UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy

Daniel Cornmeat
5 days ago
5 min read

Introduction

UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson. May 26, 2007. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson knocked out UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell at 1:53 of round one to win the LHW Championship. Jackson was the only fighter to have an unavenged win over Liddell, from PRIDE Final Conflict 2003. He had made his UFC debut at UFC 67 just three months earlier.

The main event had the most mainstream sports media coverage in UFC history to that point. ESPN broadcast the weigh-ins live on ESPNEWS and provided post-fight coverage. The fight lasted 1:53 — a left hook that staggered Chuck Liddell, unanswered follow-up punches, and the LHW era was over.

Quick Stats

Date: May 26, 2007

Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Attendance: 14,728

Main Event: Chuck Liddell (c) vs. Quinton Jackson — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Result: Quinton Jackson def. Chuck Liddell — KO (Punch) — R1, 1:53 — Jackson wins LHW title; Fight of the Night

Context: Rematch from PRIDE Final Conflict 2003; Jackson was the only fighter with unavenged win over Liddell

Media: ESPN broadcast live weigh-ins on ESPNEWS; highest mainstream coverage in UFC history to this point

The Build-Up

Chuck Liddell had been the dominant LHW champion since 2004. His title run had survived three successful defences and the UFC 57 trilogy victory. At UFC 66 he had beaten Tito Ortiz with a torn MCL. At 37, he was still considered a formidable champion. He had beaten Quinton Jackson in their UFC rematch?

Wait — in PRIDE Final Conflict 2003, Jackson had stopped Liddell in round two. That was before Liddell’s UFC title run. It was Jackson’s only win over Liddell, and it had never been avenged. Jackson had made his UFC debut at UFC 67 in February 2007 with a KO of Marvin Eastman. Three months and one fight into his UFC career, he was fighting for the LHW Championship.

Main Event

Chuck Liddell (c) vs. Quinton Jackson — UFC LHW Championship

Jackson moved forward immediately. At approximately 90 seconds, he landed a left hook that caught Chuck Liddell and dropped him. Jackson followed with unanswered punches as Liddell was on the mat. Referee John McCarthy stopped the fight at 1:53.

Chuck Liddell never recaptured the LHW title. He lost three consecutive fights after UFC 71 and retired in 2010 following a KO loss to Rich Franklin. His era at LHW — the most commercially important title run in the sport’s first mainstream decade — ended at 1:53 of round one.

Co-Main Event

Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine — Light Heavyweight

Houston Alexander stopped Keith Jardine in one of the most impressive debut KO performances the LHW division had seen. Alexander landed a short right hand early and followed with punches that dropped Jardine quickly. The win instantly established Alexander as a dangerous new presence in the division.

Full Results

Preliminary Card

Wilson Gouveia def. Carmelo Marrero — TKO — R? — LHW

Din Thomas def. Jeremy Stephens — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LW

Alan Belcher def. Sean Salmon — Submission — R? — LHW (Belcher, normally MW, replaced injured Schafer)

Thiago Silva def. James Irvin — TKO — R? — LHW

Kalib Starnes def. Chris Leben — Submission — R? — MW; Submission of the Night

Main Card

Houston Alexander def. Keith Jardine — KO — R1 — LHW; Alexander’s breakout UFC performance

Terry Martin def. Ivan Salaverry — TKO — R? — MW

Karo Parisyan def. Josh Burkman — Decision — R3, 5:00 — WW

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Quinton Jackson def. Chuck Liddell — KO (Punch) — R1, 1:53 — Jackson wins LHW title; Fight of the Night

Bonuses & Awards

Fight of the Night: Quinton Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell — $40,000 to Jackson.

Submission of the Night: Kalib Starnes vs. Chris Leben — $40,000 to each fighter.

Din Thomas also received a bonus for his performance against Jeremy Stephens.

Records & Milestones

Quinton Jackson wins LHW title — only three months into his UFC career, one fight in (KO of Eastman at UFC 67). His only previous win over Chuck Liddell was PRIDE Final Conflict 2003.

Highest mainstream sports media coverage in UFC history to that point — ESPN broadcast live weigh-ins on ESPNEWS; post-fight coverage.

Post-fight announcement: the winner (Jackson) would face Dan Henderson — the PRIDE dual champion who had signed with the UFC.

Legacy & Impact

Chuck Liddell's loss at UFC 71 ended the most important title run in the sport’s first mainstream decade. He had been the face of MMA from 2004 to 2007 — a time when the sport grew from a niche cable audience to a mainstream commercial force. His knockouts of Couture, Sobral, and Ortiz were the content that built the audience. At 1:53 of round one at UFC 71, that era ended conclusively.

Jackson’s reign began well. He defended the title against Dan Henderson at UFC 75 and then Forrest Griffin at UFC 86, losing the belt to Griffin by unanimous decision in 2008. The LHW division that emerged from Jackson’s reign was the most competitive in the UFC’s history to that point.

FAQ

How did Quinton Jackson defeat Chuck Liddell at UFC 71?

Jackson landed a left hook at approximately 90 seconds that dropped Liddell, then followed with unanswered punches as Liddell was on the mat. Referee John McCarthy stopped the fight at 1:53 of round one.

What was the connection between Jackson and Liddell before UFC 71?

Jackson had beaten Liddell in their previous meeting at PRIDE Final Conflict 2003, stopping him in round two. That was Liddell's last defeat before his UFC title run. Jackson was the only fighter to have an unavenged win over Liddell.

How many UFC fights had Quinton Jackson had before winning the LHW title?

Just one: a KO of Marvin Eastman at UFC 67 in February 2007, three months before UFC 71.

What mainstream media coverage did UFC 71 receive?

ESPN broadcast the live weigh-ins on ESPNEWS and provided post-fight coverage — the highest level of mainstream US sports media coverage the UFC had received to that point.

What was the post-fight announcement at UFC 71?

During the broadcast it was announced that champion Quinton Jackson’s next title defence would be against Dan Henderson — the PRIDE dual champion (93kg and 83kg) who had signed with the UFC.

References

UFC 71 — Wikipedia

UFC 71 — Tapology