Chuck Liddell stands as the first major UFC star, a status backed by impressive numbers. On December 30, 2006, the MMA icon made pay-per-view history during UFC 66, where he defended his light heavyweight title in a rematch against Tito Ortiz. Their initial encounter took place at UFC 47 in April 2004, ending with Liddell knocking out Ortiz in the second round, despite some controversy from a temporary blackout caused by an accidental eye poke.
At UFC 66, Tito Ortiz accepted his second knockout loss to Liddell without complaint, even praising him as the best fighter in the world during the post-fight press conference after Liddell’s third-round TKO win at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Liddell’s toughness shone through, having fought with a torn MCL and suffering a tendon injury in his left hand during the bout, yet still securing victory. This event set a UFC pay-per-view record with over one million buys, earning Liddell and Ortiz a “Fight of the Night” bonus, a record that stood until 2009 when a particularly stacked card helped break it.
The two fighters faced off again 12 years after UFC 66, completing their trilogy. Liddell had retired in 2010 after a string of knockout defeats but returned unexpectedly to fight Ortiz again. Unfortunately for Liddell, this comeback ended in a first-round knockout loss. Since then, he has stayed retired, showing no inclination to return to competition. Ortiz has fought a couple more times since but hasn’t competed since a tough boxing loss to Anderson Silva in 2021.
Fan Take: This story highlights the resilience and legacy of two MMA legends whose battles helped elevate the UFC to mainstream popularity. Their rivalry not only captivated fans but also set pay-per-view milestones critical to the sport’s growth, underscoring why eras-defining fighters matter in MMA history.
