Chuck Liddell emerged as the UFC’s first genuine superstar, and statistics strongly confirm that legacy. The American knockout artist etched his name into pay-per-view history on December 30, 2006. That night marked a turning point for the organization’s commercial rise.
The UFC placed light heavyweight gold on the line when Liddell met Tito Ortiz again at UFC 66. The rematch served as the main event and attracted massive worldwide attention.
A rivalry that shaped an era
Liddell and Ortiz first faced each other at UFC 47 in April 2004. Liddell stopped the fight with a second-round knockout finish. The contest carried controversy after an accidental eye poke temporarily impaired his vision. Liddell later explained he briefly saw nothing but darkness. Despite the scare, he regained control and finished decisively. The result intensified their rivalry and demanded a sequel.
Liddell fights through pain and dominates again
Ortiz raised no objections after suffering another loss to Liddell at UFC 66. He absorbed a third-round technical knockout defeat inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ortiz later described his longtime rival as the world’s best fighter during the post-fight press conference. His remarks reflected the one-sided nature of the bout.
Liddell’s victory gained greater weight once details of his injuries surfaced. He entered the fight with a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee. During the contest, he dislocated a tendon in the middle finger of his left hand. Even so, Liddell advanced relentlessly and controlled every exchange.
A night that rewrote UFC business history
UFC president Dana White openly celebrated the event’s success. The Liddell versus Ortiz rematch exceeded one million pay-per-view purchases. That figure established a new company record at the time. White rewarded both fighters with Fight of the Night bonuses. The achievement highlighted Liddell’s unmatched drawing power during the sport’s expansion.
The UFC 66 sales benchmark remained intact until 2009. Brock Lesnar eventually surpassed it with approximately 1.6 million buys. That event featured a stacked lineup including Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones. Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping also competed on the same card.
Ortiz claims closure years later
Liddell and Ortiz completed their trilogy twelve years after their second clash. The final bout occurred long after Liddell had exited his competitive prime. In 2010, he retired following three consecutive knockout defeats. Eight years later, he returned in a heavily criticized comeback fight. Ortiz, still active, seized the moment.
The contest ended swiftly with a first-round knockout victory for Ortiz. Liddell has not fought since and has shown no interest in returning. Ortiz competed twice afterward but has not fought since 2021. That year concluded with a knockout loss to Anderson Silva in a boxing match.
