Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell was in rehab for a drug addiction.

That’s according to former Liddell opponent and ex-UFC fighter Vernon “Tiger” White in an interview with BloodyKnux.com.

From the Lion’s Den fighter himself:

I can’t badmouth Chuck. He just came off a hard loss. Chuck just got out of rehab, but I do have to say it was stupid for him to come out of rehab and fight Quinton the way he fought him. He should have fought a smarter fight. Quinton’s my boy; I love you, and hold that belt forever.

Interesting to note that White doesn’t want to badmouth Chuck yet nonchalantly calls him a drug addict in the same thought.

Perhaps White is still bitter about his loss to Liddell back at UFC 49 where he accuses Chuck of using his eye socket for a bowling ball.

White was forced to have reconstructive surgery following his loss to Liddell to repair the orbital bone that he claims was “blown out” by an errant finger courtesy of The Iceman.

Later in the interview White tries to distance himself from the quote with the tried-and-true “I heard it from a friend.”

I’d heard he’d been in drug rehab for an addiction and got back in the cage too soon…I heard it from a close friend, so maybe I shouldn’t have commented on it. After seeing him nod off on that talk show it seems very reliable. His publicist should be shot for letting him in public in that condition.

Whether or not there is any validity to this claim is uncertain. Of course anything is possible, but I find it unlikely the UFC could keep a stint in rehab quiet for this long, especially with a fighter as popular as Liddell.

It will be interesting to see how the Liddell camp responds to this latest attack, if they choose to respond at all.

Liddell has always been good at fighting defensively. He may need that skill now more than ever.

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June 10th, 2007     60 Comments

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Comment by TeNDoLLaTriP
2007-06-10 23:29:50

That explains a lot of things

 
Comment by Stafo
2007-06-10 23:35:03

Thhis is no secret. I hate to say it but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Liddell got issues with the drugs and the liquor. I aint hating. if you can handle it all poweer to ya

 
Comment by tha spida
2007-06-10 23:38:11

what was the drug? cocaine? when was he in rehab? how close was it with his fight with rampage?

 
Comment by Tommy
2007-06-10 23:57:30

Vernon is just a hater looking for 5 more minutes. I guess with a record of 25-30 he is trying anything he can. Maybe he should try whatever Chuck was on. Not only that this seems like a hard sought out rumor. Where’s the collaborative evidence? I think he may have been caught up but where is the proof? Moreover I believe many people a few days ago told Chuck fans to stop making excuses that Chuck was fine and in great shape. That if Chuck could accept it so should we. Now he was a junkie in rehab up to the fight. Even him losing is not enough to some people. Again damned if you do damned if you don’t.

 
Comment by Gondolli
2007-06-11 00:29:00

that would sure explain this….

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ct_-j1wKRwI

 
Comment by Thor1982
2007-06-11 00:37:23

What was he in rehab for what drug? If he had a drug problem wouldnt he be suspended or something or was he in rehab for like 3 months before the fight. And vernon white isnt a chuck fan so why Tommy would he spread the rumor other than to badmouth chuck. So you saying Didnt alot of people tell chuck fans to stop making excuses that if chuck can accept it so can we doesnt make any sense to me. This seems steeped in BS to me and i dont even care that Chuck lost. Yet Vernon is trying to say Liddell was stupid for fighting right out of rehab and fighting the way he did. Vernon got his face broken by Liddell now his friend page has beaten chuck so he is just trying to run chucks name through the Mud. Just cuz a guy goes and has some drinks 1 or 2 or even 3 or 4 times a week dont make him a drug addict. Thats a pretty big leap in accusations from club scene to methamphetamine.

 
Comment by david
2007-06-11 00:47:31

what a ridiculous and outrageous claim — fabricating a story that’s already been disproven by post-fight drug tests. vernon white just sank to a new low — lower than anyone i could think of. this is borderline slander.

 
Comment by MoreThanUFC
2007-06-11 00:56:31

[quote post="2383"]fabricating a story that’s already been disproven by post-fight drug tests[/quote]
Huh?
Anyway.
This rumor had been floating around since right after the Taxas talk show. Dana said in an interview that he was flying out see Chuck to make sure he got the help he needed. That is all that was said.
However, NO ONE could get ahold of him for around two weeks. No calls, no interviews, etc.
Was he sick? Was he in rehab? Who knows. Still gave him 6 weeks to train for QRJ.
Like all fighters coming off losses, the fight afterward tells the tale of the fight before. We’ll know when he fights Wandy where he’s at in his career.

 
Comment by Montblanc
2007-06-11 01:01:38

Chuck was caught on camera with some strippers now this? What’s next for chuck?

 
Comment by Ben
2007-06-11 01:09:46

Vernon has a big ass nose

 
Comment by derreck
2007-06-11 01:11:34

Have a buddy from San Luis used to train in John Hacklemen or whatever chucks trainer is and claims thats what happened to chuck last time he lost a few to randy and then to rampage is he was on the coke. Like the guy said up above this is no secret amongst peeps that know…

 
Comment by c-war
2007-06-11 01:14:29

I work at a bar, Im not sure about the drugs but I know an alcoholic when I see one. Im not saying thats why he lost but it’s definitely not helping him any. Like MTU said the next fight will tell the tale.

 
Comment by Thor1982
2007-06-11 01:23:26

Im not saying people dont have friends that hear or see things. But this i got a buddy or a friend that seen this heard this said this or knows such and such guy is crazy. I aint saying it cant be true but i could stir some sh*t up too just by making up rumors or spreading the already existing ones. I dont know that its true i have my doubts but in the end i dont really care. It annoys me that it cant be proven or disproven.

 
Comment by Thor1982
2007-06-11 01:26:46

And how the hell do you train in John Hacklemen must get pretty cramped in there. Just joking derreck i know what ya mean.

 
Comment by russ
2007-06-11 02:45:57

Fuckin douchebag… If he doesn’t want to bad mouth someone here’s what he should have done = STFU.

 
Comment by Brian
2007-06-11 03:10:43

If he was addicted to drugs…he should stay on them since his first loss came when he was clean.
Honestly, if I were Chuck and Vernon is making this up…I would sue him for slander/libel/defamation of character.

 
Comment by Woody
2007-06-11 03:37:41

UFC 71 fighters pass drug testing
By MMAFighting.com on June 8, 2007

All six UFC 71 fighters selected to be tested for illegal substances, have passed, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The fighters tested were: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Josh Burkman, Karo Parisyan, Alan Belcher and Sean Salmon.

The previous time UFC fighters were tested was during UFC Fight Night on April 5, which saw Melvin Guillard test positive for cocaine.

Drug testing was not administered for UFC 69 (Texas) and UFC 70 (UK).

so chuck was probably in rehab instead of training or someone pissed for him

 
Comment by mcanena
2007-06-11 05:39:21

who gives a f**k if Chuck likes to go out and party,I do every weekend and I train all week and I am in outstanding shape,I dont think hes a drug addict at all,mabey resently hes been enjoying his hard earned cash a little too much and who can blame him.It sounds to me that some of you guys are real stay at homes who dont get out.Just coz someone likes too party dosnt make them an addict.

 
Comment by RAwb
2007-06-11 06:00:28

If anything chcuk has pain kilelr addictions as was sated and proven in the past..hoelese would a fighter deala nd cope with pain quickly to get in the cage and a make a huge payday regarless of the outcome…If he was on coke he would be supended liek gullard and it woudl rock the ufc… so most likely its a pain kilelr addiction if anyhting

Rawb

 
Comment by longislandguy
2007-06-11 06:54:46

wat disrespect.. should keep his mouth shut on that

 
Comment by Schiro
2007-06-11 07:18:20

Its well known that Chuck stays up until at least 2 am every night!

I watched the TapouT show last night on Verus, and they were featuring the 135 pounder who lives with chuck, and does all of his “bitch-work.”

Anyway, everytime Chuck was on camera he was eating. They also showed a typical Lidddell party. I think it was St. Paddy’s day, but the ratio was favorable, there was even a strippers pole, nice.

Someone saying, “Oh I train and party every weekend, you all must stay home all the time, ehh.”

Dude, wake the F up, Liddell is 37 not 27, his body may have been able to handle it 10 years ago, but Liddell is a geezer, he needs to wake up an cease partying every night, thats if he ever weants to win again, because the UFC 205 division is no longer a joke!

 
Comment by YouTapped
2007-06-11 07:22:24

[quote comment="77013"]who gives a f**k if Chuck likes to go out and party,I do every weekend and I train all week and I am in outstanding shape[/quote]

Cool – when’s your next fight in the UFC? Frankly, unless you are a MMA fighter signed under any promotion known to mankind, no one cares if you can have such a life style without side effects. Once you are a professional athlete things change and you have a bigger responsibility towards your body as well as mind.

As for post-fight drug tests: the NSAC tests urine samples. Those can be switched/forged or he simply is not a regular user, so his body does not produce too much metabotine and within 4-5 weeks his urine is clear. The NSAC does not test specifically for cocaine, its a somewhat generic test that shows lots of possible drug indicators but with a slightly less accuracy. If you really want to know if he has taken cocaine or not you’d need a hair sample, as the traces remain in your hair for at least 3 months up to a couple of years (if you are an addict and consume regulary).

 
Comment by RenzoHatfield
2007-06-11 07:24:21

[quote comment="77013"]who gives a f**k if Chuck likes to go out and party,I do every weekend and I train all week and I am in outstanding shape,I dont think hes a drug addict at all,mabey resently hes been enjoying his hard earned cash a little too much and who can blame him.It sounds to me that some of you guys are real stay at homes who dont get out.Just coz someone likes too party dosnt make them an addict.[/quote]

ragging on someone who does coke doesn’t make one a stay-at-home, it makes them an individual concerned about the safety of someone else. maybe some people are disappointed that a person who gets paid for their ability to perform physically daunting tasks like fighting are engaging in self-destructive activities.

deal with your everyday problems and have fun like the rest of us, train your ass off all week and have a beer or two on the weekend.

 
Comment by Kevin Kelly
2007-06-11 07:36:44

LOL Cocaine’s a hell of a drug

-Rick James

 
Comment by Dave
2007-06-11 08:07:41

[quote post="2383"]Liddell is 37 not 27, his body may have been able to handle it 10 years ago, but Liddell is a geezer[/quote]
Hey take it easy on the “geezer” thing there! I resemble that remark :P

 
Comment by PhilQNY
2007-06-11 08:12:53

Chuck may of been or not?? Who knows? if he was I’m not going to judge him.

 
Comment by Schiro
2007-06-11 08:14:42

My bad dave, 37 isn’t a geezer, just starting to get up there in the fight game, thats all.

 
Comment by St. Amour
2007-06-11 08:44:01

This Chucklands role model i hate to say it but chuck is a pot head with a mohack.

 
Comment by Freddy
2007-06-11 09:19:43

If anybody is surprised to hear that the “Rock Star” may be using Coke, wake up. But there is a big difference from a casual user to an addict. That little video clip that Gondolli posted showed a guy, and I don’t care who the guy is, but that guy was on something. The guy just happens to be Chuck.

The thing is, it’s Chuck’s problem to deal with. He’ll be dealing with it long after he’s fought his last fight in MMA. I wouldn’t be to hard on Vernon White, the guy is probably right.

 
Comment by Jorgito
2007-06-11 09:23:27

When did vernon White become such a reliable source?

 
Comment by Jesse Holland
2007-06-11 10:24:13

[quote comment="76996"]And how the hell do you train in John Hacklemen must get pretty cramped in there.[/quote]

Goddamn this had me laughing my ass off…

 
Comment by Stafo
2007-06-11 10:41:36

[quote comment="76982"][quote post="2383"]fabricating a story that’s already been disproven by post-fight drug tests[/quote]
Huh?
Anyway.
This rumor had been floating around since right after the Taxas talk show. Dana said in an interview that he was flying out see Chuck to make sure he got the help he needed. That is all that was said.
However, NO ONE could get ahold of him for around two weeks. No calls, no interviews, etc.
Was he sick? Was he in rehab? Who knows. Still gave him 6 weeks to train for QRJ.
Like all fighters coming off losses, the fight afterward tells the tale of the fight before. We’ll know when he fights Wandy where he’s at in his career.[/quote]
Agree MTU the Wandy fight will make or break a Liddell comeback, especially with all the depth in 205. The dude just parties too much for being a professional fighter who must care for his body and the rigorous training it goes through. Here’s your after school program line….Don’t do drugs. Especially when your careers starting to take a blast off.

 
Comment by Luppers
2007-06-11 10:44:26

The NSGC releases all info on drugs that were found in anyone’s system… Lots and LOTS of fighters come back with several pain killers (Bas Rutten being one of the bigger stars that cant live without painkillers.) Id be leaning towards that…. Coke makes you a very skitzy person, I dont see that happening to Chuck often. But I could see Alcohol, and pain killers being a problem for anyone in the UFC, or any other MMA organization. Pill poppers are REALLY common in sports.

 
Comment by Freddy
2007-06-11 11:07:37

This is not a Coked out guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xwYOFIWlg8

Nyquil my ass.

Luppers makes a good point. As I said earlier, there is a difference between a user and an abuser. Breaking bones, training injuries, injuries during fights, it can all add up to a lot of pain in a lot of places. Bas Rutten and Liddell have something in common, they’ve both been fighting for a long time. Even the local Judo instructor has a chronic knee injury from doing Judo for years, and he’s not a pro fighter.

 
Comment by whatthef
2007-06-11 11:37:18

I was wondering where this idiot has been….But if Chuck broke his face then that explains some things…..I love it how both he, and Tito both KO victims of him still talk shit…What happened to the days where when you get wooped by somebody…you show them some respect and keep you mouth zipped??

 
Comment by Luppers
2007-06-11 11:51:12

[quote comment="77118"]I was wondering where this idiot has been….But if Chuck broke his face then that explains some things…..I love it how both he, and Tito both KO victims of him still talk shit…What happened to the days where when you get wooped by somebody…you show them some respect and keep you mouth zipped??[/quote]
Tiger fights in the IFL… cant remember the team.

 
Comment by mcanena
2007-06-11 12:02:30

[quote comment="77029"][quote comment="77013"]who gives a f**k if Chuck likes to go out and party,I do every weekend and I train all week and I am in outstanding shape[/quote]

Cool – when’s your next fight in the UFC? Frankly, unless you are a MMA fighter signed under any promotion known to mankind, no one cares if you can have such a life style without side effects. Once you are a professional athlete things change and you have a bigger responsibility towards your body as well as mind.

As for post-fight drug tests: the NSAC tests urine samples. Those can be switched/forged or he simply is not a regular user, so his body does not produce too much metabotine and within 4-5 weeks his urine is clear. The NSAC does not test specifically for cocaine, its a somewhat generic test that shows lots of possible drug indicators but with a slightly less accuracy. If you really want to know if he has taken cocaine or not you’d need a hair sample, as the traces remain in your hair for at least 3 months up to a couple of years (if you are an addict and consume regulary).[/quote]

did I say any thing about me fighting in the UFC NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I simply said that I go out on a weekend I said nothing about drugs or even alcohol.I drink on a weekend and I train all week.If Chuck likes a drink when he is not training for a fight then so what,most fighters do.
This Vernon White guy is a joke trying to make excuses about why Chuck beat him.Chuck smashed his face in full stop.What do you think would break first,finger or cheek bone?

 
Comment by mcanena
2007-06-11 12:08:00

And how comes you all think hes on coke on that vid,I dont think he is,If you do a line of coke the buzz only lasts about half an hour,he had been sittin there for far longer than that and he wasnt gonna sit n do lines where he was sittin with everyone watchin him.
If you could see your own face when your watching a fight that your into it would probably suprise you how it looks.

 
Comment by j
2007-06-11 12:13:15

[quote comment="76982"][quote post="2383"]fabricating a story that’s already been disproven by post-fight drug tests[/quote]
Huh?
Anyway.
This rumor had been floating around since right after the Taxas talk show. Dana said in an interview that he was flying out see Chuck to make sure he got the help he needed. That is all that was said.
However, NO ONE could get ahold of him for around two weeks. No calls, no interviews, etc.
Was he sick? Was he in rehab? Who knows. Still gave him 6 weeks to train for QRJ.
Like all fighters coming off losses, the fight afterward tells the tale of the fight before. We’ll know when he fights Wandy where he’s at in his career.[/quote]

That’s not all that was said. It was said that he had pneumonia, and was a result of alot of nyquil and lack of sleep, whether true or not. Otherwise, I believe he was drug tested shortly thereafter because of these suspicons, which came back ‘clean’ as a result.

 
Comment by Jesse Holland
2007-06-11 12:14:37

[quote comment="77119"][quote comment="77118"]I was wondering where this idiot has been….But if Chuck broke his face then that explains some things…..I love it how both he, and Tito both KO victims of him still talk shit…What happened to the days where when you get wooped by somebody…you show them some respect and keep you mouth zipped??[/quote]
Tiger fights in the IFL… cant remember the team.[/quote]

The Lions – named after the Lion’s Den with Papa Shammy as head coach.

 
Comment by BISBINGisaMIDDLEweight..
2007-06-11 12:20:57

Hell … I bet Chucks after partys are always the best in Vegas !

 
Comment by LUKE
2007-06-11 12:34:25

[quote comment="77005"]If he was addicted to drugs…he should stay on them since his first loss came when he was clean.
Honestly, if I were Chuck and Vernon is making this up…I would sue him for slander/libel/defamation of character.[/quote]

witch Tigre record of 25-30, he probably don’t have anything Chuck wants to sue 4.

 
Comment by Jo
2007-06-11 12:56:05

With all the speculation of use of drugs. If anything the drug tests should show if he is clean or not. He hasn’t been caught with any drugs in his system but does any one know if they test each and very fighter?
Now saying that, we have seen videos of Chuck all fkd up on sleep meds, this is something that powder noses usually use to try to get some sleep…or come down. YouTube has a couple of good videos. Got to love being under the microscope.
Malvin got busted powdering up or trying to party like a “rock star”

 
Comment by Luppers
2007-06-11 13:57:48

[quote comment="77127"][quote comment="77119"][quote comment="77118"]I was wondering where this idiot has been….But if Chuck broke his face then that explains some things…..I love it how both he, and Tito both KO victims of him still talk shit…What happened to the days where when you get wooped by somebody…you show them some respect and keep you mouth zipped??[/quote]
Tiger fights in the IFL… cant remember the team.[/quote]

The Lions – named after the Lion’s Den with Papa Shammy as head coach.[/quote]
Trying to show me up?
yeah.. you’re right. Just slipped my mind.
Kinda funny how the IFL is loading up with ex-UFC/Pride guys. Neer, White… etc.

 
Comment by The Anomaly
2007-06-11 18:32:38

[quote comment="76990"]Have a buddy from San Luis used to train in John Hacklemen or whatever chucks trainer is and claims thats what happened to chuck last time he lost a few to randy and then to rampage is he was on the coke. Like the guy said up above this is no secret amongst peeps that know…[/quote]

Chuck is my best friend and I know this is not true.

 
Comment by BLOodyMEss
2007-06-11 19:04:58

[quote comment="77253"][quote comment="76990"]Have a buddy from San Luis used to train in John Hacklemen or whatever chucks trainer is and claims thats what happened to chuck last time he lost a few to randy and then to rampage is he was on the coke. Like the guy said up above this is no secret amongst peeps that know…[/quote]

Chuck is my best friend and I know this is not true.[/quote]

than ask him what he thinks about the accusation.

 
Comment by gvoll
2007-06-11 19:35:33

i love chuck as a fighter, but …it is no ones business if he did..under anonimity ,people should be more respectful..if vernon white respects chuck the “secret” or problem should of never been revealed …thus vernon you are an low dispicable spineless loser a backstabber shame on u fer bringin it up …p.s. if chuck is sick [over the edge]in laymans terms we should support his decision to battle his problem ,[if it is even true]and wish the ice man well and speedy recovery ..along any lines
good luck chuck and fuck off vernon

 
Comment by gvoll
2007-06-11 19:38:45

i thought john hackleman was chucks best freind and alan berentin too?who are you bloody mess ?and do u know alan from canada?

 
Comment by gvoll
2007-06-11 22:49:28

u know ,i had to come back to the forum arent ALL fighters checked tested and looked over?how can he get away with that …im putting a check in the[ not in rehab ]column,chuck may party a bit yeah,but he aint a crack head…chuck you are still a great fighter come back soon and shut the haters up white vs lidell ufc75 its on!!!!!!!!

 
Comment by BLOodyMEss
2007-06-12 00:13:57

Vernon was probably Chucks dealer. thats how he knows.

 
Comment by mcanena
2007-06-12 06:04:29

Chuck is not on coke on that vid,if he is on something it is definitly not coke!

 
Comment by jason bang
2007-06-12 07:16:59

How long dose said drug stay in your blood? You’d think it would be found out at the drug test.

 
Comment by MrFye
2007-06-12 07:40:00

mcanena, Why do you say it isn’t coke? It sure looks like it to me. The only thing missing is him grinding his teeth.

 
Comment by ChuckLand
2007-06-12 14:04:06

[quote comment="77062"]This Chucklands role model i hate to say it but chuck is a pot head with a mohack.[/quote]

dont hate you know how we roll!!! woof!!!

 
Comment by gvoll
2007-06-12 23:12:33

i wanna know who this guy is thatsaid hes chucks best freind?[bloodymess?]
wouldnt u be in his corner everytime?

 
Comment by IceFan
2007-07-01 09:11:28

[quote comment="77753"]i wanna know who this guy is thatsaid hes chucks best freind?[bloodymess?]
wouldnt u be in his corner everytime?[/quote]

How do you know he isnt LOL.

 
Comment by IceFan
2007-07-01 09:19:20

[quote comment="77062"]This Chucklands role model i hate to say it but chuck is a pot head with a mohack.[/quote]

WTF Chuck was on sleeping pills not pot, I dont get it melvin guillard does coke and nobody has heard of it Chuck takes a few pills and there you are posting loads of S*IT about him when you dont even know what happened. He got tested after he was on that show to promote 300 and it came up negative, he was proberbly F*CKIN exhausted cause he was training for his fight with QRJ and promoting 300 and clubbing every day. If you think he a F*CKING pothead why dont you say it to his face you PUSSY.

 
Comment by jel
2007-09-04 02:29:24

i think vernon “the pussy” white is just looking for another pay day along with another good beating by talking shit about someone he could never amount to being. if chuck’s doing anything it’s probably pain killers and some drinking which i could understand. no big deal for a fighter i don’t think. quit the witch hunt.

 
Comment by Gomez
2008-11-15 13:39:16

Good to rehab from that,and it makes them an individual concerned about the safety of someone else. maybe some people are disappointed that a person who gets paid for their ability to perform physically daunting tasks like fighting are engaging in self-destructive activities.
—————–
Gomez
north dakota drug rehab

 
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