UFC 52: What happened when Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell clashed for the Light-Heavyweight Championship?

UFC 52 recaptured that "World Cup" feeling as the company, riding a wave of new mainstream popularity earned it's most financially successful gate ever and it's second highest pay per view audience with a colossal 280,000 buys.

This number was just 20,000 less than the record holder, UFC 2, held some 11 years earlier prior to the company's cable ban and expulsion by most American states from holding their shows.

The two men that pulled the crowds were headliners, Randy Couture, and Chuck Liddell. Couture, had recently recaptured the Light-Heavyweight crown from Vitor Belfort at UFC 49 and his challenger, Liddell was finally receiving his shot at the title he had originally earned way back at UFC 37.5 in June 2002, a full three years prior.

The fans were largely behind Liddell's quest and he didn't disappoint, in a fight that couldn't have been more different than the pair's clash at UFC 43. Liddell had his range from the get-go and Couture struggled to implement his game-plan of two years earlier. He tried to get close but when he did he caught a thumb in the eye. When the bout restarted, Couture attempted to close the gap once more but caught a left hand then a vicious right that floored him for the knockout. Your winner and new Light-Heavyweight Champion, Chuck Liddell.

Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell do battle

Although the main event was over in the blink of an eye, there was plenty of action elsewhere on the card.

The Welterweight Championship was on the line as Frank Trigg challenged Matt Hughes once again. Trigg had talked a ton of trash heading into this fight and was confident of ending Hughes's reign. However, he would come up short versus his great rival once more.

At one point, Trigg sunk in a rear naked choke on Hughes that looked like it would decide the fight but the resilient Hughes escaped and hit Trigg with a running powerslam. Think Braun Strowman in WWE. It was a crazy sight to behold in UFC. Hughes pounded away at Trigg in the mount. When Trigg attempted to roll out, Hughes took his bank and sank in a rear naked choke. His choke would prove decisive and with that, Hughes retained the gold.

Renato Sobral defeated Travis Wiuff in a keenly contested battle. Wiuff entered the fight on an 18 match winning streak. Sobral and Wiuff exchanged combinations and submission attempts before early in the second, Sobral managed to lock in an armbar for the win by tap-out.

George St. Pierre evidenced his legendary credentials once more in an entertaining battle with Jason Miller. GSP won a convincing Unanimous Decision in a fight that was action-packed from start to finish with both men's striking and wrestling capabilities on display. GSP controlled the action throughout though which is why he was the winner.

The final fight on the main card saw Matt Lindland clash with Travis Lutter. In the least inspired match of the night, Lindland spent most of the fight working the guard or mount position. Lindland's punches have never been the best which is why he seldom finishes his opponents via KO or TKO which ensures most of his fights are not great box office.

Lindland finally secured a guillotine choke for the win.

UFC 52 was one of the most significant cards in company history with plenty of entertainment to be had as well as being a massive money maker. The Couture/Liddell rivalry would bring even more riches to the company when they clashed for a final time at UFC 57.