When Jon Jones and Chuck Liddell faced off in the stands during UFC 196 earlier this month, it turned out that the two UFC legends were just posing for a picture that Jones would later post on Instagram. However, Dana White originally thought something entirely different was taking place, according to Liddell.
“He thinks we’re gonna fight,” Liddell said. “Dana, c’mon. You know me better than that. I’m not that guy.”
White had a reason to be worried. Jones and Liddell don’t seem to like each other very much. Liddell has stated his distaste for Jones’ fighting style for a long time. Recently, he also said he’d knock Jones out in his prime. Jones responded on social media with some shots of his own.
It seemed like the photo op at UFC 196 was a sign that the war of words had ended. But maybe not, according to what Liddell said Friday night.
“Look, man,” Liddell said he told Jones. “If you want to talk trash about me on the Internet, you might want to tag me so I can respond. Instead of just talking trash behind my back. Not that I really care, because it’s the Internet. It’s social media. People talk trash all over the place.
“Dude, you have my phone number. If you ever see an interview and you’re worried about it, call me and we’ll talk it out. If we have a problem, trust me. If I have a problem with you, you won’t have to look for me. I’ll show up.”
Liddell, 46, holds an executive position with the UFC currently, but in his heyday he was the baddest man on the planet and the UFC light heavyweight champion. Jones, 28, is a former light heavyweight champion himself and he never lost the belt in the Octagon, instead of having it stripped after a felony hit-and-run arrest in April 2015. Jones will try to get that belt back against Daniel Cormier at UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas.
Inside MMA host Mauro Ranallo jokingly asked Liddell if he was going to fight Jones at the UFC’s first event at Madison Square Garden. Liddell responded: “If he keeps lipping off, maybe.”
“Of course, I’d beat him in my prime,” Liddell added. “What am I supposed to say? You gonna be mad? In my prime? I’ll beat you right now. If you’ve got a problem, let’s go. I mean, sh*t. I’m not gonna get mad at him if he said he’d beat me in his prime. He should say that. He should think that. If I’m your coach, you better say that.”
Liddell might have said that he isn’t the kind of guy to fight outside the cage anymore. But he also isn’t someone who messes around, either. Even in his mid-40s.
“If I have a problem with you and we’re gonna get there, I’m just gonna hit you,” Liddell said. “I don’t do that anymore, nothing can happen, but I’m not gonna sit there and get in your face at an event and do this bro-ing up and pushing each other. A fight would just happen.”