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DANA WHITE TALKS LIDDELL'S ALLEGED ALCOHOLISM Friday, February 05, 2010 - by Jeff Cain - MMAWeekly.com At a media day to promote the upcoming season of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter,” former UFC light heavyweight titleholder Tito Ortiz alleged that his longtime rival and fellow former champion Chuck Liddell was an “alcoholic.” He added that their former manager and now UFC president Dana White had to do “an intervention” on Liddell.
Following the UFC 109 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, White denied ever having done an intervention and said Liddell isn’t “too happy” about Ortiz’ comments.
“It’s not true. I never stepped in and had an intervention with Chuck Liddell and he never went to rehab or anything like that,” White told a group of reporters. “Tito says some crazy stuff sometimes.”
Asked if Liddell was an alcoholic, White answered, “That I don’t know. Chuck Liddell is not drinking. He absolutely quit drinking to get ready and get back.
“Me and Chuck have been battling over this fighting thing. That’s it. All I’ve ever said to Chuck is, ‘If you come back, you better take this seriously.’ Never did I say, ‘You’re never fighting again and you’re gonna quit drinking and you’re gonna clean your room and brush your teeth,’” added the UFC president. “That’s not the relationship I have. This guy is my friend. I care about him.
“I think Chuck Liddell is a rich guy with a lot of time on his hands. He likes to run around in bars. He’s single. He likes to go out and meet girls, and you know, do what most guys do,” explained Liddell’s longtime friend. “He’s a little old to be doing it, but that’s what he likes to do. No different than any other person who goes out on the weekends and parties; no different than Tito when Tito’s not fighting.”
In March of 2007, an incoherent Liddell appeared on “Good Morning Texas” to promote the movie “300” and TMZ has published video of a drunk Liddell more than once, leading to public concern about his lifestyle further fueled by Ortiz’ comments.
“That was a whole nother story! I wouldn’t say that was an intervention either,” White said about Liddell’s “Good Morning Texas” appearance. “I just stepped in and said, ‘What are you doing and who let you go on TV that morning? They need to be hung from the streetlight and beat like a pińata, whoever let you go on that show.’”
Liddell and Ortiz are coaching against each other on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, and will fight for a third time, likely in Vancouver at UFC 115. Liddell decisively defeated Ortiz in both of their previous Octagon meetings.
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DANA WHITE TALKS LIDDELL'S ALLEGED ALCOHOLISM
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