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January 22, 2009
Chuck on the Cover of Defy Magazine
Chuck Liddell gives an in-depth interview to Defy magazine, opening up about his wins, his losses, his injuries, and his desire to keep fighting. Chuck began studying kickboxing at age 12 and was wrestling at 14. He trained in Kempo and Koei-Kan karate and earned a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under John Lewis. After graduating with a degree in business and accounting from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1995, Chuck looked for a way to make money without having to sit in an office all day. “When I finally got my first big fight, it was only a thousand bucks but it led to a chance to get in a tournament where the winner of a bout could get $20,000.” Chuck won the first fight and then got into the tournament and won two more, totaling a win of $40,000. “Now I get paid that to go drink in a bar for the night.”
Chuck’s UFC debut in 1998 resulted in a decision over Noe Hernandez. Over the next few years he defeated outstanding fighters such as Tito Ortiz, Renato Sobral, and Wanderlei Silva. Eventually he knocked out Randy Couture to win the Light Heavyweight Championship title, which he defended successfully before losing to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in May 2007. “I want a shot back at that title. I know what I did wrong but you know hindsight’s always 20/20.”
Though he is now 39 years old, Chuck gives no thought to quitting the sport, and he still fights two or three times a year. Chuck says, “Randy Couture is 45 and he’s still fighting…still, I don’t want to be one of those guys that they question, ‘What is he still doing in the ring?’ As long as I can be competitive, as long as I still love, I’ll keep doing it.”
Read the entire article and see the exclusive photos here.
Source: Defy Magazine / Chuck Liddell
