FightHype.com recently caught up with former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell to talk about his long-awaited, eagerly anticipated clash with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 on December 29th. You don't want to miss what he had to say. Check it out.
PC: How is everything going my man?
CL: Things are going good man!
PC: Have you started training for the Wanderlei Silva fight already?
CL: Yeah, I started training already. It's been going good man!
PC: I know this is a fight you've wanted for quite some time. How excited are you that the fight is actually going to happen?
CL: It's great. I'm excited to be in the gym training for a fight.
PC: Do you feel like this is the type of fight you needed to get off of this losing streak; a fight of this magnitude?
CL: Yeah definitely. I needed a fight like this to get back to the top of the game. I'm excited about the fight.
PC: A loss will put either of you guys dropping three in a row. How big is that playing in your mind right now?
CL: That's not playing as big in my mind as a win would put me back in contention for a title.
PC: When I spoke with you awhile back, you said that you thought you just hit too hard for Wanderlei. Is that still the case?
CL: That still hasn't changed. It's going to be a good fight. We'll be out there swinging, but I think I just hit harder than he does.
PC: He's left Chutebox and has been training with Xtreme Couture. Do you expect him to clinch you more and take you to the ground?
CL: I don't see him changing his gameplan like that and trying to make it a ground fight.
PC: In the Jardine fight, there wasn't a single clinch. That seems to be the kind of fight you're expecting out of Wanderlei.
CL: That is what I'm expecting. I think it will be exciting for the fans so I'm not expecting for it to be a wrestling match.
PC: You've never lacked confidence, but where is your confidence level at after the two losses?
CL: It's great. I think I'm going to win this fight and I feel pretty confident in my abilities.
PC: Wanderlei hasn't fought in a while and you've been pretty active. Do you think that gives him a slight advantage in the department of having more recent footage on you?
CL: I don't think that's going to make that big a difference. I haven't changed the way I've fought in a long time (laughing). I don't think he'll change his style much either.
PC: Do you think it will be tough for you to bring in sparring partners to give you the same look that you can expect from Wanderlei Silva?
CL: I don't think so. We have a lot of tape on him so we could pretty much see how he fights, you know?
PC: Are you approaching this as kind of a do or die fight for you?
CL: I'm approaching it as a fight that I need to go out and win like all my fights. I can't wait to get out there. I try and leave the future out of everything. We could talk about it, but when I'm preparing for a fight, that's not part of me preparing for it.
PC: Both of you guys are coming off of a couple of setbacks. What do you think will separate you guys in the cage on New Year's Eve?
CL: We're both going to be there, it's just a matter of who shows up. We're going to come out fighting and show who's better. It's going to be who has better strikes and lands more punches.
PC: In the Jardine fight, you landed a good bit of shots and it was evident in the way his face looked afterwards. When I spoke with Hackleman, he felt like you were just off on catching him on the button. Is that how you feel as well?
CL: I think so, yeah. I just felt like I was a little off. I was right there, but I couldn't land it.
PC: I won't hold you up Chuck. I know you're training hard. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
CL: You can check me out on Iceman.tv or MMAJacked.com and check out the fight on December 29th!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]