Tito Ortiz thought he was 'good friends' with Chuck Liddell for their three-field series.
The legendary light heavyweight duo sparring partners at the start of their epic MMA career.
Chuck Liddell even slept on Tito Ortiz's couch before they became bitter rivals in the UFC.
'The Iceman' made Ortiz twice during the peak of his career. Eventually 'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' got the last smile when he stopped Liddell in the first round of their unwise trilogy in November 2018.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Chuck Liddell explains his relationship with Tito Ortiz
As far as Liddell is concerned, he was never more than a training partner from Ortiz.
In September 2023, the retired MMA legend Quinton had 'Rampage' Jackson in Hysterics when he rejected the conversation about a friendship between the couple.
“We were good training partners,” Liddell said on the Jaxxon Podcast.
“I mean, he makes up as if we were great friends.” Oh, he slept on my couch “
'Bro, I slept on your couch because you would not pay for a hotel room.
“It was fine. I was happy. When he came out, he stayed in one of my buddy's houses.
“We trained together. There was never like an 'oh, we are not going to fight'.
I always laugh, because when you listen to him then it is as if he took me off the street, I taught me how to fight and I turned him.
“Look, Bro, I came down to help you. I showed up when he needed a sparring partner in Las Vegas.
'I came out and fought Southpaw for you. I was not paid.
Chuck Liddell's favorite UFC hunter in 2025
In May, Chuck Liddell mentioned one of the last 'real hunters' who participated in the UFC today.
'[Alex] Pereira is one of my favorites, “he said when he was asked to call his favorite active hunter.
“I like his attitude towards fighting. He is a beast, man.
'So if I had to choose one, I think [it’s Pereira]. “
Alex Pereira will try to recover his light heavyweight title from Magomed Ankalaev on UFC 320.
'Patan' fell in March in a unanimous decision against the Russian hunter on UFC 313.
UFC CEO Dana White hinted on an immediate rematch during his press conference after the fight.
It took a while to come together, but now Ankalaev vs. Pereira fall on October 4.