Chuck Liddell releases statement on domestic battery arrest, claims he was the victim

Chuck Liddell has released a statement addressing his arrest for domestic battery.

The UFC Hall of Fame member was arrested early Monday morning at his home in Hidden Hills, Calif., when Lost Hills deputies responded to a call regarding a family disturbance. Liddell, 51, was arrested after the deputies determined that there was a physical altercation between he and his wife. He was booked into Lost Hills Sheriff Station on a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery with bail set at $20,000.

On Monday evening, a statement was released on Liddell’s Instagram in which he claims he was actually the victim of the alleged incident. He also claims that he volunteered to go with the deputies in his wife’s place and that the incident stemmed from an existing “family mental health issue.”

“I was the victim of the incident last night at our family home, as details of the case will reveal” the statement reads. “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.

“This was one of the many times I have tried to shield a family mental health issue from the public purview. It has become painfully apparent that this cannot continue, as our private life has now reached a public breaking point.”

Liddell did not elaborate further on the details of the case or the family mental health issue, asking only that others respect their privacy at this time.

He is scheduled to appear in Van Nuys Court in Los Angeles this Wednesday.

See Liddell’s full statement below:

Last night the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies who responded were professional. While the information about his case will be revealed in due course, I believe it is important to convey and clarify a few facts about the situation.

I was the victim of the incident last night at our family him, as details of the case will reveal. 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.

This was one of the many times I have tried to shield a family mental health issue from the public purview. 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.