Chuck Liddell getting knocked out this past weekend was hard to watch.

That competitive fire that consumes a fighters being can be a truly difficult flame to put out when the time comes. The training, the lifestyle, the excitement, the anticipation, all of it can be truly difficult to put aside in favor of some other form of work. For many a fighter, going out on their shield can be far more preferable than  simply sitting out and watching someone else get all the glory.

With the spectacle that was Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz 3 this past weekend, it comes as an example on why a fighter should hang it up and the effects that can come about from watching two out of their prime athletes compete in combat sports.

Whether you’re a Chuck Liddell fan or a vehement detractor, witnessing him getting knocked unconscious once again was far from an enthralling experience. In fact, I’d go so far as calling the whole experience nauseating, especially considering the fact that Liddell has now been knocked out in his last four bouts, the previous of which was in 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAESYo-rElI

Chuck Liddell is a true legend in mixed martial arts and should have stayed retired. The very fact that this fight was able to be sanctioned is truly alarming. His age and his record of knockout losses in his previous bouts should have been argument enough to prevent Liddell from participating in the match. Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions shouldn’t have thrown these two legends inside a cage, particularly Liddell who hadn’t competed in eight years.

That said, who are any of us to suggest that we know what’s best for these two former UFC champions?

Call us all concerned parties, all of which want better for legends of the sport. Tito Ortiz was a true sportsman as he encouraged his former rival to continue fighting after just shutting his lights out moments prior. It was certainly a kind gesture, meant to make Liddell feel better. But in reality, Chuck Liddell should never step inside a cage again if only to preserve his health. Of course that will be up to him and any sanctioning body tasked with giving him a liscence.

As it stands, I still think the fight never should have taken place, but perhaps the only reason for that opinion is that we didn’t see Liddell score an iconic knockout of his own this past weekend.

Do you think Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz should both stay retired?

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