
Chuck Liddell remains one of the most iconic figures in UFC history after building a legendary career as former light heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee.
The American star defended his belt four times and helped transform MMA into mainstream entertainment during the early years of the organisation’s explosive growth.
However, Liddell also belonged to a different era of the sport, when training habits and fight week preparation looked far less strict than they do today.
Former UFC champion Glover Teixeira recently discussed Carlos Prates’ personality and remembered how unusual some old-school MMA fighters behaved during fight week preparations.
Prates became known among fans because of his smoking and partying habits outside training camp, which reminded Teixeira about Liddell’s legendary approach before major fights.
“Chuck Liddell would lose weight at the nightclub. We’d all go out to the nightclub the week of the fight,” Teixeira explained on the Overdogs Brasil podcast.
“He’d drink about five energy drinks, dance, and enjoy his music until 4am. He’d say, ‘I don’t like to go to bed early, because otherwise I’ll be sleepy during the fight.’”
The story quickly caught attention because such habits became rarer for elite UFC contenders competing at the highest level in the modern era.
Despite the similarities Teixeira mentioned, both Liddell and Prates are viewed as unusual exceptions because of the skill level they consistently showed inside the cage.
Prates recently explained that he enjoys partying outside training camp but remains fully disciplined whenever he officially begins preparations for upcoming UFC fights.
His victory against Jack Della Maddalena last weekend reinforced the belief that he arrived completely focused and physically prepared despite criticism surrounding his lifestyle.
The Brazilian contender also repeatedly warned younger fighters not to copy his habits, especially children dreaming about eventually becoming professional MMA athletes.
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