When Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture fought for the first time back in 2003 for the interim light heavyweight title, it was with the expectation that Liddell was about to take over the throne as the UFC’s marquee star. Eventually he did, but it didn’t start at UFC 43. Instead, Couture won the belt with a 3rd round TKO.
The two men would fight again in 2005, with Couture having unified, lost, and re-won the title in the meantime. This time, at UFC 52, Liddell would take home the belt and start his run as one of the UFC’s most notable champions.