By Mike Chiappetta
- Senior Writer
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With recent speculation swirling around a possible return to the octagon for
Chuck Liddell, "the Iceman" has stepped out to diffuse the rumors,
telling SI.com that he would take off the rest of 2009 before deciding on whether or not to hang the gloves up for good.
A former UFC light-heavyweight champion and one of the most popular fighters in MMA history, the 39-year-old Liddell has suffered knockout losses in three of his last five fights and has lost four of his last five overall.
In his most recent bout, Liddell suffered a first-round TKO at the hands of
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
"Hopefully my brain can heal over time," he told SI.com's Josh Gross. "The shot last fight is something that normally wouldn't hurt me. I think I need at least some time off from getting hit."
According to the report, Liddell would not fight again until at least April 2010, at which time he would be 40 years old.
Known for his powerful fists, steely disposition and trademark mohawk, Liddell (21-7) shot to fame during a seven-fight win streak during 2004-2006, during which he scored TKOs or KOs of seven straight opponents. He appeared on the cover of
ESPN The Magazine, did guest spots on popular TV shows like
Entourage and released an autobiography that made
The New York Times bestseller's list.
After his most recent loss, UFC President
Dana White stated that Liddell would have to retire, but has since backed off the statement, saying that he could not make the decision for Liddell, though he reiterated that he would like to see him call it quits.
Liddell holds notable wins over
Randy Couture,
Tito Ortiz and
Wanderlei Silva, among others.
Read More: chuck lidell, dana white, mauricio shogun rua, mma gossip, front page, Randy Couture (MMA), Tito Ortiz (MMA), Wanderlei Silva (MMA)
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