Chuck Liddell finally speaks out about retirement

MMA Madness got in touch with Chuck Liddell and spoke to him about his retirement. 

"I can be pretty persuasive when I want," Liddell said.

Liddell adds that no one else can push him into a decision, not even White.

"I'll listen to [White] as a friend, but he's not going to make me do anything," Liddell stated, before issuing a warning:

"The last thing you want to do if you want me to do something is to tell me I have to do it."

With one fight left on his contract, Liddell knows that he does not want to get in a legal battle with the UFC if he decides to fight again.

"[The UFC has] been good to me for a lot of years, I'm not trying to get in a fight with them over fighting somewhere else," Liddell said. "Going to lawyers and doing all that stuff, it's just not me."

Liddell is 1-4 in last five fights and has been knocked out three times, twice in his past two fights. It was after Liddell lost to Mauricio Rua at UFC 97 that Joe Rogan and Dana White all but declared Liddell done. 

Since then 'The Iceman' has yet to make a decision or announcement. White, Liddell's former manager, continued to push the storyline that Liddell was retiring. The UFC announced a sale of 'Iceman' merchandise and declared two Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at UFC 100.

It was at this time that Liddell's long time trainer John Hackleman, spoke out against the UFC and Dana White's actions. That started an ugly verbal sparring session between Hackleman and White.  

It begs the question, where was Liddell during this uncertain period? Chuck was spotted at the Kentucky Derby, attended Talladega and was last seen signing karaoke with Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny. To the outsider it appears that Liddell may not be taking this seriously. 

The current dance around retirement leaves many questions unanswered. If Liddell doesn't come out and declare his retirement soon we may be headed to another Randy Couture situation.