SI.com: Strange last few months for UFC. Where is the organization right now?

Liddell: It's doing really well. There are going to be growing pains. When it wasn't making money you didn't have these problems. Now that it's big business, everyone wants a piece of the pie. A lot of guys came with money, said 'I'll just throw down money and fill an arena for MMA.' It's not that simple.

SI.com: What do you make of Brock Lesnar? Sort of the "flavor of the month"?

Liddell: You know, I haven't seen him. He was a great college wrestler and then a WWE guy. If he thinks he can come in as a college wrestler and win, it isn't going to happen. But sounds as though, from his interview, like he's been doing the cross-training, the jiu-jitsu. He's athletic, big, a good wrestler. He could be dangerous. But you know, a lot of habits from wrestling don't always transfer over.

SI.com: I think a lot of people new to UFC might not realize it, but Dana White [now the organization's colorful CEO] was once your manager. What was it like having him as your boss?

Liddell: Yeah, a buddy of mine said to Dana, 'If you want to manage a fighter who's going to be good, manage Chuck.' Dana was with Tito at the time. He was a go-getter, like he is now. He knew, as a manager, that he loved the sport, but they were running it wrong. That's when he talked Lorenzo [Ferttita] into buying it.

SI.com: If you weren't a fighter, what would you be?

Liddell: Something in business. I was an accounting major in college. [Cal Poly -- San Luis Obispo.]

SI.com: Do you do your own taxes?

Liddell: Nah, we only had two tax classes - one personal, one business.

SI.com: What was the best scene from the reality show that didn't make it to air?

Liddell: Honestly, I've only watched it twice. I hate watching myself on TV. Don't like watching myself talk. I've only watched myself fight because I have to scout myself. Never liked it. People say, 'You're on TV!' and I leave the room. It's just weird.

SI.com: What's the worst you've been hurt?

Liddell: I was hurt more in five years of college wrestling than in 15 years of fighting.

SI.com: Worst hurt you've put on someone?

Liddell: Broke a guy's orbital bones punching.

SI.com: Any rule changes you want to see?

Liddell: Not really. I wouldn't mind [allowing] knees to the head when the fighter's on the ground.

SI.com: Been awhile since that was allowed.

Liddell: Yeah, but I fought in Brazil where it was basically no biting, no eye gouging, no grabbing the fence. Period.

SI.com: Strikes to the groin?

Liddell: Strikes to the groin, head butts, just about anything.

SI.com: Besides London, when was the last time you were in a fight outside a steel Octagon?

Liddell: You know, I've had guys take swings at me. You know what I do? I [kid] you not: I grab their arm, I put my arm around them, pull them up to the bar. I say, 'I'm going to buy you a shot. We're going to relax. I'm going to give you my number. You can call me tomorrow if you really still want to fight. We cool? I'm going to let go of your arm now. Take another swing and I'm gonna drop you. Cool?' By the next day hopefully he's like, 'I don't think I should [mess] with him.'

Look at me. I don't look too nice. The guys who get into trouble are the smaller fighters. Some guy sees them and says, 'Aw I don't think he's all that tough.'

SI.com: How are you dealing with the fame otherwise.

Liddell: People are polite. I don't mind talking to people, signing autographs, taking photos. The fame is the cost of getting to do what I love for a living. You know, my rule is that there's a time and place. I'm chasing my daughter and my son around a jungle. 'Hey can I get an autograph?' I'm like, 'When I'm done. Let me chase my kids around. Am I an a------ because I want to chase my kids around?'

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