“You see these guys getting beat up; these guys are too old. I don’t want to be that guy that is too old in the ring, where everyone feels sorry for him because he just can’t fight anymore and he is still going out there. I don’t think that fight [with Rashad Evans] was that fight [for me]. I was winning the fight, and I got caught. That could have happened 15 years ago. I could have been winning a fight and got caught. It’s not a retirement fight where you come out like, ‘God, I just went against a guy that shouldn’t be beating me up, and he just beat my ass the whole round, the whole fight and then I lost.’ If I walk out there and I just take a beating and I just don’t feel like I have it anymore, or if I can’t compete with the guys in the gym anymore, then I will decide not to go in the ring again.” -- Chuck Liddell talking to Fighters Only magazine about the possibility of retirement if he loses to Mauricio Rua at UFC 97
“He’s one of my best friends. I love him as a person, and he’s accomplished everything there is to accomplish. What else is there for him? [He’s] the most famous mixed martial artist in the world, made more money than God -- has a ton of money -- and was a world champion. He told me, ‘I still want to fight, and I want to win the belt back.’ He’s got to look good in this next fight. I’m not pushing him out the door. He’s never going away. He’s going to be with me forever, whether he’s retired or still fighting. He’s with us. The bottom line is I don’t want to see him get hurt.” -- UFC President Dana White discussing Chuck Liddell’s future with TSN’s “Off the Record”
“One thing that really impressed me was the professional way he takes care of his diet. Before coming here, I thought Gesias [Cavalcante] was the master in that aspect, but Chuck is the most impressive I’ve ever seen in my whole life. His diet is totally natural. He has a nutritionist who takes care of his diet for the whole week. When I told American Top Team people about it, they didn’t think I was serious. Because of Chuck’s natural belly, many people have the wrong idea about him, but this guy is a real example of how a professional should behave.” -- American Top Team’s Danillo Villefort talking to Sherdog.com about helping Chuck Liddell prepare for Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 97
“If he beats Chuck Liddell, people are going to forget about the [Mark] Coleman fight. If he loses on the other hand, as a manager -- and [UFC President] Dana [White], please turn the TV off -- I think they might reconsider his career a little bit.” -- Eduardo Alonso, Mauricio Rua’s manager, during the “Countdown to UFC 97” special on Spike TV
“I got to be able to put my faith in the technical aspect of this, not just on the stronger fighter or the luck or what have you.” -- Nick Diaz in an interview with Sherdog.com after his victory over Frank Shamrock
“I wanted that rematch, but with the way he looked … thanks Nick. It’s like watching money go out the window.” -- Tito Ortiz discussing the idea of a rematch with Frank Shamrock after Shamrock lost to Nick Diaz on April 11
“I’m always dangerous -- always dangerous. I counted myself out even a couple of times.” -- Scott Smith following his thrilling defeat of Benji Radach at Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Diaz”
“Movies, you got the long hours, but you get the big payoff. And fighting, you get the quick fight, 25 minutes, and then basically … you get the payoff.” -- Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le comparing his fledgling action movie career to professional fighting
“With the menstrual cycle excuse firmly in hand and an unwillingness to do any more than bare minimum, Chris Cyborg stepped on that scale Friday with no intention of making weight I assume. Her victory is hollow and her turning a blind eye to her lack of professionalism is deplorable. Never once was an apology uttered. Never once did I see one act of accountability. I don’t know how to say it in Portuguese, but Cyborg is deserving of no respect and no praise. If you were ever a fan, I’d find someone of better character and better heart.” -- Josh Barnett on his MySpace blog ripping Cristiane Santos’ failure to make weight for her fight against Hitomi Akano at Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Diaz”
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The Week Ahead
The next chapter in the illustrious career of Chuck Liddell comes into focus following his UFC 97 bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, while Anderson Silva looks to put forward a characteristic performance against Thales Leites.