Chuck Liddell became the first true UFC superstar, and the figures support that status. The legendary fighter secured his place in pay-per-view history on December 30, 2006. The UFC staged the moment during a blockbuster event that reshaped the promotion’s commercial future.
Light heavyweight gold stood at stake when Liddell faced Tito Ortiz again at UFC 66. The bout headlined a card that drew global attention to mixed martial arts.
A rivalry defined by violence and controversy
Liddell and Ortiz first collided at UFC 47 in April 2004. Liddell ended that fight with a second-round knockout victory. Controversy followed when an accidental eye poke briefly blinded him. He later said he could see nothing but darkness for a moment. Despite the incident, Liddell kept control and finished his rival convincingly. That result fueled demand for a rematch and intensified their bitter rivalry.
Liddell overcomes injuries to stop Ortiz again
Ortiz voiced no complaints after losing again to Liddell at UFC 66. He accepted defeat following a dominant third-round technical knockout loss. The fight unfolded inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ortiz later called Liddell the best fighter in the world during the post-fight press conference. His words reflected the authority Liddell showed throughout the contest.
Liddell’s performance gained greater significance once his injuries became public. He entered the fight with a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee. During the bout, he dislocated a tendon in the middle finger of his left hand. Even then, he pressed forward and controlled the action to secure victory.
A record-breaking night for the UFC
UFC president Dana White celebrated the event’s historic success. The Liddell versus Ortiz rematch surpassed one million pay-per-view buys. At the time, it set a new organizational record. White rewarded both fighters with Fight of the Night bonuses. The achievement highlighted Liddell’s drawing power during the sport’s rapid growth.
The UFC 66 sales record remained untouched until 2009. Brock Lesnar later surpassed it with approximately 1.6 million buys. That card featured a loaded lineup including Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones. Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping also appeared on the undercard.
Ortiz finally gets the last word
Liddell and Ortiz completed their trilogy twelve years after UFC 66. The third fight took place long after Liddell had left his prime behind. In 2010, Liddell retired following three consecutive knockout defeats. Eight years later, he returned in a widely criticized comeback bout. Ortiz, still active at the time, capitalized on the situation.
The fight ended quickly with a first-round knockout victory for Ortiz. Liddell has not competed since and has dismissed further returns. Ortiz fought twice afterward but has not competed since 2021. That year ended with a brutal knockout loss to Anderson Silva in a boxing match.
