Chuck Liddell: Goodwill Ambassador

by Nate Wilcox on Apr 20, 2009 2:27 PM EDT in MMA News

Dann Stupp interviews Dana White and gets the story:

Soon after confirming Liddell’s retirement after UFC 97, Dana White, president of the UFC, confirmed the fighter will remain with the organization in an official employee capacity. And don’t expect it to be a mere ceremonial gig.

“He’s not just going to get a paycheck,” White told the Dayton Daily News. “I want him to play a role in this [company] and actually come in and work and do something. I’m going to give him a real job.”

The Mohawk-wearing, head-tattooed professional butt-kicker doesn’t exactly instill visions of Corporate America, but with his international popularity and notoriety, Liddell could do some real good in helping White and UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner stump for legislation in markets such as New York and Massachusetts, which currently don’t regulate the sport.

White hinted at some international projects, as well.

“I think he’d be great to go out there to talk to legislators and go into these other countries and help us get these [shows] open,” White said.

Fightlinker points out the obvious:

Wow. No. Just no. It has always amazed me that Chuck Liddell has managed to get so popular when he’s known across the board as one of the most wooden and dull interviews on the face of the earth. Thank god he looks like a stereotype out of a Japanese video game and he banged like a maniac back in the day. But that shit doesn’t translate well to the boardroom or the freaking halls of government where legislative talk is made. He’s not going to score any points with guys like Bob Reilly because he’s ‘a total bad ass.’

...

I would be shocked - literally shocked - if Chuck Liddell’s job ended up involving anything other than showing up at the occassional fight night and pimping whatever company the UFC convinced to pay him a few hundred thousand dollars.

Fightlinker also makes a meta-media point about the UFC's treatment of online media:

You’d think Dann Stupp was Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde for how Dana White treats him. When Dann is repping MMA Junkie (the 2nd biggest MMA site on the net), he’s ‘the enemy’ But when he’s doing work for some newspaper out of Dayton (the 6th biggest city in Ohio! Akron, watch your back!), he gets the UFC president’s ear. It’s funny how that works.

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Comments

Re: Stupp

That’s just how they do it though, for whatever reason.

by Newbs on Apr 20, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

I’m sure Chuck will enjoy his new desk job at Zuffa headquarters.

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I love that movie.

by pud333 on Apr 20, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually agree with FL here. Liddell is one of the worst public speakers, and having him come in to help with regulation talks makes no sense to me. He’s exactly what he says he is, a fighter. He hasn’t exactly helped himself over the course of his career in terms of life after fighting. He’s probably not the analyst type, and speaking to people about regulation issues would suprise the hell out of me.

I really don’t know what he can do for the UFC. Showing up to events, putting a smile on some faces, I suppose that’s about it. For all that he’s done for the UFC, does Dana White simply want to just give him a salary every year to keep him in the mix and take care of him for the rest of his life? I guess.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Apr 20, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

Desk job? Chuck? No.

I just cant picture it.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Apr 20, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

Having just finished the Tucker Max book, Im deeply disturbed and something about those two girls reminds me of “The Most Disturbing Conversation Ever” Scroll Down to where it say “Warning to All Guys” then take a second look at the girl on the left.

by ryanwk628 on Apr 20, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

Hilarious

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Apr 20, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

both of them*

from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe

by troy145 on Apr 20, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

For everything that Chuck has done for the company he deserves to get a paycheck for the rest of his life and be able to sit on his couch and bang hotties. He was part of some of the most memorable main events in UFC history. He was grinding for them when they were in obscurity. He was a coach in the original Ultimate Fighter which spurred the boom in poplularity of MMA all over this country. Give him is props let him get his paycheck and ride off in to the sunset.

by bdorst on Apr 20, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

agreed

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Nate Wilcox on Apr 20, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Does Chuck even need a paycheck? If he wasn’t just stupid with his money he should be set for life already. I mean it’s not like we are talking about Mark Coleman here Chuck should have big bags of cash just laying around his house already.

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

isnt chuck the dude who broke his engagement up to bang strippers and pornstars? ill go on a limb here and say he might not have been the smartest dude with his money.

by nigelzackit on Apr 20, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

It depends on who was around him watching his money, living the good life and blowing tens of millions of dollars is two differnet things. If White really is that worried about his best friends physical health then he was probably also keeping an eye on his financial health too.

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Give Chuck his “hottie” pension.

by pud333 on Apr 20, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope two things happen.

One – I hope someone convinces Dana that Chuck is not the guy to bring to legislation negotiations etc. I hope someone convinces Dana of that before he has to try it out and see it fail. The rockstar-like fame Chuck has does not mean he’s going to be a succesful negotiator.

Two – I hope Chuck can retire peacefully, in good shape and earn a nice living for the rest of his life. He’s been a huge part of MMA’s growth into what it is today and he deserves to get more than an attaboy for it. If Dana wants to keep his good friend on the payroll for the years to come – and have him show up at events every now and then – who are we to blame him?

Thanks for the memories, Iceman.

by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Apr 20, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

Personally, I do not seriously believe that Dana

is any way planning on Chuck having a true integral part of the company. Probably more of a face recognition thing IMO. He is probably just playing up his role so it does not look like they are just giving him money.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Apr 20, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Signing autorgraphs, opening grocery stores perhaps a VH1 reality show, they can keep him busy without putting him in a suit and sending him in to high level negotiations with Marc Ratner.

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is probably going to be his real capacity anyway.

I just cannot see them sending Chuck out with Ratner on this stuff, unless it is just to be seen and not heard.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Apr 20, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure we would all be tuning into Chuck’s new reality show “I love strippers” :D

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

lol, I cannot say that I would not at least

give that a look!

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Apr 20, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure SpikeTV would love to tap into some of VH1’s trashy reality show dating audience and offering Chuck the chance to be stuck in a mansion full of strippers competing for his attention probably wouldn’t be a tough sell. Heck doing TUF but with “exotic dancers” probably wouldn’t be much of a tough sell to the channel who brings us Mansers for that matter.

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

cool, so chuck is going to be like zuffa’s personal joe louis. i have the strange feeling itll only last as long as chuck doesnt run up a really big bill, which might be a year or so

by nigelzackit on Apr 20, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

And no offense - well that’s a bit of a lie - it should be mmaJUNKie.

by ACCBiggz on Apr 20, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

Fightlinker is right.

Chuck is like living furniture when you put a microphone in front of his face. There is no way he is going into board meetings to talk to suits.

by pud333 on Apr 20, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

I agree that Chuck helped build the company and the sport but why is it that Tito is not getting the same credit?

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Apr 20, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

Because everyone hates Tito :D

To be honest I bet there will be a sense of nostaligia for Tito too when he finally retires but I don’t think we will even see Tito getting an office job at Zuffa.

by who me on Apr 20, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Dayton

So know we get this A hole cracking on a city he hasd probably never been to and knows nothing about. I am from Dayton and it is actually the 4th largest metro area in Ohio and has things like the Air Force Museum, home of th Wright Brothers, the Dayton Peace Accords, etc.

Also home to some great fights. We have the OXF and Bushido which are two great promotions. We have Jorge Gurgel affliliate schools and our paper is one fo the first to cover mma on a consistent basis.

Sure it may not be Chicago….but it is a good city.

As for Chuck, I could care less what he does. It is of no matter to me. I do wish him the best of luck in whatever it is he decides to do.

UI will never forget his destruction of Tito. Thta brought a huge smile to my face

by Stay Down on Apr 21, 2009 6:31 AM EDT reply actions