Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell has been hinting at a return to action for quite some time now.
Another former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in Tito Ortiz recently said he would fight Liddell a third time, but doubts any athletic commission would clear the former champion. Apparently Liddell disagrees with Ortiz, because the retired fighter says he would be shocked if the commissions denied a return to action.
“I don’t know why I wouldn’t be,” said Liddell to TMZ Sports. “I’ve had medical exams for my mountain climbing show and I cleared with everything there so I should be just fine. We’ll have to see. If they don’t clear me, I’d be shocked. They’ve cleared a lot of people in a lot less shape than I am. I’ve already beat him twice. He’s probably hoping that I’ve really declined and he’s able to take advantage of that, that’s what he’s hoping for. If he actually shows up, it’s gonna be bad news for him.”
Liddell defeated Ortiz in both of their previous encounters, with those victories coming at UFC 47 and UFC 66.
Despite Ortiz recently stating he was open for a trilogy bout, a skeptical Liddell says he’ll believe it will happen when Ortiz actually signs the contract.
“That would be awesome,” said Liddell. “I hadn’t seen that. Somebody said something about it but I hadn’t seen it. I’ll believe it when I see it, when he actually signs the contract, and then I’ll believe it again when he actually shows up to the fight.”
Ortiz retired himself last year at Bellator 170, where the fighter earned a first round submission victory over Chael Sonnen.
