Dana White: I Won't Let Chuck Liddell Fight in UFC Because 'I Love Him'

Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz have been lobbying for a UFC fight for weeks -- but Dana White says there ain't a chance in hell Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 is happening inside the Octagon.

And it's all because Dana cares too much about Chuck.

"No, I couldn't do that fight," Dana told TMZ Sports earlier this week.

"I love Chuck Liddell. I love him. And as a friend, I don't think he should fight."

We told Dana about Chuck's claim that he could be cleared by UFC doctors -- and, while White didn't flat-out deny it, he says the Iceman's age is a red flag.

"Chuck's almost 50 years old ... 50-year-old's shouldn't be fighting."