UFC 47: What happened when Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell finally clashed inside the Octagon?

After years of trying, UFC was finally able to book the dream match between their two premier Light-Heavyweight superstars, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell at UFC 47 on April 2, 2004.

The two had been buddies as they debuted at a similar time years earlier but Liddell's desire to prove himself at the highest level, caused dissension as Ortiz was unwilling to fight his friend.

As their friendship deteriorated, the hype for a contest between the pair reached a fever pitch. The talking was finally over at UFC 47 and the action was set to begin.

There was an incredible atmosphere for the headline bout with fan noise unlike anything ever witnessed in UFC before.

Ortiz was determined to beat Liddell at his own game and surprisingly went toe to toe with the devastating striker.

Ortiz landed a nice right, tagging Liddell before Liddell ended the round with a stunningly brutal combination. The buzzer saved Ortiz who looked like he was moments from being knocked out.

Despite that scare at the end of the first round, Ortiz came out swinging once more in the second. Liddell checked Ortiz and backed his opponent into the fence and unleashed a flurry of punches sending Ortiz crumpling to the canvas. Your winner by Knockout: Chuck Liddell.

However, UFC 47 was not a one match show. Far from it.

Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler contested a hugely intense and exciting fight. Big hitter Lawler was expecting to knock, the then little known Diaz out, but to his horror found Diaz was more than a match for his striking skill, and despite being known as grappler was a hugely effective striker in his own right.

Lawler was incensed after the first round ended and came out swinging wildly in the second. That was a big mistake as Diaz smashed Lawler right on the money and "Ruthless" fell to the canvas face first! His lights were well and truly out before he hit the floor. What an incredible result.

Nick Diaz upsets the odds at UFC 47 with a victory over Robbie Lawler

In another surprise result, Heavyweight title contender, Andrei Arlovski took on "Cabbage" Correira and knocked out the man, who was previously seen as impervious to that kind of treatment. Intense combinations earned an unlikely TKO win in another thrilling encounter.

Mike Kyle defeated the giant Wes Sims via Knockout in the very last second of the first round.

In a Lightweight bout with title implications, Yves Edwards bested Hermes Franca by a close split decision in a clash which was one of the fights of the night.

Franca could count himself unfortunate he didn't get the nod with numerous submission attempts but Edwards landed plenty of incredible strikes himself.

In the final fight of a brilliantly stacked card, future superstar, Chris Lytle took on Tiki Ghosn in another superb display of striking action.

The fighters exchanged plenty of strikes but the finish came when Lytle managed to lock in a side headlock for the submission win. Very different from the other encounters on the show but just as entertaining.

UFC 47 was probably the best ever show the company had ever produced at that point in time and drew 105,000 buys on pay per view which was a great number as the MMA powerhouse continued its return to mainstream consciousness after the dark days of the late 1990s.