UFC 165 featured a bout between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson that is very possibly the best Light Heavyweight title fight in UFC history. To celebrate Throwback Thursday will double down on quality action between elite fighters that weight 205 pounds.
When speaking of Light Heavyweight in the UFC, the first fighters to come to mind for tenured UFC fans are often Randy Couture or Chuck Liddell, whose trilogy of title fights would help make 205 pounds the showcase division of the UFC in the mid-2000s.
Their rivalry started in 2003 when Liddell, riding a 10-fight winning streak, fought Couture for an interim title. Couture, a wrestler, would shock the MMA world when he knocked out Liddell, who was a feared striker. Couture would go on to unify the UFC Light Heavyweight title with a decision win over Tito Ortiz.
In late 2004, Couture and Liddell would be coaches on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and were set to fight in another title fight in early 2005. This time Liddell scored the knockout win, but not before an accidental eye poke marred the fight.
Liddell would defend his title against Jeremy Horn in late 2005 and then fought Couture again in 2006. This time Liddell would get a clean knockout to defend his title, gain the advantage in the trilogy, and win the biggest Light Heavyweight title fight to that point.
Liddell would defend his title twice more in 2006 against Renato Sobral and Tito Ortiz. Then in May 2007, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would violently bring Liddell's UFC title run to an end just over two years after it began.
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