Tito Ortiz

By FCF Staff

There have been widespread calls for Chuck Liddell to retire, following his knockout loss to Tito Ortiz on Saturday night. But, the former UFC champ isn’t about to say his longtime rival should hang-up-the-gloves for good.

Ortiz faced Liddell in the headliner of a Golden Boy Promotions event, and proceeded to knock out the legendary fighter in the opening round. Since Liddell is about to turn 49, and because he has been stopped in four straight fights, calls for “The Iceman” to retire again have been common.

But, when Ortiz was asked to weigh-in on Liddell’s future, the 43-year-old legend said this (quote via MMA Fighting):

“You can’t hold someone back,” said Ortiz. “If they feel something they want to do and they want to fight and continue to fight, then you’ve go to let them walk out on their own.

“So, If he still wants to fight, then let’s find him an opponent. Let’s find him someone that isn’t a Tito Ortiz.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Chuck. If wants to compete, then let him compete. Maybe not as a main event, of course. But let’s find him someone that’s a tune-up for him, because I’m not a tune-up fight.”

Liddell and Ortiz fought twice before in 2004 and 2006, and the latter was stopped in both fights.