“I want to thank Frank [Fertitta], Lorenzo [Fertitta] and Dana [White] for all that you ‘I have done for me over the years and for the sport. Most of all, I want to thank my fans, my family , “Liddell said before choking up.

“I love this sport and I ‘m excited to enter into a new phase of my life and continue to promote the best sport in the world and the sport I love. They ‘ re giving me the opportunity again to continue to promote and keep doing stuff now that I ‘m retired. ”

The 41-year-old Liddell ended his legendary career with a record of 21-8. He made his UFC debut at UFC 17 and MMA May 15, 1998, defeating Noe Hernandez by unanimous decision. After losing to Jeremy Horn at UFC 19, Liddell would go on to win his next 10 fights in a row before losing an interim light heavyweight title fight against Randy Couture at UFC 43. Liddell eventually won the 205-pound title at UFC 52 in April 2005, defeating Couture in the second round. He successfully defended the title four straight times before losing the belt to Quinton Jackson at UFC 71. This loss marked the end of Liddell ‘s dominance in the UFC, as he went 1-4 in his next five fights, including losing his last three fights in a row. Liddell ‘s last battle will go down as a loss of 115 first-round TKO at UFC Rich Franklin.

” I’m still thinking (on fighting in Rio). But I’m always training. This return of UFC to Brazil touched me, made me feel the wish of coming back to the Octagon. Everything has been negotiated with Dana White. Let’s wait and see. ”

Royce Gracie’s last UFC fight was a TKO loss to Matt Hughes in may of 2006. This was the only time Gracie has been finished inside the ring for his entire career ( 2 other losses came by way of corner stoppages ). Gracie has a overall record of 14-3-3 with twelve of his wins coming by tap-out.

Watch the video of Dana White in Brazil

Seth needs to be careful because we live in the same backyard and I know that sissy ice cream shop (Petruzelli owns in South Florida). No one ever approached me with any rematch with Seth and I never turned that down. That’s (expletive). That didn’t happen. If Seth signed with UFC and Dana wanted to match us up, I’d do that. I don’t like lying. I’d never turn down a rematch with anybody. It ain’t personal, but it’s (expletive). I never said no to nothing to him. I’ve been hearing that dude talking (expletive).

Petruzelli hasn’t exactly been an innocent bystander, as well. He recently dropped the following on the well-known MMA.tv UG message board.

I did have respect for you, after our fight you said I was the better fighter. There were 3 times that we could have fought after the Elite(XC) show for you to get a rematch, but you declined all 3 times. Now you go on ESPN making excuses, saying the only reason you lost was that it was sprung on you the last minute and that you can beat me with one hand behind your back!!!! You can go F yourself…maybe now that the UFC is having me back we will see for sure.