Coach would let Chuck Liddell make a comeback, but only against the right opponent

Chuck Liddell is in incredible shape. No, really. Despite the fact that he’s been retired for years, the light heavyweight legend is absolutely rippling with muscle. In fact, it’s possible that he looks better than he did for much of his fighting career. All the proof you need of this claim can be found in one of Liddell’s recent Instagram posts, which shows him decked out in fight gear, flaunting a pretty mean six-pack.

See this post below.

Not bad for a 47-year-old man.

Liddell’s incredible physique immediately generated buzz about a potential comeback. And while this might not be the best idea for a fighter of his age, his long-time coach John Hackleman recently suggested it would be possible – but only if the payday and the opponent were right.

“Just like when they first wanted him to quit and he wanted to keep fighting, everybody was thinking I was trying to push him to keep fighting, which isn’t true,” Hackleman said on the latest episode of the Anik and Florian Podcast (via MMAFighting.com). “But like I always said, it’s whatever is in his heart. 3 million bucks? Who is gonna tell someone, ‘No, I’m not gonna allow you to make $3 million, which is more than most people make in three lifetimes.’

“It would all depend upon – this sounds so bad. Seriously, the people who know me know what a terrible mother hen I am when it comes to matching my fighters, but it would depend on the match. It would all depend on the match. I’m not gonna name who I would let him fight – well, it’s not up to me to let him fight or not – but who I would okay and who I wouldn’t.”

“But even $3 million, I don’t think that would be enough to put his life at risk and his legacy at risk. Because his legacy, not only for his own self-esteem but his legacy for his future earnings as well, could be worth a hell of a lot more than $3 million and tarnishing it to a certain degree, that might not be worth it. So it would all depend on the opponent.”

Given Vitor Belfort’s recent talk of a “legend’s league,” and Bellator MMA’s proven record of pitting aging legends against each other, do you think it’s possible Chuck Liddell returns to the cage?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/2/2017.