I’ve never met “The Iceman” - and certainly not recently. In simple English, Chuck clearly seems to be punch drunk, or some variation thereof. There is increasing chatter, from both fighters and fans alike, surrounding the level of damage Chuck has sustained over his career. His blowups in public, usually involving some form of intoxication, are becoming as well known as his exploits in the Octagon. He speech is now filled with stutters and mumbles, lacking the clarity of his early years. Once the biggest star in the sport and still it’s most recognizable face, the latter years of Chuck’s career have clearly taken their toll on his mental state. Yet it is a necessary discussion, and one we must confront openly if we are to come to terms with the full implications for this sport in the mainstream. Dana White and the UFC, MMA media and magazines, fan sites and forums, even the so called “main stream media” - no one is talking about it, at least not nearly enough. Amidst all the blockbuster success, exponential growth of the sport, self-congratulating and hand shaking all around, there exists an uncomfortable truth, at the periphery of the modern MMA discussion. And I’m not talking about his decision to do the Merangue on national television. Something is seriously wrong with Chuck Liddell. In the world of MMA, there is something that fans and talking heads alike are slowly coming to terms with - even if they don‘t want to.
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