, wait, we got this.

They.

I think they changed the. The punk thing for me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

So.

Oh, we got Chuck.

Let's do this.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

So it was pretty cool.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, that's great. That's one of the best episodes ever.

[Chuck Liddell]

That was awesome.

[Podcast Host]

What was it like coaching on the Ultimate Fighter?

[Chuck Liddell]

It taught me in the beginning. It taught me a lot of things

for as a coach because like I remember working with Forrest and I'm trying to show him something and it's like, man, this works for me every time.

And he can't seem to get it. What.

And he's pretty good. Like he should understand what am I not doing? What am I not showing him?

And it just had.

There's a little detail in the, in the middle of that I do naturally to load something that made it work.

Like the move works. I'm like, oh. So I learned a lot more about

showing details because I. And teaching details.

[Interviewer]

It's.

[Chuck Liddell]

It's because it's different.

I mean no one, you know, when

you first, when I first started coaching people, it's like you're like, no, don't like this. Like, they're like, well, I don't know

what you're doing different. You know, so.

But like I have a lot of friends that, you know, you see some

guys that are really good at this guillotine, right?

Jake Shields, great guillotine, you know, and finishing guys and, you know, I'm watching him go, okay, he's teaching it the

same way everybody else teaches it. What's he doing different?

You know, you just got. Oh, okay. He's adjusting that. Okay, okay, now I see what he's doing.

So I think that. I think I learned. Learn from coaching there, from working with guys that obviously just were good at what they do and they really, you know, and they're. They're not getting what I'm teaching. I must be doing something else.

[Interviewer]

What was your biggest payday fight? Was it Rampage?

[Chuck Liddell]

I'd have to look back. I don't know.

[Podcast Host]

What do you think was your most iconic fight?

[Chuck Liddell]

Iconic?

[Podcast Host]

That's in terms of, like, opponent. Like, who was like. Was it Tito?

[Chuck Liddell]

Well, Tito was fun, but I always

knew from training with him, I trained with him.

I used to. I was gonna. I knew I was.

That's not.

Right now. I always. If you. If I had to pick one, I

mean, it'd be the fight with Randy, the second fight, because I avenged my loss. I finally got the title. I was after, and it was right after the show. You know, the first time I, I, I broke.

I had a. Like a minimum.

Like minimum pay per view buys to get. Actually hit my. My bonus, and actually, first time I ever hit my bonus, so I was pretty, too.

[Fan/Listener]

Who do you like watching in the UFC now? Fighters?

[Chuck Liddell]

I. I like watching a lot of guys.

I mean, you go to a lot

[Podcast Host]

of fights in person, too.

[Fan/Listener]

Is there anyone, like, specifically, like, maybe top three for you?

[Chuck Liddell]

I don't know. I mean.

I mean, Alex, like, Per.

Per. Yeah. I mean, he trains with Ply.

He trains with Glover, and Glover's my guys, so. Until Glover retired, Glover was one of my favorites. Just because we're friends, you know,

I don't know. I like watching a lot of the fighters a lot. I mean, I'm Guys.

A lot of guys try to finish today. I, like, I think for a little while, guys are trying to just wrestle

well, just try to edge out a

win, you know, like, making sure you're

doing Justin point fighting, just trying to

do enough to win. And, you know, I like it. Like, I don't care how you try to finish. I don't care if you're grounded pound submission guy striker, as long as you're trying to finish. I like to watch it.

[Podcast Host]

So do, you know, not like, guys that'll just, like, wrestle and just try to, like, kind of win by points, because I know a lot of people complain about that sometimes. It could be fun to watch if it's a technical grappling.

[Chuck Liddell]

Here's the thing. I'm. I'm. I'm a wrestler, and I'm a jiu jitsu guy. So I. I like.

I like, I can appreciate technical.

If you're not just riding the guy out.

If you're just not ground and hold, lay. Or what they call it, lay and pray.

Like, if you're just. Just taking the guy down and hold

him there, it's like, what are you doing? Yeah. Like, I don't want to watch this.

Like. But, you know, I put it on. If the guys get. Get held down for, like, complaint about

a guy holding down for five rounds,

hey, learn how to get off your back. You know, if you can't get off your back, that's your problem. But, I mean, the problem I have with some of these fights is you see guys out there and they're like, you're not even trying to get off your back.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You don't. Do you not know how to get off your back? You're just holding him. He's laying on top of you. You're losing the fight. Get up. I always think it's different. Like, if you. If I see a guy. If you're trying to get up, the guy's countering.

That's one thing.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Chuck Liddell]

That's great. I like that, actually.

That's cool. Watching how.

Okay. But if you're just laying down there and holding your cold guard, like, hey, by the way, you're not going to submit this guy. He's got great. He's great on top. You're not going to submit him. Get up.

[Interviewer]

Do you think there's people like that try to prepare for that, and they find whatever. The best sparring partner, and then they fight Khabib or Islam, and they're just not. There's nothing you can do to prepare for that.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, I wouldn't know because I see what I watched. I'm watching a guy do the things he's doing down on the bott.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

He obviously does not know how to

get off his back.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

Or he's not doing anything that I would consider

attempting to get off his back.

It's not.

Not so much that he's being countered as much as he's just.

And I'm not saying that someone like that would. Kabib wouldn't have countered.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

That's okay, too.

I'm okay with that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

But if you're not, you're not even. I'm watching this. You're not. It's Frustrating because they're not even trying to. If you get rid out for five rounds and you're not.

And you're not trying to get off your back. To me, I forget what's in which. Which guy was.

But watching him sit there and he's just holding guy down and not let him damage him.

Oh, my kid.

[Fan/Listener]

I'm talking about the Hamza ddb.

[Interviewer]

Like, you see that A decent amount.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, it might have been that one. Yeah.

[Fan/Listener]

What's happened recently? Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

He couldn't do though.

[Fan/Listener]

He couldn't do anything though. Yeah. I mean, when you're that dominant as a wrestler, I mean, Khamzat's wrestled his whole life. I mean.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, but it's has to do with

knowing how to get.

Like I said, if you don't know how to get.

If you don't.

To me, it looks like they don't

know how to get off their back

and they're just not even trying.

It's okay with me that a guy stops you. Okay, I get that. Okay, guys, he's good. Great. Then I. I can live with that.

But I don't want to watch you

if you're just going to sit down there and lay there. Just try to keep him from damaging you. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, are you just trying to hold on to the.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

You got to blame the guys on

[Podcast Host]

the bottom just as much.

[Chuck Liddell]

100%.

[Podcast Host]

That's a good point.

[Chuck Liddell]

You got. They where get up, get up and. Or try to try to get up, you know, but that was one of those things.

Like for me, I was always like,

I did a lot of stuff.

I like work from a half guard down there. I do a lot of different things from down there.

But you know, you got to start right away. You can't let you get. Those guys get set on top of you. It's. It's a. You get a good strong resident on top. They get. They get set on top of you. Okay. Now it's a bitch. So you gotta, you got. I mean, you gotta start as soon as you hit the ground and get. Boom. You got.

You gotta be working to get out.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

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[Interviewer]

What's your relationship with Dana like these days?

[Chuck Liddell]

Great. I look good.

[Interviewer]

I feel like you guys always were pretty.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, we were. Good relationship. We had. Always had a good night. Well, he was my man. He was my coach. I mean, I'm a coach. My manager for. For. They bought the ufc.

[Podcast Host]

I did not know that.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, he was my manager. He had to quit as my manager

when they bought the UFC seat.

[Podcast Host]

I did not know that. That's cool. So how did that come about? How did you guys first meet?

[Chuck Liddell]

He was actually managing Tito and Wayne Harryman, friend of both of ours.

And, And. And he actually suggested, hey, man, you.

[Interviewer]

You. You.

[Chuck Liddell]

You see this guy train with Tito?

And like I said, beating up. I was beating him up.

I used to beat him up.

Everything we train together.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, they love that probably too, right?

[Chuck Liddell]

Well, that.

That came later.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Chuck Liddell]

At this time, he was his manager,

so they were probably still.

Right.

Yeah, I think their. Their, Their squabbles started later.

But, yeah, but yeah, he.

He's like this guy, watch this guy.

If you think this guy's good.

This guy's beating him up. So he started managing me, and it

was, you know, and he.

That's where that's how they decided.

I think that's how Dana decided to

buy the UFC with Lorenzo. They were talking about doing a boxing promotion at that time, and then they decided, hey, well, why don't we. Why don't we take this over and do it right? And. Wow.

[Podcast Host]

So was. Would Dana, like, tell you stuff like that back then? Like, oh, we're trying to buy this UFC thing.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, we talked about it. They were talking about. Donna talked about, you know, Data was

always going for that other stuff, like getting. Getting bigger stuff than, like, like, you

know, it was normal.

You get like black belt magazine and stuff like that, karate magazine, stuff like that. But he was always trying to get us in the fitness magazines and do that and get. Get more stuff.

[Podcast Host]

So what'd you notice about him and like, his, like, work ethic or his intelligence when you.

[Chuck Liddell]

Back then, like I said, he was always. He's always pushing the envelope, trying to

get more promotion, do something better, get something better for you, you know, so it was.

It was, you know, getting something bigger. He's trying to. He was trying to make it bigger.

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[Chuck Liddell]

And he did a great job of it, him and Lorenzo and Frank, obviously.

[Interviewer]

But what was your personal favorite moment in your UFC career?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, well, I mean, people ask that.

I would say to put a gun to my head. It would be that second fight with Randy. So when I knocked him, I knocked him out. It was after winning the show. Like, both my guys won on the show, went through the whole thing and then, you know, and everything was exploding and I went out and won my fight, my knockout and.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, so they don't really do the Ultimate Fighter as much anymore. Right. The last one was what, McGregor and

[Chuck Liddell]

Chandler, I don't know, I don't keep up with it that much, but they

[Podcast Host]

should have, like, you back on as a coach or like two. That would be cool, right?

[Interviewer]

Would you do it?

[Chuck Liddell]

It's fun. Yeah, I do.

[Podcast Host]

They should have two legends on as coaches.

[Chuck Liddell]

I think they like to have it

set up where they can have them right afterwards.

[Podcast Host]

Right, true. That makes sense.

[Chuck Liddell]

That so.

Because.

Because that for a long time, that. That promotes a big fight. You know who's ruling you out?

[Interviewer]

You don't think Mike Tyson got back in there? You don't think you could get back in there?

[Chuck Liddell]

56.

My wife would kill me.

But yeah, no, I.

[Fan/Listener]

Who do you think is the greatest fighter of all time?

[Podcast Host]

Damn.

[Chuck Liddell]

All time. My. My favorite was Anderson. So.

Well, this time probably.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, he was fun to watch, right?

[Chuck Liddell]

I mean be beat him. I like BJ and Matty Hughes. Good friend. They're friends of mine.

Guys love watching those guys fight.

[Fan/Listener]

Is there a dream fight for yourself? Like if there's anyone that you wish you would have fought in your day.

[Chuck Liddell]

I mean it's, it's silly again. I, I think it's silly to talk

about things that can't happen or. Yeah. Like my prime versus this person's prime or whatever. I think I matched up well with, with John Jones. I always thought I would have. He's. I've got a longer reach than people think because it loses my reach. At 76. I have about, about 79 inch, 78, I'd be about 80 reach. But John, John did that on purpose. My trainers, he's a little, he doesn't

like, he, like he's always done a

little weird things with stuff like that. Like he didn't want people know when I was that long. Yeah, he didn't want to train for me being long.

That's pretty smart because if you say

I have an 80 inch reach for oh, you got to be careful, he's gonna be really long. You know, I, they listed me at 76 so that, you know, that's when you, if you figure, by the time you figure out that I'm a little longer than you thought I was, it's a lot of times it's too late.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, it's a little too late for that.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So based on all your fight, what's the most important discipline would you say to be good at in the, in mma?

[Chuck Liddell]

Most important? I, you know, I think you have

to be balanced nowadays. You have to be able to do everything.

I always say as a coach, what I preferred if I had to pick

something, I'll take an all American wrestler.

I know you're tough.

I know you can cut weight, make weight. I don't have to worry about that.

And, and wrestling is a skill that it's hard. It's, it's, it's hard to teach that you're not going to get that.

The mad hours that they got to get to that good at wrestling. And I can teach everything else.

[Fan/Listener]

You think that's the best base?

[Chuck Liddell]

I mean it's, it's the, the hardest one. It's the hardest one to get. I don't know. It's, it's. If you, if you didn't wrestle for.

Since you're a kid, since you're younger,

you know you can still be good,

you can still fighting. Wrestling is different.

So it's you can still be. Be great at it, but you're not

never going to quite be the same. You know, it's. It's hard to explain, but you don't have that mad hours of, Of. So, but if I, if you give me one.

And, and I know they're mentally tough.

You know, I don't know if they can.

If you made it that far in

wrestling, you're mentally tough, too.

[Podcast Host]

So what's it, what's it like being in, like, in the mind of, like, when you were fighting? Like, were there ever times when you'd go into the ring, were you always, like, super confident going into a fight, like, a big fight? Every time?

[Chuck Liddell]

Like, you're always like.

[Podcast Host]

Or was there ever times you're like,

[Chuck Liddell]

like, no, I, I. Every time. I, I mean, I. I'm so bad to the point where I get. When I lost, I'll be like, man,

[Podcast Host]

you still thought you started.

[Chuck Liddell]

Can we start over?

I know I. I could fix that.

I know. I know what I did wrong. Let me give you another shot. You know, I can beat this guy. I know.

I always, I mean, right.

Right after the fight, I knocked out still.

Wait up, man.

I know I messed up.

I got. I could, I could fix that.

So.

I always, always thought I could be someone.

I. I think as a fighter, you

should, you know, you should always think, oh, yeah, I'm going to beat that guy.

[Podcast Host]

What do you think's the biggest difference between your era in the UFC and. And now?

[Chuck Liddell]

There's a lot of differences.

I mean, I don't know.

I think the biggest difference is that you, when we, when we came out, when I came into the sport.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Chuck Liddell]

UFC 17 was our first. First one.

[Podcast Host]

17.

[Interviewer]

That's insane.

[Chuck Liddell]

First MMA mixed fight was in 97, so. And then I fought in UFC 98.

But the biggest thing back then is

we were trying to figure out how to train, like, how to mix it.

Like, everybody, everybody was coming from one

discipline and learning the other two. Like, for me, I. One of the advantages I had in the beginning is I came from wrestling and striking. I came from wrestling and kickboxing, karate background. And, and so I. I had two, and I had to learn the third, you know, so.

But we're learning how to just train.

How do you spar? How do you.

[Podcast Host]

You guys were inventing the sport almost, right?

[Chuck Liddell]

And, and, yeah, these are trained. Guys are getting better. You know, I mean, if you go

look at leg locks back then, you know, most.

The leg locks were so basic, you

know, some of these got away with. You couldn't get away with those nowadays.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. You don't.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know those guys well, but no, but now the guys are just so much better. Leg locks. They're different.

You know, it's a different, different breed.

But. But like now, now everybody you start

training and you go to, you go.

You, you know, you decided.

Kid wants to train at 5, you

take them to a gym that does everything.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, they have.

They know how to co.

They know how to mix it together, how to train, how to.

And it just keeps evolving. I mean, the sport when we were

doing it, like if you stop evolving, you died.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, it can start out. Start out with guys wrestling versus boxing

versus Jiu jitsu versus whatever. Right.

But then it became there and I think they started with it trying to prove Jiu Jitsu was the best, you know, and then. And then what.

What they found out was a mix of all of them is the best.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, putting it and you know, putting it together and that's, that's what's gonna.

[Interviewer]

Did you feel like then there was more pressure on you because there's like now there's so many stars in the sport and back then there was only a few of you guys.

[Chuck Liddell]

I didn't feel the pressure that way.

I mean, I think in the off

season there was like, it was like there's a lot of.

A lot more push to do the

media stuff was like if there's only a few people people knew.

So, okay, we want you.

Yeah, you need to go do this.

[Interviewer]

I guess that's a good thing. At the same time.

[Chuck Liddell]

At the same time it was a great thing for me and we were just. I mean people are. Oh, man. A lot of stuff I get now after the fact is because of all

the PR we did trying to promote the sport.

I was betting a good job with your brand. But no, I, I just was trying to prom a sport.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

We were just trying to. To grow a sport.

And they're not in for. For a long time we just try to go. Going to places and trying to learn how to do interviews.

I think funny for when I first

fought, the first fight with Tito is

like, you know, Dana came, man, you got to get. You got to get your interviews, got to get better.

[Interviewer]

Oh, really?

[Chuck Liddell]

Radio interviews you got to do. You know, but it was. It was hard back then. You go in there and people would

ask you the same, like I. The same dumb questions that. That really are. They ask you asked and answered questions like they have their. Their idea, whatever the answer should be. And they kind of walk it through the question. They're like, do I tell you you're

an idiot and you're wrong, or do I just go, okay, yeah, yeah, great. That doesn't do anything. And actually, my. The manager at the time is. His sister helped me because she's a combo. They're like, get better at interviews. So I went and I got an interview coach.

Basically.

She came in and she asked me. She asked me to write down 10 questions. 10 questions of what? You know, most common questions. She looked down like, they're asking, like, two. All these questions.

There are two questions in here. That's it.

So. And look.

And they. These people obviously haven't done anything.

A lot of times you come to

a radio interview, guys haven't read a one sheet. They don't know what MMA is.

They're asking me, like, is it like pro wrestling? Like, no.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, but. And what the best bit of advice

I got from her was, she said,

well, once you need to speak up,

because I tend to mumble.

But. But then she said, you need go out there. These are.

These questions are dumb. Just.

Just whatever question they ask you, first

question, answer yes or no, whatever it is, and talk for about a minute and a half to two minutes.

Just talk about whatever you want to get out there.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

And just speak.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

And then.

And what it does and what it did is for radio interviews, because they're short, right. You know, they talk. Now you made a guy look good. He hasn't even looked at his one sheet.

He barely knows your name.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

And he's like. And they're like.

And you make him. You give him something to look good, and you look good to him, too. You make him look good, right? Because anybody, any good DJs, if you give them some information, they'll make it

funny, they'll make it cool. However their audience wants to hear, though.

They'll. They'll take care of the other part of it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You just have to give them some information that they can use because they'll just pick it out of whatever you said.

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[Interviewer]

Social media and all, that's like a skill set where you can just be a fan favorite and not even be the best fighter. You know, you can build a whole career just off your social media.

[Chuck Liddell]

Right. Well, there's. Yeah. A lot more ways to promote. Yeah.

Promote you and get guys out there talking, you know that.

But back then we were doing it by radio.

It was like radio.

And it wasn't most of my, like,

I like going to the radio like station, like if they ask me if

I wanted to call in or go, I'd rather go.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

Because for me back then you meet,

you meet the dj, whoever, whoever you're going to talk with and you have a conversation. A lot of times, if nothing else, if I have a conversation with them

before we go on because it's a real quick hit. Right?

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

If you have conversation with before, it makes it so much easier for them

when they get on air.

[Interviewer]

For sure.

[Chuck Liddell]

Because then now that they, you're not just kind of going up like, we don't know each other.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, don't. If you had, you have a little rap before you go out on the,

on, on the radio, it was better.

[Interviewer]

Right. Dana always likes to post like injuries after fights, you know, like big cuts. What was the worst injury you sustained?

[Chuck Liddell]

Or I think after that, my last

fight in the oc, I, I got, I like, I got split up my

lip and I look pretty bad.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Fan/Listener]

What, what do you think about weight cutting in the ufc? You think guys or fighters should fight closer to their weight?

[Podcast Host]

That's one thing I'll never, by the

[Chuck Liddell]

way, it's a balance. I mean a lot of fighters, it's a balance.

It's a fighter's choice. It's a, I don't, I mean if guys want to cut that much weight, great. If, if you don't, if you're, I like, like Alex War, I think he's better at 205 than 185. I think he's a better fighter up there. I think that he's, I mean he's cutting so much weight to get 85.

I don't really know how he made it.

[Podcast Host]

How do they do that? Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

Never understand that I didn't like cutting that much weight.

I did, I did the one one

time screwed up long story.

But I, I scre. They moved the fight date and so, so it changed things. So I I w up having to

cut 19/2 pounds in one day. How, like how

I had to weigh

in and then fight.

[Interviewer]

Like, what do you do the day

[Chuck Liddell]

you have to cut 20 plastics and

sauna plastics and sweat. It's all water.

[Podcast Host]

And you obviously, I know you can't even take a sip of water and you're like in the sauna and you're like, are you working at that point?

[Chuck Liddell]

You're not drink taking a sip of

water now, but

[Podcast Host]

that is so far. Like, I could not imagine that. And I don't know how you guys had to also, you have to do that and then you also have to do media all week long while you're like, that is, you know, but here

[Chuck Liddell]

like, but it's a choice.

Like I walked around at like 2:25, 2:30, right.

I fought 205, but I would diet

down during my, my canteen by, by the time, by, by fight week, I

usually Woke up about 2:13, 2:14. You know, I went to bed about,

I stopped eating and drinking about 8 o' clock at night when I go to bed and I get up in the morning. I, I hate, by the way, I'd hate having to make weight at 8 o' clock in the morning. Like to do now or whatever time they make it now. Yeah, we used to didn't have to make it till like three or four. So I, I, because I, I don't know, I probably would have had to get start cutting.

I had to wake up extra early

and start cutting because I, I slept in When I, I trained, I always, I slept till about what, 9, 9 or 10 on fight, wear a mask,

[Interviewer]

what I was today?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, that's, I mean I, I slept

in what I went fought because I, I fought.

I always tell me I fought at

9 o' clock at night. So if I'm going to bed at 10 o', clock, 9 o', clock, 10 o', clock, my body's shutting down at

night, you know, So I, I usually

went to bed a whole fight camp, about one or two.

[Podcast Host]

That's smart.

[Chuck Liddell]

So I get. It's more adjusted, but. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So that was like the toughest weight cut.

[Chuck Liddell]

That was the toughest week. Yeah, but you still made it. I made it. I never, I've never missed weight though. Was there ever, like funniest one though, when I, for after the Ultimate Fighter. So I found out we can. I didn't know we had a pound

allowance until the Ultimate Fighter.

No, you only have to make a 106, right?

You don't have to make 105 scratch.

So I'm like, okay, perfect.

I got a pound allowance.

So they thought I was having a

hard time making weight because I missed weight the first, when I went out to fight. When I read Randy the first time I stepped on the scale because I was, I, I thought we got a pound allowance. Well, you don't get a pound allowance for title fights.

You don't, you don't. So I was like, oh, damn it.

So I just ran back in, got

[Interviewer]

the slime, took a. And came back.

[Chuck Liddell]

Well, we didn't jump in the sauna

for a few minutes and came back.

Well,

I got no real food in your system.

Yeah, but, yeah, I, I mean, but I used to, I mean, I used to cut.

Got 8 pounds of water pretty easy because I like, I, I like to diet down.

But I walked around, I mean, two

weeks out, I'd probably be about 218.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

And I probably walk in the, I

probably walked in the cage about 16

to 16 to 15 to 16. But you know, some guys like to cut more, some people like to feel

bigger and they cut more.

But at 205, no one was lost on me.

I was a bunch of, I mean,

I've been two or five.

I've been, I've been 205 since I was 19 years old, you know. So. Yeah, you're comfortable right there that way. And I'd stayed there, you know, my last fight, I was almost 40.

[Podcast Host]

So would you celebrate a lot after big wins?

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So I was actually the first guy to announce my afterparty after winning a ufc.

[Podcast Host]

You were the first after party ever.

[Chuck Liddell]

First. First got announced.

[Podcast Host]

Oh.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

So you really paved the way.

[Chuck Liddell]

First announces after party. And I think it was funny because Dana told me a story like. Like six months. I know we were starting to get. When they got mad at me for

you announcing because I did it at the.

It was at the Rio at the Point, and we were fighting it at Mandalay Bay. And after my fight, in one of

the meetings later, a couple months later,

they're like, hey, we don't want your

fighters, like, sending people off out of the hotel after the fight.

[Interviewer]

Who said that?

[Chuck Liddell]

The people from Mandalay Bay. Mandalay Bay. Oh.

Oh.

We don't want your fighters sending. So after that, all my after parties

had to be on wherever the venue was because you.

[Interviewer]

That was the first one announced. Was it pretty packed that night?

[Chuck Liddell]

It was fun.

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What fight was that?

[Chuck Liddell]

I don't remember. Yeah, I just remember because of the fight with the. The after party was at the Rio, so I have to look at it.

[Interviewer]

I always wonder now because, like, win or lose, these guys still host after. Like, it's got to be tough to go to the club after a big loss and.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, but your fans are still there.

You're still you.

You still told them you're coming. So I guess there's two ways of drinking to celebrate or getting paid.

You're getting paid.

You got paid, you know? Yeah. You know, it is what it is.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What was your craziest after fight celebration?

[Chuck Liddell]

I don't know.

I actually don't. They're all pretty good. It was a good time back then.

We had a good time.

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Pretty hard not to have a good time after winning Vegas, right?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

A lot of options.

[Chuck Liddell]

A lot of options. Old school was the one.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

You would always fight in Vegas.

[Podcast Host]

Pretty much, right?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, I fought in Vegas a lot.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

Was that a pool party at back then?

[Podcast Host]

Oh, day party.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, the day party. Hard Rock.

[Interviewer]

Does Hard Rock still exist there?

[Chuck Liddell]

No.

So this was.

[Interviewer]

I wouldn't even know.

[Chuck Liddell]

Now it's virgin now the hotel.

[Interviewer]

I wonder what the club was called at Rio, because I remember Rio when I was a kid. It used to be the spot.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, it was up top.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

It was pretty cool.

[Interviewer]

That and the Palms were the two places.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, Palms had that one too. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Did you ever fight in New York or New York?

[Chuck Liddell]

Probably New York. New York was illegal and I was

still fighting, I don't think.

[Podcast Host]

Can you believe that as a. At a point, that's Wild.

[Interviewer]

Where. So where else would it ever be hosted if it wasn't Vegas?

[Chuck Liddell]

Well, I fought in Canada twice.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, where'd you fight? Toronto or Montreal?

[Chuck Liddell]

Montreal and Vancouver.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, nice.

[Chuck Liddell]

I fought Brazil. Not. Not in the ufc, though. Mostly Vegas.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. That was your favorite place to fight, Vegas?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah. Japan was interesting. That was. That was.

I fought over there a few times for the ufc.

Fought for the UFC over there, and

I fought for Pride over there.

[Interviewer]

What was different about fighting in Japan?

[Chuck Liddell]

It's just the first time I went. Going out there, I think.

I think there was, like, 18, 000 people there, you know, And.

And I. I remember it because I was.

I was watching that Dan Henderson fight, and I'm sitting there on, like, on the. Coming out from the locker room, I got a. Like, the first tier playing outside, and

when we're standing there and I'm screaming

at him, my brother's tapping me.

I got my headphones on, right?

Screaming at something.

Hey, hey, I'm. What. People can hear you. Like, huh? It's a crowd. Like. No, it was. It was quiet. Like, they.

When you fight, Japanese are quiet there.

Quiet. They're doing it. It's like, respect where you're fighting. Yeah. But when you're fighting. So it'll go like. It'd be like a guy pass a guard. But they're very intelligent fans, too. But I pass the guard, and I go

quiet.

Like, I mean, I could. Yo. I could. I could yell instructions from, you know, the first. First risers down to the ring. And you can hear me. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

I was like, it's like, Japanese love a good guard pass, but it was like.

[Chuck Liddell]

Or, like, a good movement, but it was just so quiet, like, the fan, you know, ooh, we're still fighting. That's hilarious.

[Podcast Host]

We just went there recently to Japan a few months ago. I noticed that, too. Like. Like, they're so polite. I think I heard one car horn the whole time. Oh, they don't honk.

[Chuck Liddell]

I. And I. I. And. And I was well known out there

when I was walking around, too.

Like, I get, like. And I start taking pictures inside, and you have a crowd. I be in a crowd of people, right? Like the mob, you thing. But as soon as my buddies be like, hey, let's go, let's go. We got to get you out of here. Like, and they start. You start trying to go away. Everyone goes, oh, he's done. Okay. They just leave you alone. That's very polite. Like. Like, oh, he's not.

He's not taking pictures anymore.

Okay.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, that's where you got the tattoo? What? Is that where you got the tattoo?

[Chuck Liddell]

No, I didn't get it there. But the tattoos for my original karate

style, it says koi con. Original.

[Interviewer]

Nice.

[Chuck Liddell]

It's what we wear in our geese.

When you get your black belt, instead of, like, your gym patch.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

Switch that.

They have that on your knees. So cool.

[Podcast Host]

A lot of the fighters don't come from disciplines like that now, right? Like karate.

[Chuck Liddell]

Some.

A lot of them do.

A lot of them don't. There's a lot of guys that come from different things. It's just like, I'm saying, if you decide to get in a fight, they.

They start blending it so much sooner.

[Podcast Host]

Right, true.

[Chuck Liddell]

You know, like, you start doing everything, you really realize. I think one of the best things about the UOC coming out and the back. Way back was that teaching people that, hey, we.

[Podcast Host]

We.

[Chuck Liddell]

Because my. My old karate style they, like, was

like, oh, we can't.

You can't masterize the art.

You just gotta, you know, you can't evolve.

Like, wait, our. Our founder evolved our. Our. And made our style in. I think it was 15, 1952. And he combined different styles together and

put it together into one style.

Right. We had to stop evolving in 52. Like, we can't get better, you know, we can do. And I think one of the things that the UFC did was show everybody

you have to have some kind of

answer for a ground game. Yeah, you have to have some kind of answer.

Answer for a wrestler. You can't just.

You're not just gonna. Oh, I can just punch.

Okay, well, if you can't stop me

from taking down, you'll get it. If you can't stop me from taking you down, you don't get to punch me. Sorry.

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[Chuck Liddell]

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[Interviewer]

Shout up in here, my boy. Just let me know, too. You did Dancing with the Stars.

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, yeah.

[Interviewer]

How long ago was that? And who Was your partner?

[Chuck Liddell]

09.09 Anna Trouble Sky.

[Interviewer]

Everyone says it was a really funny and great performance. I don't want to take away from your dancing ability.

[Chuck Liddell]

No, my dancing abilities are like. It's one of those things.

[Podcast Host]

It's like I'd be on that show.

[Interviewer]

That's a pretty.

[Chuck Liddell]

Michael Irvin said it really well. He's on the show with me. He said I'm used to telling my body what to do, and it just doesn't. But dancing's not the same. Trust. Like. Like, one of the things I always say, like. Like, for me, like, I got, you know, you want the. Our position. Fighting, wrestling, football, it's all here. We're, like, bent over in a good athletic position, Right. In dancing, you. You need to be here straight. But in the position you're in, it's like, if I'm ever in that position in any sport I've ever been in, I'm screwed. You're done.

[Interviewer]

Like, so psych you out when you're

[Chuck Liddell]

dancing, when you're like. So when you. So when you get, like, I get

behind on a move or step, you

want to catch up, right? So you want to get to an

athletic position and get there, right?

Yeah, but, like, explain it to me. She's like, look, when you get in that position now, I've got to travel four times the distance to get where I got to be.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

So it's like. It's funny.

[Interviewer]

We're talking about stars and we're breaking it down like it's a UFC fight.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, but it's like.

It's like I'm like, oh, okay. Well. But I think she's trying to give it to me in some way.

I understand it.

I'm like, oh, okay. But.

[Interviewer]

So is it tougher to prepare for that than some of your fights, you think?

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, yeah. Anything you're not comfortable in. Like, I, I like, did you go

[Podcast Host]

into that with the same confidence too? Or were you like, I don't know.

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, no.

I.

My thing is, I was. I just didn't want to let her down.

I was trying to get. To make sure I don't mess this up.

And one of the hard things is, like. And she's actually. She's so sweet like that. Like in the season after, she was talking about.

About the difficulties of working with someone my size. Yeah.

She's like, well, it's. He's like. And she called me. I think she said, he called me a Sherman tank. Like, I'm like. And she apologized. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.

I'm like, I'll take Sherman tank.

That's good. I'm good with that. Yeah. That wasn't an insult to me. But she. But she's like saying like that because a lot of the girls back lead

the guys, so they back.

So. And so I can't back lead you. If you go the wrong way, I'm going with you. Yeah, we're not.

I can't make you move the way I want you to.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Chuck Liddell]

So it was just that place.

[Interviewer]

Do you remember?

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, I was out after week four. Week four, week five.

I. I don't know though. You know, like, I think. I think they're mad at me because a friend of mine.

You know who you are,

He. He stole the. The key thing. They had. They had like a. For the practice room. Practice rooms.

They had like one of those house boxes where you could.

Got a combination.

You get the key out and you can open the. Open the door, right?

Yeah. He stole it off the thing. Like, when we were out, he wanted to see it. We were out, out drinking one night and he wanted to go see. See the workout area. Like, oh, cool. Like, all right. You know, take some pictures or whatever. He was going to say it. And then we get back to the house and he's got the lock box.

Oh, I'm like, what are you doing?

Why did we get it? So I don't think about it. Don't worry about it.

I'll just take it back in the morning. Whatever.

I get up, I go in to

go work out at like 12 or whatever.

And I bring the box in.

I'm like, hey, man, my friend grabbed us. I'm sorry.

They've got the cops and they're changing locks. They're freaking out. And so we, so we were, we pissed off the, the staff, like, or

the people that run the plane, like, they, they change locks.

[Interviewer]

They probably thought that there's like a stalker or something.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, something, something crazy.

So I might, I get it. I mean, but. And then I, I, I think I

was out the next week.

I was out that week. So I, I think that might have

had something to do with that. They're just getting rid of me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. This guy, this guy's a liability. We gotta just.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

No matter how good his performance is. Unless you had your best performance ever, then they're like in a pickle here.

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, yeah.

I don't know that. Yeah. Because I think we, we're still trying

to get, get that.

I mean, the reason I did it was because it was for, it's trying to get a demographic because it was a demographic that isn't ours for sure. For, for, for me, it was perfect.

[Podcast Host]

It's like how they had Bad Bunny in the Super Bowl. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

It's not our Dem. It's not my demographic. So it's, it's trying to get more people to see us as, as fighters.

[Podcast Host]

And, and you're gonna ask your girl to call you a Sherman Tank now.

[Interviewer]

She already may. I'm trying to think. Because we have Dancing with the Stars, Entourage. What other big cameos. Because I think I'm missing Blue Mountain State. Yes.

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh, wow.

That's fun. That's one of the most funny. The funny thing that, that move I do in there.

That my, my special move that.

I don't know if you've seen that episode.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

Where I do a cartwheel to a horseshoe punch.

And that was actually. Do you have any crazy move we can do? I mean, I, I do this one. We do like at the end of training camp.

John, who's always just crazy, like point sparring, like circle.

Like it's just kind of funny because

we got there and goof around and do like Karate Kid type stuff, like trying to try to score on guys and one.

And one of the things I do

is like, especially guys are coming from out of other gyms or whatever.

Like I go out there and I

try to get a cartwheel to a horseshoe punch. If I could land that. It was like, it was a walk

off, you know, but it was, it was just fun. I was like, people like, they look at you, you do a cartwheel on them. Look at, like, what's he doing? You dive in with him and I

wind up scoring both, you know.

[Interviewer]

So his name's Thad Castle. I said that he's young, but that Castle, absolute legend.

[Podcast Host]

Have you ever been like out at a bar and a fans tried to press you or something and been that stupid?

[Chuck Liddell]

Not really, actually.

I, I mean I' guys look like

I grew up fighting and I, I knew how to turn what you say into a, you know, a moment where you have to decide either going to put your table to your legs and walk out the door. Fight me. But I learned about when I was 21, 22, that I didn't really want to do that. I give guys outs.

Right. So, I mean, I, I mean I've had people say stuff where I could have easily turned it into a fight

or they were trying to be something.

Hey, man. Hey. You sound pretty tough, man. We're making some good money now. You should probably fight in the ufc. And they go, they go back and

sit, they go, hey, Matt, Chuck said

I could be in the ufc.

And I go sit down, drink my beer, relax.

But yeah, I, I always say, like, I, I never had much problem with that. Like usually when, here's the thing, I'm usually a lot bigger than they thought I was. I'm not known for being a slick

wrestler or a striker, thick wrestler or jiu jitsu guy. I'm known as a heavy handed brawler. Yeah.

So that's not a. Yeah, something you usually want to mess with. And then, and mo. To be honest, most that would do

that kind of thing are fans of mine. So as long as I, I'm nice,

I'm nice enough to them, you know, I'm, I'm easy, I'm approachable. I mean, you really. I'm not easy to start a fight with, so.

[Interviewer]

No, they just want to go home, tell their boys, you know, I feed Chocolate L at the dive bar tonight.

[Chuck Liddell]

I've never, I never really had that problem.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

That.

[Interviewer]

I don't see that happening.

[Chuck Liddell]

I don't. And I'm laid back.

And I, I'll laugh.

You make fun of me.

I just, if, if it's funny, I'll laugh.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You know, was there any low points in your career, like mentally or just like emotionally?

[Chuck Liddell]

I have to pick, pick one.

I mean, obviously anytime you lose, you lose, you're gonna have that. Retiring was tough, like just making that choice.

But I, I think, I think one of the hardest loss for Me was,

was losing to Randy the first time,

the first fight with Randy, not because

I lost to Randy because he's a great fighter. And I, I kind of knew what, what I did wrong coming into that. But letting Tito off the hook was what bothered me because he was dodging me. He was like, he went from challenging me like, I'll kick Chuck's ass after

I'm done with, with Canada.

Like, I knocked the guy out and he wins, and then all of a sudden, he doesn't want to fight me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

And so it was like. And this is the fight that I was gonna theater entitled and he's gonna have to fight me if you wanted. If he wanted to get his title back. And, and I lost that one, so that kind of really sucked.

But yeah, I think Dana helped out

letting me go fight and fry. And I got that fight with Overeem right away after that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

So they got me right back in the gym. So it was good.

[Interviewer]

What do you think made you such. Because, I mean, even today you're such a fan favorite. What do you think people love about you so much?

[Chuck Liddell]

I don't know. You know, I like, I think I'm

just, I'm just me, like, I go out, I'm like, yeah, I think authenticity is big. I've never, I was never a character. I just, I, I, they like to stop. My style of fighting was what I like to fight people that happen to like that.

[Podcast Host]

You have the sickest shorts ever, too.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, thanks. Those are cool. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Other things, but the shorts are so dope.

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Knockouts probably helped too.

[Chuck Liddell]

Knockouts helped. Yeah. Well, it's a style of fight. Here's the thing, man. I did jiu jitsu. I did, I was a good wrestler,

decent wrestler,

but I, I knew I could finish as best at finishing on my feet. And that's, that's kind of when I got into the sport. Like, I, I came in with two things.

Had to learn the ground, and I

spent most of my time like, I like I do.

I know, I know I had to do submission.

I know I did. But I wasn't good enough, Adam, to

submit guys at that level. Right, right.

I mean, I've been doing it for people ask me.

Oh, yeah, I've been doing it. I've been doing jujitsu for a long time.

But during my fight career, I concentrated

mostly on just getting off my back and staying at it and standing good position on top, so. And not getting caught in things, not

being, you know, that's one of the

things you have to learn submissions to understand what they're trying to do to submit you.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

If you don't understand what they're doing, it's easy to catch you.

Right, right.

You know you learn some new like when someone oh, it's a new move and oh, you get someone that you know.

That's why those work so well because

when you're first learning them, you don't know what to do. Sometimes you do the wrong things.

[Fan/Listener]

What submission were you best at?

[Podcast Host]

Would you like?

[Fan/Listener]

What did you like the most? Sort of like rear nakeds.

[Chuck Liddell]

If I went for anything, it'd be a rear naked. Usually I mean like I, I like, I mean goofing around and, and that

like I, I trained with Scott Adams

who's one of lock eyes at the time in my opinion. But, but so I, I didn't like playing.

I, I, I was really good at

countering leg locks but I was I as soon as you started to go

for him, I'm out. I ain't playing with anywhere near. I'm getting out of here.

I'm not, not playing with leg locks.

[Fan/Listener]

So it's like that. You know Ryan hall, he always goes for leg locks.

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh yeah.

[Fan/Listener]

That's all he does.

[Chuck Liddell]

There's guy the guys that are good at it man that does and they and they and, and, and people who's

got better and better obviously like it's been, you know, it's fun to watch.

[Interviewer]

All right, well what should we plug your clothing brand real quick?

[Chuck Liddell]

Oh sure.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. What do we got here?

[Chuck Liddell]

Yeah, the new clothing Iceman. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

K W. This is CH lifting T shirt right here.

[Chuck Liddell]

Shout out King of W king dot com.

[Podcast Host]

Hell yeah.

[Chuck Liddell]

So this is your brand? Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

When did you guys start there?

[Chuck Liddell]

This A couple years ago. Yeah it's been, been going, it's been fun.

[Podcast Host]

What other stuff are you doing like right now? Like day to day, business wise, personal wise, hobby wise, you know, raising kids.

[Chuck Liddell]

Just kind of looking at opening a gym. I, I still, I've been planning on

but I've been talking about that for years, you know.

But I kind of stayed away from

a fight team and doing all that stuff for a long time because my kids so you know I want to, I don't want to have to be gone when they got, when they got stuff coming up. I like to prioritize watching them play stuff but looking at, looking at open one soon and yeah just doing different things.

Doing the out colds.

Those are fun. Like I did those reaction videos. Those get on there with a few people and have fun watching those. Those are always. People like those. Yeah, it's always some stupid things they put on there, but.

But that's awesome. That's fun.

[Podcast Host]

Hell, yeah. Well, we appreciate you coming, bro.

[Fan/Listener]

You're a legend.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you.

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