In 2018, the tension was high between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. As they were preparing for their highly anticipated trilogy fight. The two former UFC teammates had a tumultuous history. Moreover, Lidell was exposing Ortiz for spreading lies about helping him for years.
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It all began when Liddell and Ortiz were training together in the UFC; the latter using Liddell as a training partner. However, Liddell quickly proved to be the better fighter. Subsequently, this led Ortiz to avoid a fight with him by claiming they were friends. Liddell knew that Ortiz was simply using this as an excuse, and their relationship was ultimately only professional.
When Liddell and Ortiz finally faced off in the UFC, the former emerged victorious. He beat Ortiz badly in both of their fights. However, in 2018, boxing legend and promoter Oscar De La Hoya hosted an MMA event featuring a trilogy fight between Liddell and Ortiz.
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His event was an attempt to set up a league against UFC president Dana White. However, it did not gain much attention from fans and was ultimately a failure. In the trilogy fight, Ortiz was able to defeat a past-his-prime Liddell. This eventually led to the event being dubbed the “trilogy fail.”
Back when Chuck Liddell set the record straight
In a 2018 video interview, Liddell addresses the rumor that he had slept on Ortiz‘s couch, stating that this was not the case. Liddell was staying with Ortiz to help him train, but Ortiz was too cheap to provide a hotel room. Liddell took the humble route and slept on the couch instead.
He said, “You know he’s oh uh, Chuck slept on my couch, and then I’m like yeah because you’re too cheap to get me a hotel room. I slept on your couch because I’m a nice guy.“
“I’m uh, I mean, I was coming down to help you out. You weren’t helping me out.” He further added.
Back when Dana White asked for Chuck Liddell’s gloves
Yes! The UFC president Dana White has his favorites if you were wondering. During the interview with Patrick Bet-David Liddell shares that Dana White kept his gloves from the famed match.
He said, “So Dana says look the first time the Liddell and him (Ortiz) fought. He says I told him, I said Liddell, I want you to beat his ass and when you do I need the gloves and I need the trunks.“
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“Cause I’m gonna frame it he says when you come into my house. Today those gloves and the trunks are in front of his house.”
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Overall, Chuck Liddell’s comments about Tito Ortiz’s lies and their tumultuous history added fuel to the fire as they prepared for their trilogy fight. While the rivalry between these two fighters may have ended in the UFC, it was clear that the tension between them was still alive and well.
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