John Hackleman talks about Chuck Liddell's training as he prepares to take on Wanderlei Silva in their highly anticipated clash at UFC 79. Check out what he had to say about the fight and what the fans can expect on December 29th. Plus, Hackleman shares his thoughts on Randy Couture's departure from the UFC and who he likes in this weekend's boxing clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton.

JH: Everything good?

PC: Everything is good with me my man. How are you doing?

JH: Good, good, good! I'm just getting ready for this fight. Everything is great. I've been training a bunch of people in the gym and everything else is good.

PC: I know you've wanted this fight for a long time. How does it feel to finally have it a done deal?

JH: Ah man, it's great! Chuck's been training good. We've tweaked a couple of things, but everything has pretty much stayed the same. We're good!

PC: What's his training regimen like right now?

JH: It's pretty much the same. He did lose two fights, but you know, he won a bunch before that so no need to start training too differently. I think Randy and a few other guys' lost 2 or 3 in a row and came back even stronger.

PC: Is this the fight, John, that you feel Chuck needed to get him back to where he was?

JH: Yeah, I think this is a big fight and the Wanderlei fight he's been wanting for a long ass time. He's wanted this fight for a long time and I think it came along at the perfect time. Wanderlei and Chuck are both coming off a couple of losses and now it's time. It's time. It's time for both of them. This is a great fight for both of them actually.

PC: Everyone is expecting a standup war. Do you think Wanderlei will use the clinch and try and take Chuck down?

JH: He might, you know? Maybe Chuck will. They're both sluggers, but Wanderlei is a black belt in Jiu Jitsu and Chuck is a Division 1 NCAA wrestler. They just choose not to do that as much. I think they both are as talented on the ground as they are standing so who knows?

PC: I know coming into camp, there are certain things you look for in Chuck. Do you feel like you are getting that right now?

JH: Yeah! We also got another guy who came into the camp and is helping out a little bit. He's been pushing Chuck too. It's a different angle and a different direction.

PC: Is that Tony Robbins you're talking about?

JH: Nah, he's coming out too, but we have an athlete too. I'm not going to say who it is, but he's a world-class athlete that has come in to train with us. He helps us with that and the strategy too, which is good for me because I'm only one set of eyes and he's good for another view of things. He's been helping me and life is good right now.

PC: What are you expecting to get from Tony Robbins when he gets there?

JH: I don't know what to expect from him, but I like having him around. He's a good guy to have around. He's great to listen to. He has good ideas and it's so positive when he's around. Other than that, it's just the usual. It's not like Chuck was getting completely outclassed. Then we could work on something specifically. The first fight, he got tagged like anyone does and then against Jardine, which some people, I didn't, thought he won, but it was a really close 1 point fight. He didn't do that much wrong. He just didn't do quite enough right so what are you going to change?

PC: If this is a war, like everyone is expecting, how many rounds do you see this fight going?

JH: 2! I don't know. I see it being a knockout, but I thought Jardine would be a knockout too. I didn't think Rampage would end like that so I don't know.

PC: Do you see yourself, as a trainer, stepping your game up for big fights like this as well?

JH: Yeah! I think I take big responsibility for the Jardine fight. I don't think I pushed quite hard enough. I take some for the Rampage fight, although he did what I told him not to do. Still, I should've somehow made sure he didn't do it.

PC: You can't fight it for him.

JH: People give me a lot of credit when he wins so when he loses, I have to take responsibility too and rightfully so. I don't think I pushed him hard enough in the corner in the last fight with my direction in the Jardine fight. In a 1 point fight like that, it's kind of like Lou Duva in the corner with Meldrick Taylor and I think he messed up that fight. I don't think I pushed him hard enough in that fight. I don't think I gave the right advice.

PC: Do you train your normal amount of fighters when Chuck is preparing for a big fight like this or do you cut down?

JH: I try to stay the same, but to be honest, there's like 3 guys on the team that I probably shouldn't, but they get the most attention. It just happens that way. I don't mean to do it, but I'm the only trainer and I have 15 people on the team so when somebody has a big fight coming up or other reasons, sometimes people get more attention. If I had assistants or other people helping me, but usually some guys don't get much attention when Chuck has a fight coming up.

PC: Were you surprised at the way Randy Couture left the UFC?

JH: Oh yeah! That's crazy, huh? I never thought that would happen. I have a feeling he might be back, but who knows? He's got some other stuff going on I heard. I think he's good. I was definitely surprised when I watched his press conference. It was a little bizarre, but anyway.

PC: I know you think highly of Georges St-Pierre. He just took a Matt Hughes rubbermatch on short notice. Who do you like in that fight?

JH: I just heard about that today. I was talking with Dennis Miller's people and they asked me about that one. That's going to be a good one, huh? I don't know. What happened to Serra? He got hurt?

PC: Yeah, he has a back injury.

JH: Oh yeah? Sorry to hear that.

PC: Who do you like in the Mayweather/ Hatton fight?

JH: I like Hatton, but I would have to go with Mayweather. I think he's too skilled and fast and he will leave Hatton in the dust. I don't see anyone beating him right now unless he tries to step up to MMA (laughing) and then he will get killed (more laughing). I love Hatton and all, but…hey, you know what, Affliction just got Hatton so he's going to wear Affliction.

PC: Affliction is getting everybody.

JH: Yeah, I just talked to the guy and I asked why they didn't get Mayweather, but I guess they couldn't get Mayweather. Oh no, they didn't want Mayweather! Boxing is making a little bit of resurgence right now. I'm happy about that. I loved that fight with the one guy from Denmark and the other…

PC: Kessler and Calzaghe?

JH: Yeah, that was a good fight.

PC: For some reason John, I want to say Hatton could pull this off.

JH: Let's bet!

PC: I wouldn't bet on it; just a thought.

JH: Come on. I'll bet you.

PC: I don't have your kind of money John man.

JH: We won't bet money, we'll bet…

PC: A Coke or beer!

JH: (laughing) I wish he would, but I don't think it's going to happen.

PC: Good luck my man. I wish you guys the best.

JH: Thank you man and make sure you watch this one!