Bodog Beat

Chuck Liddell will fight Wanderlei Silva in December according to his coach. (AP Images)

After losing by split decision to Keith Jardine (13-3-1) at UFC 76: Knockout in September, rumors began to spread that Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell (20-5-0) was considering retirement.

Now, weeks after his second consecutive loss in the octagon, Liddell's coach John Hackleman denies that the former light heavyweight champ is thinking of hanging up the gloves and says he's preparing for one of the biggest fights of his career.

"He's OK physically and mentally he's disappointed," he tells fighthype.com, "but he knows he lost a close fight. He wasn't beating himself up over it. He just knows that he lost a close fight and better luck next time."

And what is next for "The Iceman"? According to Hackleman, Liddell will finally face former Pride light heavyweight champion Wanderlei Silva (31-7-1). "[It] looks like the Wanderlei fight is going to happen," he says, "December, yeah!"

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