Thursday, June 17, 2010

John Hackleman on Chuck Liddell's future



John Hackleman paused. Emotion shook his voice, which is perpetually hoarse after "18 million reminders over 20 years" for Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell to keep his hands up.

"You can't make someone quit," Hackleman said in the aftermath of Liddell's stoppage loss over the weekend in Vancouver, his fourth such result in three years. "But definitely when I looked down at him in the cage, my stomach ... it just didn't feel good."

Much of the discussion heading into Liddell's main event slot at UFC 115 against Rich Franklin centered on the 40-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion's ability to take a punch. The shot that put him down Saturday was particularly nasty because of the angle -- a hooking right straight that caught Liddell at his nose and pushed down to his mouth, opening a wide gash on his upper lip that required a plastic surgeon's touch -- but it didn't appear especially heavy. Yet Hackleman said he still hasn't seen enough carnage inflicted on his close friend to ask him to walk away.

Prior to the bout the 50-year-old trainer told SI.com that if a pattern emerged where Liddell was continually getting hurt, he would tell his charge it was time to get out. The pair haven't had a chance to discuss what's next, said Hackleman, though that will happen for the first time this weekend in Las Vegas, where they'll join forces for the finale of The Ultimate Fighter reality show on Spike TV.

Liddell did not respond to SI.com when asked about his future plans.

"I don't think there's too much to talk about," Hackleman said. "I think we both know what he's going to do. I won't speak for him like Dana [White] did. I'll just say I'd rather he not do it anymore."

But if Liddell (21-8) chooses to fight again? If the UFC president relents and allows "The Iceman" in the Octagon even though twice saying he wouldn't? Hackleman swore to be by his man's side. He wouldn't like it. But he couldn't imagine walking away from Liddell. Not now. Not ever.

"If he's gotta do it I'd rather be there looking after him than someone else," the trainer said. "I don't think it will come to that. I think he's good right now. I think he's in a good place and obviously wishes he won. But he's a very successful guy that's accomplished a lot in and out of the cage, and he doesn't really need this anymore in any way. I don't think he has anything to prove."

Repeatedly alluding to Liddell's "warrior mentality" -- "The thing that made him the most famous, richest, most exciting superstar in the sport also can come back and haunt him" -- Hackleman said after Liddell hurt Franklin with his still-heavy punches, "all the game planning went out the window and the warrior in him took over. He dropped his hands, took his chin up and started swinging for the fences. That's the way he went in and that's the way he went out. That's just him."

"Looking down at him cut like that, broke my heart," said the trainer, fighting off tears.


(source: Sports Illustrated)

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