Chuck Liddell sides with Akira Corassani after heated face-off with Dustin Poirier

Chuck Liddell might understand why both Akira Corassani and Diego Brandao shoved Dustin Poirier – because he probably would have done the same, if not more.

The UFC Hall of Famer said there is such as thing as over the line when it comes to pre-fight behavior, and getting in someone’s face at a weigh-in is just that.

“I’m sorry, I’m a pretty respectful guy, and I don’t get upset before a fight,” Liddell, who retired from active competition in 2010 before joining the UFC’s front office, told MMAjunkie. “I figure the staredown is for the fans, because we’re not fighting for another 24 hours, so there’s no reason to fight, right? You’re going to get upset right now? You waited too long to get fired up for 24 hours.

“So if someone starts to press my face, I’m immediately pushing them away, if not hitting them. If they come back the wrong way, they’re getting hit. It’s just not OK.”

On Tuesday, a fired-up Poirier put his hands on Corassani at the weigh-ins (watch the video below) for the TUF Nations Finale, which takes place today at Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The event airs live on FOX Sports 1 and streams on UFC Fight Pass.

The minor dustup brought a little jolt to the normally uneventful affair of an event’s weigh-ins. It was also the second straight time Poirier got physical with his scheduled opponent after he shoved Brandao, who, to be fair, threatened to stab him.

While Liddell hadn’t seen either run-in, he expressed his distaste toward fighters who get in each other’s faces while talking about the much-ballyhooed run-in between Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen on an episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3.” The light heavyweights scuffled at a weigh-in during the show’s filming and had to be separated by their respective teams.

Liddell said he planned to watch the episode, but wasn’t thrilled when he heard about it.

“To me, touching is not OK,” he said. “We’re fighting. Don’t touch me. I remember the first time I was fighting in Brazil. I fought (Jose) ‘Pele’ (Landi-Jons). He came up to me before the fight, bumped into me, (and) threw a shoulder into me at the weigh-ins. I’m like, ‘Dude. C’mon, man. We’re getting paid to fight in 24 hours. C’mon, relax.’ He didn’t understand what I said, I think. But whatever, man. I laughed it off. We’re fighting in 24 hours. Relax.

“There’s no reason to get excited. I understand, and Wanderlei Silva pulling that card, they were teammates. So I get it.”

Liddell said his strategy with angry opponents is to not give them the satisfaction of knowing they got to him by responding in turn. If things get physical, however, that could change, and quickly.

For more on TUF Nations Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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