Interview: Chuck 'the Iceman' Liddell - 10/23/2003

by Ron Merrill



Chuck Liddell took time out from his busy training schedule and agreed to talk with me from Las Vegas Nevada where he is training with John Lewis. As fans of InsideFighting.com know, our readership was asked to submit questions for Chuck Liddell. Of the incredible number of questions we received, 3 were chosen and Chuck personally answered those 3 questions for his loyal fans.



InsideFighting: Hows training going?

Chuck Liddell: Training is going great. Im working hard out here. Im in Vegas right now. My trainer, John Hackleman, just came out last weekend. He thought things were going good, so



IF: Whats behind the decision to be in Vegas right now as opposed to back home?

CL: Umm. Its just to get some different work some different workout partners. Im working with John Lewis. Ive always come out to Vegas to train with John.



IF: You mentioned John Lewis and of course John Hackleman. Who else are you training with for this fight?

CL: Danyel (sp?), the only name I know him by. A Muay Thai trainer.



IF: Anyone else besides that?

CL: No, not really. I mean, Ive got people Im working out with, but those are the main trainers.





IF: Given the similarities between Quentin Rampage Jackson and Randy Coutures styles, how do you prepare for a different outcome with Rampage?

CL: Well I think that they actually have different styles too, really. But I just prepare the way I prepare and I hope to come out and fight the way I should. I think that if I come out and fight hard then Ill take it.



IF: Do you develop a different game plan for this fight? Or do you have a standard, fundamental game plan that you stick to?

CL: I have a pretty standard, fundamental game plan that I stick to.



F: What got you into fighting in the first place?

CL: You know what, Ive been doing martial arts since I was twelve and I wrestled since high school. When I was done competing in wrestling I wanted to kickbox. You know, I wanted to compete and keepI got interested in kickboxing so I started kickboxing for awhile. I watched the UFC since it started and I got an opportunity to go into that and I started training with John Lewis a little bit on the ground in the Jiu-Jitsu stuff. Then I went to the UFC.



IF: How far along have you come in Jiu-Jitsu?

CL: Im a purple [belt] at John Lewis school.



IF: What do you think youd be doing if you werent fighting?

CL: You know? Im not sure. I mean I have a degree in accounting. Im not all too sure if Id be working in an accounting career or if Id be doing something else.



F: Theres quite a big difference between just training in martial arts as a youth and actually making the decision to fight. How did your family accept that? Was there ever any friction about that decision?

CL: Not really. I mean, my grandma used to think that I was nuts when I graduated from college and I was still kickboxing and doing that sort of stuff. But I was doing what I loved doing, so you know. Its worked out for me. Its worked out good for me.





IF: Which rule set accommodates your specific style the best?

CL: I think, like I said, I think with the knees to the head [in Pride FC] being allowed on the ground, that accommodates me the best.



IF: Youve already beaten the whos who of MMA. Is there anyone else who youd really like to fight?

CL: Well, you know, theres a lot of people still to fight. [laughs] I mean, obviously if the tournament works out good Ill get to fight Vanderlei and Quentin. And then after that Id like a rematch with Randy and also Id like to fight Tito somewhere along the line.



IF: After Titos recent title loss to Randy, how strong is the incentive to fight him?

CL: I think its still a fight that people want to see. He lost the fight, but theres still incentive there to fight him.



IF: What did you think of that loss?

CL: Randy did a great job. He executed his game plan and took care of his business out there.



IF: Any thoughts on the final thirty seconds, with regards to the spanking?

CL: Well, I thought that was a dangerous move on the part of Randy there. If someoneif they werent paying attention they might have thought he was trying to tap. But yeah, whatever.



IF: In your opinion, would you consider that poor sportsmanship?

CL: Ah, I dont know. Not really. [laugh] I mean, with the antics that Tito gets away with and his attitude, I can see where Randy would want to do that to him.



IF: After all the mud-slinging, trash talking and media attention that surrounded Titos absence from the sport and people wanting to see you two fight, is there any remaining friendship?

CL: You know, as far as him as a person Ive never had any problems. But as far as a fighter I think he should have fought me a long time ago.



IF: I guess by friendship I meant, do you guys still have the level of friendship that you had before? Are you able to hang out or do things together that are non-fight related?

CL: We never did do anything non-fight related really. We went out a couple times but it was always fight related to begin with. It was either training or fight related when we hung out.



IF: Im going to go ahead and get into 3 questions that were submitted by your fans if you dont mind. Michael Edwards asks of you, are you worried about any of Rampages mean slams? Will you be prepared for that? Do you think he [Rampage] will try to do what Randy Couture did well against you or do you think he is going to stand and bang?

CL: You know, Im not sure? Im sure hes going to try to stand and bang a little bit because thats just the way he fights and hes going to try for the slams too. I think hes going to have a little bit harder time with me picking me up and slamming me like that. But Im sure hes going to try it and yeah, I will be prepared. If I get slammed Ill be okay. Its nothing new to me. Ive wrestled plenty.



IF: Jeff Cain writes in parenthesis (being a huge Chuck fan as I am) what fight would you like to come back to in the UFC? Would you want a rematch with Randy for the title or would you like to settle things once and for all with Tito Ortiz? Thanks, and be sure to give Chuck some love for his upcoming fight with Rampage.

CL: Im just not sure which one will come first but Id like to have those be my next two fights, a rematch with Randy and then Tito. I dont know which one will come first but those two fights are the ones I want right now.



IF: Tom Pecorelli of Ft. Lee, NJ wants to know if with regards to the ring or the cage, the size of the crowd or lack thereof, whether you prefer fighting in the Pride FC atmosphere or in the UFC?

CL: You know, theyre just different. I dont know if I prefer one over the other. I like the rulesI like the cage better a little bit better. But I think the rings got its advantages too. And the rules? I like the knees to the head better. You know, if Im gonna give up one of them, the elbows or the knees to the head, Id rather keep the knees to the head on the ground.



IF: Those were three of your big fans, Michael Edwards, Jeff Cain and Tom Pecorelli.

CL: All right.





IF: I have just a few more questions for you if youd oblige me. Youve been so busy lately, when do you get some downtime?

CL: You know it just depends. Im talking about coming back and fighting in a January show in the UFC, so it just depends. It depends on how this tournament goes and how I feel after[laughs]after fighting two fights in one night hopefully. [laughs ] If everything works out right, then Ill fight two fights in one night. Theyve asked me, What do you think you want to do after you get back, and I said give me a couple weeks after the fights and Ill tell you how I feel.



IF: When I lived in Los Angeles I would go up to Cayucos and Morro Bay [near Chucks hometown of San Luis Obispo] to vacation. Its beautiful up there. Im wondering if youre taking advantage of any of that deep-sea fishing?

CL: I dont do much deep-sea fishing up there. I spearfish occasionally. Ive done some fishing just off of Cayucos up there but I havent done much deep sea fishing up there



IF: Well man, I would have lived vicariously through you if you had been because I miss those cold waters for sure. [laughter]

CL: Yeah.



IF: Hey Chuck, best of luck on your upcoming fight(s) in the Pride FC Grand Prix and safe training. Would you like to throw a shot out to your three big fans here, Michael, Jeff and Tom or any of your other fans?

CL: Yeah, Im gonna come out there and perform. Keep an eye out for me at Pride and when I get back to the UFC Im coming after that belt.



IF: All right Chuck, have a good one man and on behalf of InsideFighting.com, thank you very much.

CL: All right, thanks!



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