Sherdog’s Top 10: MMA Rivalries

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7. Chuck Liddell-Randy Couture

The Rundown: Despite being two of the most iconic figures in mixed martial arts history and fighting with titles on the line in each of their three meetings, bad blood was never at the heart of the Liddell-Couture trilogy. Instead, their trio of encounters coincided with the UFC’s emergence into the mainstream.

A former heavyweight champion, Couture entered the first scrap with Liddell as a considerable underdog. In what would become a familiar theme to his career, the 38-year-old Couture defied the odds at UFC 43, stopping “The Iceman” with strikes in the third round to become the first multi-division champion in the promotion’s history.

Both Couture and Liddell served as coaches on the groundbreaking initial season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The reality show served a dual purpose: building fan interest in unknown fighters while simultaneously hyping the pay-per-view rematch between Liddell and Couture. The veterans did not do much in the way of pre-fight hype during taping, as the two appeared to be on friendly terms throughout the program. That did not stop fans from watching and attending, however. Liddell’s first-round TKO of “The Natural” at UFC 52 drew a $2.5 million live gate and 280,000 pay-per-view buys. Both figures were records at the time.

Their rubber match saw the live gate and pay-per-view numbers from the previous meeting surpassed. Liddell provided a similar result inside the Octagon, knocking out Couture in round two.

Liddell would defend the light heavyweight strap twice more before falling to Quinton Jackson at UFC 71. Couture would return to heavyweight and score an improbable win against Tim Sylvia to again become heavyweight champion. Without each other, however, it is possible that they -- and the sport of MMA -- might never have reached such great heights.

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