UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell called an end to his fighting career back in 2010. After hanging up his gloves, Liddell was granted the position of executive vice president of business development within the UFC. After seven years of working the position, Liddell was let go from the UFC.
The sale of the UFC to WME-IMG was followed by a series of firings within the UFC employment pool. However, Chuck Liddell claims that his position was promised to be for life.
In an interview with The MMA Hour, as provided by MMA Fighting, Liddell explained he was told the position would be for life but that would not be the case.
“That’s what was told to me, too. But it happens. Life changes. I think at first I took it a little hard, but now I look at it as a blessing in disguise. It’s got me re-motivated to go out and find what I really want to do.”
Speaking on if being let go has affected his relationship with UFC President Dana White, Liddell explained:
“It is what it is. It’s a business decision, you know? They made a business decision and that’s what it is. I was led to believe that’s not what it was going to be, but it happened and it is what it is.”
Speaking to the Ferttita brothers and Dana White’s sale of the UFC, Chuck Liddell had only positive things to say.
“Congratulations to the guys, man. They did a great job of building the sport and the company and they were able to sell it for a lot of money. That’s a lot of money. It’s a crazy amount.”
That being said, “The Iceman” was not told up front that the promotion was being sold.
“I wasn’t aware they were even selling. I mean, I heard the rumors and then talked to Dana, he said they weren’t, then they ended up selling a couple of weeks later. So, I wasn’t really privy to that, to what was going on, but that’s a high number, man. I’m happy for them, and they took a risk for a long time. Frank and Lorenzo took a risk for quite awhile trying to make it work, and it worked for them.”
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