Chuck Liddell was recently interviewed by Sports Illustrated and this is what he had to say:
Thoughts on UFC heavyweight newcomer Brock Lesnar?
"You know, I haven’t seen him. He was a great college wrestler and then a WWE guy. If he thinks he can come in as a college wrestler and win, it isn’t going to happen. But sounds as though, from his interview, like he’s been doing the cross-training, the jiu-jitsu. He’s athletic, big, a good wrestler. He could be dangerous. But you know, a lot of habits from wrestling don’t always transfer over.
What’s next for Chuck Liddell??
“Possibly Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. That’s what they’re saying. If it’s the June fight, it will probably be in London. But my trainer is trying to get it moved to Vegas. Too far. (Liddell is based in San Luis Obispo, Calif.)"
What about after Shogun?
“Rampage [Quinton Jackson, who defeated Liddell last summer.] I want that fight again. I want to fight the best guys. I’ve always asked for the best. I’m not calling guys out, but I say, ‘This is the guy people think is better than me. I want him.’ Quinton Jackson right now is that guy. I really want to beat him. I think he’s a great guy, but I sill want to kill him.”
Thoughts on Tito Ortiz?
“I will beat him up any time someone is willing to pay for it. Every one out of three people ask, ‘When are you going to beat up Tito again?’ People like seeing him get beat up, that’s all. He’d have to make a run of a few wins, but that’s not even an interesting fight for me. There’s nothing he can do to me.”
Thoughts on Wanderlei Silva?
“If he puts together a couple wins. That was an exciting fight. But it would have to be for a title. I’ll fight him anywhere. I’ll fight him right here in this bar if you get somebody to pay for it. They’re making a big deal of [cage versus ring], but that’s an excuse because all the PRIDE guys are losing. I had someone say to me the reason Wanderlei Silva lost to me was because he couldn’t do soccer kicks. Really? When exactly was he going to soccer-kick me in that fight?”
(Actually Wandy had a chance of soccer kicking Chuck when he knocked him down momentarily in the second round. A rematch would be great; the fight could have gone either way if there were more rounds in the fight. It was a hell of a fight and Chuck won it fair and square, but a rematch would still be interesting if the UFC makes it in the near future).
Thoughts on Keith Jardine?
“I would like to show that was a fluke, I had an off night.”
Click here for the full interview at sports illustrated
