"I want to thank Frank [Fertitta], Lorenzo [Fertitta] and Dana [White] for everything they've done for me over the years and for the sport. Most of all, I want to thank my fans, my family. I love this sport and I'm excited going into a new stage in my life and keep promoting the best sport in the world and the sport I love. They're giving me the opportunity again to keep promoting and keep doing stuff now that I'm retired." -Chuck Liddell

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell announces his retirement from the sport of MMA. He did so along with former manager and longtime friend, UFC president Dana White at a press conference to promote UFC 125.

White also announced that Liddell has accepted an executive position with the company and will take over as the UFC executive vice president of business development - a position that will enable Liddell to utilize his enormous popularity to help promote the UFC brand and the sport of MMA as a whole. 

The 41-year-old surefire Hall-of-Famer, Liddell, retires with a 21-8 record and enjoyed almost unparalleled popularity during his time spent in the UFC.

He debuted with the organization at UFC 17 May of 1998 earning a unanimous decision victory over Noe Hernandez. He went on to capture the light-heavyweight title at UFC 52 in April of 2005 and defended the title four times against Jeremy Horn, Randy Couture, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, and Tito Ortiz, before finally being stopped by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 71 in May of 2007.

Liddell, 37-years old at the time, went on to loss four of his next five fights signalling the end of his storied career and the closing of an exciting chapter in MMA history.