Ten years ago today at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 49: Randy Couture, at the age of 41, gave Vitor Belfort a fifteen minute ground and pound beatdown, causing the doctor to call off the fight before the fourth round. In what was to be their third and final meeting in the Octagon, Couture captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship for the second time, going up on Vitor 2-1 in a rivalry that streatched all the way back to UFC 15. At the end of the bout Randy’s white trunks had been turned pink by the bloody beating he gave Belfort that night.
Also on the card that evening was the man who would dethrone Couture eight months later, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell. Liddell was able to score a KO while backpedaling against gritty journeyman Vernon White in the first round of their bout. It was also the night Yves Edwards scored one of the sickest knockout head kicks in MMA history when he caught Josh Thompson with a flying shin as Thompson attempted a spinning backfist.
Four years ago today at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, at Strikeforce – Houston: Rafael Cavalcante handed King Mo Lawal his first defeat, winning via third round TKO. The same night Jacare Souza won a decision over Tim Kennedy, Daniel Cormier made Jason Riley submit to a flury of punches, and Chad Griggs defeated current TNA World Champion Bobby Lashley by TKO after Lashley was unable to answer the bell for the third round.
Below are full card results for UFC 49 and Strikeforce – Houston.
UFC 49 – Unfinished Business:
Randy Couture def. Vitor Belfort via TKO (doctor stoppage) 5:00 Round 3
Joe Riggs def. Joe Doerksen via submission (elbows) 3:39 Round 2
Chuck Liddell def. Vernon White via KO (punch) 4:05 Round 1
Justin Eilers def. Mike Kyle via KO (punch) 1:14 Round 1
Chris Lytle def. Ronald Jhun via submission (guillotine choke) 1:17 Round 2
Karo Parisyan def. Nick Diaz via split decision
Yves Edwards def. Josh Thompson via KO (flying head kick and punches) 4:32 Round 1
Strikeforce – Houston:
Rafael Cavalcante def. Muhammed Lawal via TKO (punches and elbows) 1:14 Round 3
Ronaldo Souza def. Tim Kennedy via unanimous decision
K.J. Noons def. Jorge Gurgel via TKO (punches) 0:19 Round 2
Chad Griggs def. Bobby Lashley via TKO (retirement) 5:00 Round 2
Daniel Cormier def. Jason Riley via submission (punches) 1:02 Round 1
Andre Galvao def. Jorge Patino via TKO (punches) 2:45 Round 3
Vinicius Magalhaes def. Rocky long via unanimous decision
Adam Schindler def. Kierre Gooch via submission (rear-naked choke) 1:58 Round 1
Rey Trujillo def. Jose Santibanez via TKO (punches) 0:28 Round 1
Chad Robichaux def. Humberto DeLeon via split decision
Artenas Young def. Chad Cook via unanimous decision
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @DBlacker217. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For more great MMA interviews with the biggest fight stars on the planet, remember to check out Hammer MMA Radio on 93.3 CFMU or find their latest episodes on our main page’s sidebar. Hammer Radio features interviews from some of the industry’s biggest stars. You can find the latest on the Hammer @SteveJeffery.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Main Photo
