Tito Ortiz had defended the title five times.Liddell was the top contender whom Ortiz refused to fight on numerous occasions.Couture won a five round clinic over Ortiz and stopped Liddell in the third after beating him at his own game striking. Ortiz victims Guy Mezger Yuki Kondo Ken Shamrock Wanderlei Silva Evan Tanner Vladimir Matyushenko Liddell victims Amar Suloev Vitor Belfort Murilo Bustamante Renato Sobral Kevin Randleman Guy Mezger
The Liddell win because it was Randy's first fight at 205 which I think is important because if a weight cut would ever effect you its your first fight at a weight class. Randy dominated Chuck at Chuck's own game which is boxing and Chuck is known for his sprawl but Randy put him on his ass numerous times and finished him with a violent GNP assault.
Yes the constant throws, mounting him and pounding Tito the way he did then of course the embarrsing ass tapping. I remember in 03-04 when Randy whopped up on Belfort, Ortiz, Liddell thinking this guy could be unbeatable at this weight. Obviously we found out he was beatable but in August 2004 when Wanderlei got in the ring after the 3rd Belfort-Couture fight I went insane and for awhile it was my dream fight sadly it never came.
Would have been interesting to see him as a career light heavy. Would have a cleaner record perhaps. Double edged sword. He took the risk and did great things at heavyweight, much like Henderson did at 205 and higher EVEN though he could have been a 185 fighter.
And as a huge fan of both I loved their career paths. Alot of idiots claim Couture is extremly overatted because of 10 career losses well 7 of them came in a weight class he wasnt truely meant to be in and one of his 205 losses was the BS cut vs Vitor Belfort which he did more then avenge. I think a huge part of his greatness is the Heavyweight wins over Rizzo, Randleman, Sylvia, Gonzaga etc. Henderson may have never dominated a weight class for a significant period of time but when you think of Hendo its him being the only man to ever hold Championships in seperate weights at the same time.
You should count Liddell's early win over Pele as a significant win as well. Same Pele that handed Matt Hughes his first loss. Definitely the Liddell victory was more impressive because everyone expected Couture to lose - except me - winning me about ten bucks from my buddies.
