Sherdog’s Top 10: Moments When Titles Changed Hands

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7. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture
UFC 52 “Couture vs. Liddell 2”
April 16, 2005 | Las Vegas

Most expected Liddell to walk through “The Natural” in their first meeting at UFC 43 in 2003, but Couture sprang the upset and stopped the mohawked Californian in the third round. Liddell secured his rematch following a win over Alistair Overeem, a loss to Quinton Jackson and back-to-back victories against Tito Ortiz and Vernon White. Ahead of their second encounter at UFC 52, many a pundit thought Couture might replicate what he had done to Liddell two years prior.

Liddell was a different fighter the second time around, as he shut down Couture’s takedown game and did not allow him to fire off as many crisp combinations. Couture had a more difficult time controlling the pace against the sharper Liddell. Even so, “The Natural” went right after his challenger and opted for a brawl. Liddell buzzed his rival with a sweeping counter left hook, stepped back as they continued to swing and leveled Couture with a crushing right hand. “The Iceman” jumped all over his fallen adversary, who was on his side and unable to recover. He then pounded away and forced referee John McCarthy to rescue Couture from further abuse, the MGM Grand Garden Arena exploding into a frenzy. With that, the Liddell Era had begun in spectacular fashion.

“The Iceman” went on to become the UFC’s most recognizable and bankable star. He successfully defended the light heavyweight championship four times, all by knockout, before surrendering the gold to Jackson in May 2007.

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