By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
August 30, 2011
Ultimate Fighting fans know Chuck Liddell as The Iceman. But since retiring last year, the 41-year-old mixed martial artist is now known as The EVP—the executive vice president of business development for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He’s also featured in the new DVD and Blu-ray release, “UFC: Bad Blood — Liddell vs. Ortiz,” which documents Liddell’s longstanding rivalry with fellow MMA superstar Tito Ortiz. The DVD is scheduled for release on Aug. 30. Liddell, who has also competed on “Dancing with the Stars,” jokes that taking a roundhouse kick to the face is nothing compared to mastering the paso doble.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. We were just in Australia and it was amazing. We went to Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast. When we were in Melbourne, they said it was like Chicago. And that seemed about right. I really do like Chicago. I’m usually not a big city person, but Chicago has always been great. Anyhow, I’d like to make it back to Australia. I haven’t been to Sydney yet and I’d like to visit there. I like Hawaii, too, and try to get there a couple times a year. I’m not really good at surfing, but I’ve got my kids started and they’re really enjoying it.
Q. Do you prefer to vacation in cold or warm weather destinations?
A. I’d say that I tend to favor warm weather places. But I’ve just started snowboarding and I’m really having a lot of fun doing that. I’m really just a 12-year-old kid if you look at my maturity level. My kids laugh at me ‘cause I’m just like them. We have a great time together. I also heard that Japan has an ice sculpture fest that I’d like to see. I speak a little bit of Japanese, just from my martial arts training growing up.
Q. What is an underrated country?
A. Canada. I love traveling up there. They have some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. It does get a little cold up there but it’s still worth visiting. I’ll be going to Toronto in a couple weeks for work and I’m really looking forward to it.
Q. What hotels stand out?
A. I like the Montage hotels. In Las Vegas, I’ve always loved the Red Rock Resort and the Palms. The W Hotel in Miami was pretty awesome as well.
Q. What are some of your favorite cities?
A. For buildings, it’s Paris. For relaxing in the sun, it’s Miami. I always have a good time there. Food-wise, I’d have to go with Paris and anywhere in Italy. I’m a big Italian food fan.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. I always bring my wife and I try to bring my family with me as much as I can. They are my must-haves. Other than that, I’m pretty easy. I do like to bring a pillow with me — one of those full-length body pillows — on any flights longer than three hours. I get some funny looks but I can sleep so much better with it.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. I’ve always heard great things about the Greek Islands and I’ve never been there. So that’s a definite must.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. When I’m on vacation, dieting is off. And if great food is around, I will eat every chance that I get. I remember being asked in Italy, “Are you going to stop eating any time soon?” Because I’d want to eat again after a couple hours. I like to try all kinds of foods and I’ll try just about anything at least once. I love spicy food. One time after I did an interview about liking hot sauce, people sent me all these bottles of ridiculously spicy bottles of hot sauce. But I don’t mind. As long as it tastes good, I’ll take another bite!
Q. Where did you eat your most memorable meal?
A. I really love food so I’ve got a lot of great meals stored away. I love spicy food like kimchi. My wife is half Vietnamese and loves it, too. So we’ll get kimchi tacos and eat those. But in Hawaii, we got octopus kimchi that was so good and so far I’ve only been able to get that dish there.
© 2011 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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