UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy

Daniel Cornmeat
5 days ago
4 min read

Introduction

UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral. August 26, 2006. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas. Chuck Liddell retained the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship with a first-round KO of Renato Sobral at 1:35 — his third consecutive title defence. Liddell knocked Sobral down twice and finished with unanswered punches. KO of the Night.

In the co-main, Forrest Griffin defeated Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision — 30-27 on all three scorecards — in the TUF Season 1 rematch. The result was the reverse of the narrative from their first fight: Griffin was dominant, clinical, and untroubled across three rounds. Nick Diaz submitted Josh Neer with a kimura in round three to win Submission of the Night.

Quick Stats

Date: August 26, 2006

Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Gate: $3,040,880 — 9,859 attendance (8,954 paid)

PPV: ~500,000 buys

Main Event: Chuck Liddell (c) vs. Renato Sobral — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Result: Chuck Liddell def. Renato Sobral — KO (Punches) — R1, 1:35 — Liddell retains; KO of the Night

Notable: Griffin def. Bonnar II (UD 30-27x3); Nick Diaz subs Neer; Bonnar later tests positive for steroids

The Build-Up

Chuck Liddell had won the trilogy against Randy Couture at UFC 57 and was at the peak of his career and celebrity. Renato Sobral had been built up as a serious threat — a Brazilian submission specialist and striker who had beaten Kevin Randleman and Chael Sonnen. Their first meeting had been at UFC 40 in November 2002, where Liddell won by TKO in round two.

The co-main was the rematch of one of the UFC's most iconic fights. The TUF Season 1 Finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar had been the bout that launched the UFC's mainstream audience. A year and a half later, Griffin entered the rematch as the clear favourite and the more developed fighter.

Main Event

Chuck Liddell (c) vs. Renato Sobral — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Chuck Liddell landed an overhand right that put Sobral down, followed with punches on the ground, and the fight was stopped at 1:35 of round one. Two knockdowns. Unanswered punches. A dominant title defence.

Chuck Liddell was now three successful title defences into his reign. He earned KO of the Night. His hold on the LHW title continued until Quinton Jackson stopped him at UFC 71 in May 2007.

Co-Main Event

Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar II — Light Heavyweight

The TUF Season 1 Finale had ended 29-28, 29-28, 28-29 in Griffin's favour in a fight that both men nearly lost at multiple points. In the UFC 62 rematch, Forrest Griffin won all three rounds on all three cards — 30-27, 30-27, 30-27. The sport had moved forward in 16 months; Griffin with it.

Stephan Bonnar later tested positive for stanozolol after this fight. He accepted a six-month suspension. The result stood. Their first fight made careers; their second showed how much one of them had grown.

Full Results

Preliminary Card

Wilson Gouveia def. Wes Combs — Submission (RNC) — R1, 3:23

David Heath def. Cory Walmsley — Submission — R1, 2:32

Yushin Okami def. Alan Belcher — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Rob MacDonald def. Eric Schafer — Submission (Arm Triangle) — R1, 2:26

Main Card

Hermes Franca def. Jamie Varner — Submission (Armbar) — R3, 3:31 — LW

Cheick Kongo def. Christian Wellisch — KO (Knee) — R1, 2:51 — HW

Nick Diaz def. Josh Neer — Submission (Kimura) — R3, 1:42 — WW; Submission of the Night

Forrest Griffin def. Stephan Bonnar — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) — TUF 1 rematch; Fight of the Night

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Chuck Liddell def. Renato Sobral — KO (Punches) — R1, 1:35 — Liddell retains; KO of the Night

Bonuses & Awards

KO of the Night: Chuck Liddell — right hand knockdown, follow-up punches; Sobral finished at 1:35 R1.

Fight of the Night: Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar II — 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 for Griffin.

Submission of the Night: Nick Diaz — kimura submission of Josh Neer at 1:42 R3.

Records & Milestones

Chuck Liddell retains LHW title — third consecutive successful defence; at the peak of his dominant title reign.

$3.04 million gate; ~500,000 PPV buys — strong commercial performance continuing the 2006 growth trajectory.

Stephan Bonnar tests positive for stanozolol post-fight — six-month suspension; result stood. One of the first high-profile steroid cases in the UFC's post-TUF era.

Griffin vs. Bonnar II — Forrest Griffin wins 30-27 x3; emphatic reversal of the close original; showed how far Griffin had developed in 16 months.

Legacy & Impact

Chuck Liddell's third title defence at UFC 62 confirmed he was the sport's most dominant champion and most commercially important fighter in mid-2006. The $3 million gate and 500,000 PPV buys were consistent with where the UFC's business had moved since the TUF explosion.

Griffin vs. Bonnar II had an impossible act to follow — the original was the fight that launched the UFC's mainstream audience. The rematch was not a classic, but Forrest Griffin's dominant win showed the sport wasn't static. Both fighters continued as top LHW contenders for years.

FAQ

Who did Chuck Liddell fight at UFC 62?

Chuck Liddell defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Renato Sobral at UFC 62. Liddell retained with a KO in round one at 1:35.

What was the result of Griffin vs. Bonnar II at UFC 62?

Forrest Griffin defeated Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision — 30-27 on all three scorecards. Griffin was dominant across all three rounds, a stark contrast to their classic first fight.

Did Stephan Bonnar test positive after UFC 62?

Yes. Bonnar later tested positive for stanozolol following UFC 62. He accepted a six-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The result of the fight stood.

What were the PPV numbers for UFC 62?

UFC 62 drew approximately 500,000 PPV buys and a live gate of $3,040,880.

What was the Submission of the Night at UFC 62?

Nick Diaz won Submission of the Night for his kimura submission of Josh Neer at 1:42 of round three in a welterweight bout.

References

UFC 62 — Wikipedia

UFC 62 — Tapology