Liddell not ready to quit yet

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Chuck Liddell has lost four of his last five fights -- three by knockout -- but the 39-year-old former UFC light-heavyweight champion isn’t going to retire yet.

Liddell and his trainer have a personal meeting in Las Vegas scheduled this week with UFC President Dana White where a more concrete plan could emerge, but for now, Liddell told The Times on Monday that he intends to ‘take a year off and see how I feel.’

‘Don’t count me out yet,’ Liddell said. ‘I got some stuff coming up that will allow me to take some time off, but I’ll still train and stay in shape and let my head heal from some of those shots. ... You’ve got to give it some space.’

Liddell has been knocked out by Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Rashad Evans and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua since May 2007, with the Rua loss in April causing speculation a Liddell retirement speech was coming.

‘I can’t say I dont ever want to fight again,’ Liddell said. ‘That’s hard for a guy like me to say. We’ll talk it out, and I’ll know a lot more by the end of the week.’

--Lance Pugmire