Chuck Liddell Claims He Was 'The Victim' Following Domestic Violence Arrest
Former UFC Champion Chuck Liddell addressed his domestic battery arrest involving his wife hours after being released from police custody.
According to officials, Liddell was arrested after police determined the fighter and his wife "have been involved in a physical altercation."
The 51-year-old former UFC star took to his Instagram to explain what happened during the alleged fight with his wife. Liddell claimed that he was "the victim" of the alleged assault and had "sustained bruising and lacerations."
He started his statement by thanking the LAPD for their professionalism during the situation.
"Last night, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies who responded were professional," he wrote. "While the information about this case will be revealed in due, course, I believe it is important to convey and clarify a few facts about the situation."
Liddell continued his claim saying he "volunteered to go in" on behalf of his wife.
"I was the victim of the incident last night at our family home, as details of the case will reveal," he added. "The deputies informed me that my wife would be arrested, as I did not respond to her assault while I sustained bruising and lacerations. I volunteered to go in her place."
The UFC legend later revealed that his family has suffered from a "mental health issue" and is pleading with the public to "respect our privacy."
"This was one of the many times I have tried to shield a family mental health issue from the public purview," he explained. "It has become painfully apparent that this cannot continue, as our private life has now reached a public breaking point. Please respect our privacy as I help to navigate our family through this difficult time."
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, police were called out to Liddell's residence in Los Angeles regarding "a family disturbance."
The sheriff's department claimed that they concluded Liddell and his wife had gotten into a "physical altercation" upon their arrival to the scene. The fighter was later "arrested for domestic battery," according to officials.
He was booked into custody at Lost Hills Sheriff's Station on a $20,000 bail before being released hours later.
Liddell, also known as "The Iceman," is one of the biggest UFC fighters in history. He debuted his first fight in 1998 and scored victories over other prominent fighters, including Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, and Wanderlei Silva. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2009.
He later decided to retire in 2010 following over a decade of fighting before returning to the cage in 2018 for a match with his old rival Ortiz whom he lost via knockout.
