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A bona fide star in the fight world and the mainstream public eye, alike, he has changed only in his abilities in the octagon. "You know what's crazy? He's getting older and older and he's getting better and better," says White, who previously managed Liddell and calls the "Iceman" a close friend. Nicknamed the "Iceman" by Hackleman largely for his calm and cool demeanor before fights, Liddell has been just as easy going under the spotlight. It's a spotlight that's extended to the general public, when it was previously reserved for males in the UFC's target 18-34 audience. "Back in the day, I could tell who would recognize me," Liddell says. "Now it's a 60-year-old man or a 50-year-old woman." Adds White: "Everywhere we go, he gets noticed." And everyone, whether movie stars or the average Joe, gets the same firm handshake, a smile and a conversation in which Liddell is just as interested as those who greet him. "He gives them all the same exact time and respect," says Hackleman, who recalls an impromptu post fight meeting between NBA All-Star Shaquille O‘Neal and the "Iceman," in which Liddell gave the future Hall of Famer every bit as much attention as he would any one of his fans. "Whether it's Shaq O'Neal, some fan or some bum on the street, he treats them all the same." It's likely that Liddell's everyman approach comes from his roots. All the notoriety hasn't seen him out grow any of his old friends, who he still trains with and who still keep him grounded. "They've been with me forever," Liddell says. "They've also known me long enough to tell me when I'm acting like an asshole. It's a comfort zone for me." He's showed himself to be comfortable in the limelight, too. Liddell never shuns a handshake, autograph or picture. Just as John Hackleman says, Liddell treats everyone the same, whether fans, media or celebrities, Liddell is accessible to them all. It's a fan-friendly approach White and the UFC take great pride in and something that Liddell, the organization's most-recognized star, is a symbol of. "I think a lot of sports have forgotten about this," White says. "They forget about the fans." Liddell hasn't, though. He hasn't forgotten his past, while preparing for a future unmarked by a ceiling. He's still the "Iceman," relaxed beyond belief in the waning moments before stepping out in front of thousands of fans to fight for his livelihood. "He‘s looser before his fights than any other time," Hackleman says. "I'm not really worried," Liddell says. "To tell you the truth, I'm goofing off." Of course, when the cage door to the octagon shuts, it's all business for the "Iceman." And business is booming. "I don't think he's reached his full potential," Hackleman says. It's an unbelievable notion to consider when bogged down with conventional sports wisdom. No one's at his best - and perhaps getting better - at 37. But then again, you're not supposed to begin your pro sports career at 28, which Liddell did. When you're the biggest of superstars in your respective sport, you don't have to pose for every picture or shake every fan's hand, but Liddell does. In the age of the "Iceman," the UFC has risen to at-one-time unthinkable heights. And in the unpredictable world of mixed-martial arts that has been the last three years' meteoric rise, Liddell has been the constant. If nothing else, UFC fans know when Liddell fights, they're going home happy and someone's going to sleep. Says the "Iceman": "I like to punch people." Grant Gordon is currently the Sports Editor for the Glendale News-Press, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles Times. You can contact him at
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