Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell's long-time friend and trainer John Hackleman has left doors open for Iceman himself to decide whether he wants to get retired or not.

 

After suffering his third knockout loss in a row despite looking better than he has in years, Hackleman still will not tell Liddell to hang up the gloves but he recently said that he really hopes that “The Iceman” will.
 
“You can’t make someone quit,” Hackleman said. “But definitely when I looked down at him in the cage, my stomach … it just didn’t feel good.”

 
Liddell himself has made no official announcement as to what his plans are next but UFC President Dana White told media following Liddell’s UFC 115 loss to Rich Franklin that “The Iceman” is definitely done competing.
 
“I don’t think there’s too much to talk about,” Hackleman said. “I think we both know what he’s going to do. I won’t speak for him like Dana White did. I’ll just say I’d rather he not do it anymore,” he added.
 
Like a true friend and coach though, Hackleman said that he will stay by the California Kempo stylist’s side, the Iceman, no matter what he decides.
 
“If he’s gotta do it I’d rather be there looking after him than someone else,” he said. “I don’t think it will come to that. I think he’s good right now. I think he’s in a good place and obviously wishes he won. But he’s a very successful guy that’s accomplished a lot in and out of the cage, and he doesn’t really need this anymore in any way. I don’t think he has anything to prove.”