During a recent appearance on the Creators Inc. Podcast, UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell addressed online speculation about his cognitive health, clarified what is actually behind his changed voice, and spoke openly about his use of peptides for physical recovery.
The topic came up after the host noted that Liddell, now 56 and weighing 240 pounds (approximately 109 kg), appeared sharp and articulate compared to many other combat sports veterans of a similar age. That observation led Liddell to discuss recent claims online suggesting he may be suffering from CTE.
“It’s funny now because my kid pulled up some stuff,” Liddell said. “It was like saying I had CTE, showing a 2003 interview and a fig ht interview and then a 2026 interview.”
According to Liddell, critics are focusing on the change in his voice rather than what he is actually saying.
“But the thing is, I damaged my throat, my vocal cords. My voice has changed,” he explained. “They’re using the change of my voice, not what I’m saying.”
Liddell admitted he initially expected the clips to show him making a mistake or struggling to remember something.
“I thought maybe they caught me forgetting a name or doing something,” he said. “But I watched it because my son brought it up and pulled it up. I’m completely lucid. That was an intelligent comment I was making. I was commenting on something.”
He then traced the change in his voice to a medical procedure rather than any neurological issue.
“It was from surgery,” Liddell said. “They go through your neck and throat.”
After seeking professional help, he learned one of his vocal cords had been damaged.
“They said when I went to a speech coach, one of my vocal cords was damaged,” he explained. “It gets tired and it just changes my voice.”
As a result, speaking now requires more conscious effort.
“I have to be more mindful of how I speak. It’s just a little more thought to it,” Liddell said. “It just sounds different no matter what. Even if I talk slow and try to be real clear for people, it’s still different than it was.”
