Video: UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell discusses difficult decision to call it quits

It’s never easy to officially call it quits, and for UFC Hall of Famer and all-around badass Chuck Liddell, he knew his retirement decision would be an emotional one.

Liddell (21-8 MMA, 16-7 UFC), a former UFC light-heavyweight champion who was the sport’s most popular fighter during his 2005-2007 title reign, closed out his career in 2010 with a knockout loss to fellow ex-champ Rich Franklin (29-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC). Soon afterward, UFC President Dana White said Liddell was done fighting in the UFC.

Liddell, who ultimately took a job with the UFC, announced his retirement later that year.

“The hard thing was deciding; making that decision was tough for me,” Liddell told longtime broadcaster Joe Buck on his show “Undeniable with Joe Buck.” “I actually made that decision in September, I think, and we announced it in late December. I asked for a little time so I could at least talk at this thing since I was going to be emotional about that.”

For Liddell, now 46, it was the end of something that drove him since his childhood.

“You’ve been doing something your whole life … but for me, for the last 20 years, fighting has been my No. 1 goal,” he said. “Everything revolved around me winning a title, being a champion and winning. And now all of the sudden, that’s gone. It’s a little different.”

Check out the video above.

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