Chuck Liddell Says He Is ‘Staying Ready’ For UFC Comeback

Fresh off being booted from the “Celebrity Big Brother” house, The Iceman is calling out Chael Sonnen and Tito Ortiz.

Adam K. Raymond

Feb 13, 2018

Chuck Liddell is a former light heavyweight champion, a UFC icon and one of the first MMA fighters to crossover into pop culture stardom. But he totally sucks at reality TV competitions.

The 48-year-old proved that yet again this week as the first person kicked out of the Celebrity Big Brother house (he was previously the fifth person booted from his season of Dancing With the Stars).

What Liddell lacks in reality TV staying power, he makes up for in PR savvy. Which is why it’s little surprise to see him using the attention he’s getting after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother to hype a MMA comeback.

“It’s still a possibility, for sure. I didn’t want to get too far out of shape. I was in there boxing the whole time,” Liddell told TMZ sports about his time inside the Celebrity Big Brother house. “There’s a lot of stuff that they didn’t show but I was just having a good time in there and staying in shape. I’m staying ready.”

Asked who he is eyeing for a comeback bout, Liddell named fellow old-timers Chael Sonnen and Tito Ortiz.

It’s been nearly eight years since Liddell last fought and more than a decade since he claimed a win in the Octagon, but he’s been hinting at a comeback for nearly a year. Last May, his trainer said that Liddell was ready to step back into the cage if the opponent was right.

“It would all depend on the match. I’m not gonna name who I would let him fight — well, it’s not up to me to let him fight or not — but who I would OK (him fighting) and who I wouldn’t,” trainer John Hackleman said.

One potential opponent has already weighed in and he clearly doesn’t think a match with Liddell is realistic.

Chuck saying he's "ready" to fight me is like me saying I'm "ready" to drive that Tesla that Musk just landed on Mars

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) February 13, 2018