UFC legend Chuck Liddell considering bare-knuckle boxing career at age of 51

Chuck Liddell could be set to return to fighting, swapping the UFC octagon for the squared circle of bare-knuckle boxing.

The legendary ex-light heavyweight champion was one of the first stars in the sport of MMA, but retired in 2010 after taking three straight brutal knockout losses.

He briefly came back to fight for the ill-fated Golden Boy MMA promotion in 2018 to face Tito Ortiz in a trilogy fight, despite having won their first two bouts decisively.

But that decision was not a wise one as the far more fight-ready Ortiz brutally finished him in the first round to put an end to their infamous rivalry.

However, he could be set to return to fighting in a bare-knuckle fight, telling GiveMeSport : “It would all have to depend, we’d have to talk about it."

Liddell was a guest commentator on BKFC 19's alternate broadcast that was made available on Fite TV last weekend, and mentioned that he had spoken to promotional boss David Feldman.

"Yeah, if they pay enough money, sure," he said of a comeback.

"It all depends on what they come up with we can talk about it, if they’re interested, come and talk to me.”

Liddell was also briefly linked with an exhibition boxing match against Oscar De La Hoya, after appearing in promotional material for Triller Fight Club.

But that spot instead went to former UFC heavyweight Vitor Belfort, who will now take on the 'Golden Boy' in a fully sanctioned pro bout on September 11 in California.

Liddell has expressed interest in taking a boxing exhibition against Mike Tyson, but no talks have yet taken place between he and Tyson's 'Legends Only League'.

The California native is 51-years-old, and will turn 52 later this year, so a comeback doesn't seem likely at this stage in his life.

He looked particularly sluggish in his 2018 trilogy with Ortiz, being brutally stopped in the first round after failing to land anything of note during the bout.

In 2020, he told TMZ he was "officially retired, for now," and expressed interest in making a run with WWE which also has yet to play out.

UFC President Dana White was so adamant that Liddell, a close friend and partner of his, retire that he created a job for him in the UFC, which was removed when Endeavor purchased the promotion in 2016 for $4billion.

And he was very critical of De La Hoya for promoting Liddell's comeback bout, and slammed the California Athletic Commission for even sanctioning the fight.

He said on the UFC Unfiltered podcast: "Chuck Liddell is almost 50 years old and has no business fighting anymore.

"The fact the state of California let that fight happen is disgusting, it's disgusting.

"Chuck Liddell has an incredible legacy, he's a huge superstar and anybody who claims to be a friend of Chuck Liddell and was anywhere near [that fight] is full of s***.

"They're not a friend of Chuck Liddell, to let him go in and fight this fight is terrible."

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