Dana White: UFC 97 could be Chuck Liddell's last fight inside the Octagon

by MMAmania.com on Apr 18, 2009 10:14 AM EDT

With all the "he said-she said" surrounding this issue leading up to tonight one has to wonder if White is merely doing his best to capture more interest by saying the things he has been saying. Or, perhaps "Shogun" could indeed be the man who melts "Iceman" once and for all. Color me curious.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

that’s bs ! dana only says that bcus he wants chuck to really give 110% in that fight he wants the old chuck back , dana and chuck are buddies he would never kick old buddie chuck out

by danny on Apr 18, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

I hope it’s not total bs. I don’t want to see Chuck retire too late. I want Chuck to go out as close to the old Chuck as possible. And it’s because they are buddies that Dana wants to keep from destroying that image for all of us.

by DSmith on Apr 18, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

This is just BS! What a load of crap! Dana doesnt mean a word of it. He is only saying it to sell more ppv’s! What a joke!

Where do I start:

Chuck Liddell’s recent fights have been against top notch fighters. He isnt fighting the Vernon “tiger” White’s of the world anymore. Chuck had a great streak as champion, but the level of comp he was beating was over rated if you ask me. I dont think he beat too many top 5 fighters worldwide. When your fights are against Rampage, Jardine, Wanderlei and Rashad….you are going to lose a few fights. DO I think chuck is Done? Hell NO! But I am positive that he will never be champion again!

Chuck and Dana are really good friends. Chuck will have a home in the UFC until HE DECIDES that he is done fighting. Dana has absolutely NO SAY! He will never cut Chuck from the UFC. He would have to be a freaking idiot to cut Chuck before Chuck is ready to retire. If he cuts chuck and chuck still wants to fight, Chuck will head right over to Affliction or Strikeforce, two organizations that are coming up in the mma world. Dana would have to be a Moron to deliver these growing organizations, the most popular fighter in all of mma! It will NEVER happen! Dana messed up when he didnt re-sign Arlovski. It provided Fedor who was somewhat unknown at the time in America, a perfect (famous) Victim for Fedor to build his name off of in America. Why would Dana cut Chuck? If that were to happen, Chuck would sign with strikeforce, get Demolished by Fejao and it would shoot Fejao to the top 10 of the LHW division.

Or Chuck could sign with Affliction and face guys like rogerio Nogueira!

This is the biggest load of crap that has ever come out of Dana’s mouth and it pisses me off! UFC 97 is a stellar event that will be sold out and sell a TON of ppv’s. THere is really no need for Dana to be lying to us just to sell more ppv’s while at the same time bad mouthing cHUCK AND MAKING IT SOUND LIKE HE IS DONE. I get it, Dana is a promoter…but come on Dana, keep what little credability you have left and stop Lying to us. When you put together an amazing card like this one….there is no reason for the added BS! This card is going to make the UFC a ton of money and I think its class-less for Dana to be making silly statements like this one that he doesnt mean!

by john on Apr 18, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

john…I think your right about this being BS…but I honestly do think that if Chuck can’t beat Shogun, then he should retire. This is a young man’s sport! Chuck is my favorite fighter and I HATE watching him lose. Randy is one of my favorites as well, but watching him lose to Brock stinks! He may very well lose to Big Nog also, and if he does, I also think Randy should retire as well.

Heres my question, when Chuck does retire, Dana has promised him that he will always be with the UFC (for a job). What will be let Chuck do? Commentating perhaps? I don’t see Chuck being a GREAT commentator, but I don’t think he would be as bad as some others out there.

by Chadx23 on Apr 18, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

some1 call the waaambulance

by Bill Maher on Apr 18, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

i do want shogun to win, but will be bummed out if this is last time shogun fights,

i can see chuck easily winning this fight i think its just gonna come down to stand up brawl and who ever lands the over hand etc as i think its gonna be pretty even,

tho someone mentioned in another post if this is chucks last fight hopefully it will be like how randy retired, and we will see him again,

anyways reluctantly shogun with knockout 2rnd

by CoNr on Apr 18, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

oops meant last time chuck fights

by CoNr on Apr 18, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

shogun is going to beat Liddell but I dont think that Chuck is done. When you go on stretch facing top guys like Rampage, Jardine, Rashad, Wanderlei, and Shogun…Losses are going to occur, but I dont feel that it equates to Chuck BEING DONE!!!

by john on Apr 18, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

First off, I think Chuck destroys Shogun tonight, so it doesn’t matter. If Shogun can drastically up his cardio from the last fight, then it may be a tough fight for both of them, but if he doesn’t, then Chuck gives him his first knockout in highlight fashion. That being said, if Shogun does somehow win, Chuck will decide when he is done, not Dana.

by naturalshadow on Apr 18, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

i love dana and what he has done for the sport. but his number one job is promoter and salesman. any angle to get more people to buy is good for the ufc. reminds me of the old snake oil salesman. but i do agree if chuck looses, and for sure if he looses ugly. then it may be time for him to step down. but i heard chuck is more dedicated, even working more on wrestling and groung game. chuck with a ground game would let him coast on awhile even if the gas has ran out.

by day1er on Apr 18, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

It’s all P.R.

Dana would let Chuck fight until he’s 55 is Chuck wanted to. He still puts butts in seats, and that equals $$$$ for Dana…Dana wouldn’t turn that down.

Another lie by Mr. White.

by introvert on Apr 18, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions