UFC Legend Chuck Liddell was interviewed by abs-cbnNews reporter Roy Medina during Liddell's three day visit to the Phillippines as part of a promotional tour for UFC.

 

You can check out the entire story HERE

 

 

Roy: How are you doing?

Chuck: I'm really good.

How's your visit to the Philippines so far?

It's been great, I mean everybody's been so nice, it's been shocking, and all.

Have you learned any Filipino words since you arrived?

Just "Mabuhay", none so far.

How do you find the people?

The people are great, I can't complain at all. Everyone's been really nice, they treat us very well.

If you were given the chance or there was any other time, would you choose any other name?

I don't know, I'm not good at that stuff, I wouldn't have chosen another nickname but if no one gave me one, I would have not chosen a name for myself, that would have never happened, just Chuck Liddell.

Tell us something about your career as a UFC fighter

It's been a great ride, I started in UFC 17 and you know, that was it, it's been a good time.

How were the early days of you as a fighter?

Early days? I mean it was different, you know, when I first started, I was still working, full time job, fighting but now, you know, I do very well, I train when I need to, able to travel when I need to.

It was mentioned in the UFC Web site that you had an accounting degree and you worked as a bartender. How was the transition from your accounting degree to as a bartender as a UFC fighter?

Well, I was a bartender while I was finishing up school and I started kickboxing and then instead of getting a real job, I kept the bartender job because it allowed me to train, train during the day and work at night so that I was making up money to train in kickboxing then I switched over to MMA in about 1998. Finished, graduated in 1995, then switched over to MMA in 1998.

So far what changes have you seen so far in terms of fighter training and styles in the UFC?

Everything's changed, it's totally learned, different ways of training, different training techniques and you know, just learned how to put learned to put fight styles together better and learned to do lots of things.

Which style would you prefer against your opponent, a take-down or a strike?

I prefer a strike, it's well-documented and I like to punch and hand-to-hand fight.

Why is that? What's in a strike?

One is for me, I'm one of the best, I'm best able to finish a fight with my feet and when I throw punches and [that's] I'm best able to finish a fight when I wanna end the fight.

I can do submissions, I'm not real slick at them, I can't catch people too much but I'm pretty good at positioning and scooting people on top, but  you know, just, I move more, it's a more exciting fight when I'm standing up, I'm more concentrated.

Any style you want to improve on or add to your arsenal?

I wanna add everything, I've always wanted to improve all the styles, I've always tried to  work on everything. I've been doing jiu-jitsu for 11 years, I've been doing wrestling since I was 14, doing strikes since I was 12.

So, you know, I try to keep at things and try to learn new things from different people to see what these guys are doing.

Tell us something about your fighting styles, the disciplines you've been known for. Tell something about karate and jiu-jitsu.

You know, I've been changing, adding to my styles and doing stuff and lots of them I do is striking, more of kickboxing and boxing, wrestling, collegiate wrestling but all modified for MMA, the jiu-jitsu I've been doing, training with John Lewis for like 11 years. I've been pretty hard at that.

Is John Lewis the same guy who got you into MMA? or UFC?

Yes, he's one of the guys, yeah, actually, someone else got me into it, he's one of the guys who introduced when I was still working, taught me with my submission stuff for the UFC.

What got you into mixed martial arts?

I was fighting kickboxing and one of the promoters asked me if I was wanted to do a mixed fight and asked me if I was willing to do it since I do have a wrestling background and I said, 'Sure, I'd give it a try."

And I ended up doing it, ended up with the rules that were really weird. By the time we got to it, the commission started giving the scared the scared.

So that would be like a open-hand slap fight with the hand up, kicking the guy in the head and knocking him out. But then they asked me out if I wanted to fight in the UFC and fight in the UFC we did.

What's your training regimen like?

I work out two-three times a day, five days a week when I'm training for a fight, everything from swimming, running, sparring, striking, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, lifting, everything.

Special diet?

I eat a balanced diet, but I have a cook, actually now, things got easier, I have a cook who cooks all my food and keep my weight in control the way to eat and be healthy.

Any favorite food?

Favorite food or just diet food?

Just food.

I like, I like, man, I like, I don't know what my favorite food is, I wish somebody can tell you this. I like a lot of rich foods so...I like lasagna, I like lots of pasta, stuff.

Who do you think are the up and coming UFC fighters that'll make it big in the future?

There's a lot of them, that's hard to say and it's hard to say without...you know, it depends on how they do it, a lot of them have potential. It depends on how they're able to become a winner on picks, that's how they become better fighters.

Describe Chuck Liddell outside the octagon. What's he like?

Pretty relaxed, actually. Most people who meet me were very surprised of how very laidback I am and mellow. Fun-loving, I like to have a good time, whether it's out partying or rock-climbing with my kids. I'm the guy who'll climbing up the thing at the figure at the Chuck E. Cheese or climb the Jungle Gym or climbing up the Jungle Gym or chasing my kids in the Jungle Gym across the top.

How many kids do you have?

I got two, they'll be 10 and 11.

Any hobbies outside the UFC?

Not a bunch, I used to have some but I don't really have much time anymore. I fight, when I have free time, I play with my kids, I play whatever they wanna play.

So what's next for The Iceman as a light heavyweight?

Hopefully I'll fight sometime in the Spring. Probably I'll go for a fight in the Spring so we'll see, we'll see who'll they put me up against.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you.

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