UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3
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Background
UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 was a 9-bout fight card that was held on February 4, 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The card aired live on pay-per-view and was headlined by a light heavyweight championship bout between champion, Chuck Liddell and former two-time heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, Randy Couture.
The event also saw the return of former heavyweight champion, Frank Mir against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Marcio Cruz.
Fight Card
Preliminary Card
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Keith Jardine vs. Mike Whitehead
- Heavyweight Bout: Jeff Monson vs. Branden Lee Hinkle
- Heavyweight Bout: Paul Buentello vs. Gilbert Aldana
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Alessio Sakara vs. Elvis Sinosic
Main Card
- Welterweight Bout: Joe Riggs vs. Nick Diaz
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Mike van Arsdale
- Heavyweight Bout: Brandon Vera vs. Justin Eilers
- Heavyweight Bout: Frank Mir vs. Marcio Cruz
- Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture
Pre-Event Notes
The event marked the third fight in what had become the Liddel/Couture trilogy. Couture had originally defeated Liddell to gain the UFC's interim light heavyweight championship at UFC 43 and then was knocked out by Liddell to lose the title at UFC 52.
Frank Mir is scheduled to return to the octagon since a severe motorcycle accident that left him unable to defend his heavyweight championship.
Results
Preliminary Card
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Keith Jardine defs. Mike Whitehead via unanimous decision.
- Heavyweight Bout: Jeff Monson defs. Branden Lee Hinkle via technical submission (north/south choke) at 4:35 of round 1.
- Heavyweight Bout: Paul Buentello defs. Gilbert Aldana via TKO at 2:27 of round 2.
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Alessio Sakara defs. Elvis Sinosic via unanimous decision.
Main Card
- Welterweight Bout: Joe Riggs defs. Nick Diaz via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28).
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Renato "Babalu" Sobral defs. Mike van Arsdale via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:21 of round 1.
- Heavyweight Bout: Brandon Vera defs. Justin Eilers via KO (kick and knee) at 1:25 of round 1.
- Heavyweight Bout: Marcio Cruz defs. Frank Mir via TKO at 4:10 of round 1.
- Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Chuck Liddell defs. Randy Couture via KO at 1:28 of round 2 to retain his championship.
After a tensely fought first round that saw Liddell score with hard strikes while Couture managed one takedown, Couture slipped in an exchange in the second round and was caught off guard. This was all the oppurtunity Liddell needed however, as he landed a crushing right hand and some follow up strikes that put "The Natural" out.
Following the bout, Couture announced his retirement from competition.
UFC Event Chronology
Preceded by: UFC Fight Night 3
Followed by: UFC 58: USA vs. Canada
External Links
http://57.ufc.com - Official UFC 57 Website
--Sam Cupitt 11:02, 10 October 2009 (UTC)
