Chuck Liddell: If Tito Ortiz actually signs to fight, I’ll be happy

The third fight between UFC Hall-of-Famers Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz has been talked about since June of the past year. It was once again brought up this week when Ortiz went on record to say that he has a “lot of interest level” in a trilogy fight against his former rival.

On Wednesday, “The Iceman” heard about Ortiz’s statements, which he offered an immediate response to.

“I’ll believe it when I see it, when he actually signs the contract, and then I’ll believe it again when he actually shows up to the fight,” Liddell told TMZ Sports (transcript via MMA Fighting). “I’ll take it. However he wants to give it to me, I’ll take it. If he wants to do me a favor, I’ll take it.”

“[But] I have a hard time believing [he’s serious]. He pulled out the last time. It is what it is. If he actually signs to do it, I’ll be happy.

One issue that Ortiz had was that Liddell may not be medically cleared to fight. For Liddell, however, this was kind of a head-scratcher, since he claims to have been recently given the green light by his doctors to go mountain climbing at 48 years old.

“I don’t know why I wouldn’t be (cleared to fight),” Liddell said. “I’ve had medical exams for my mountain climbing show and I cleared with everything there so I should be just fine. We’ll have to see. If they don’t clear me, I’d be shocked. They’ve cleared a lot of people in a lot less shape than I am.”

“I’ve already beat him twice,” he added. “He’s probably hoping that I’ve really declined and he’s able to take advantage of that, that’s what he’s hoping for. If he actually shows up, it’s gonna be bad news for him.”

Liddell knocked Ortiz out in the second round of their first fight at UFC 47 in 2004, and went on to earn another stoppage victory in the third round of their rematch at UFC 66 two years later.