A night of quick victories concluded with the biggest, and perhaps most shocking, of the night.




In a much-hyped main event of UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson, Liddell had the opportunity to avenge the only remaining loss of his illustrious career.



Liddell Vs Rampage I





Instead, Jackson in just his second UFC fight went largely untouched before delivering a flush right hook that instantly dropped the longtime champion. Jackson pounced on his fallen opponent, and after delivering a few final shots, was pulled off Liddell by referee Big John McCarthy. In less than two minutes into the very first round, Jackson ended Liddell's championship reign. Chuck looked very tentative in the octagon today and seemed he didn't want to be in there.



Liddell Vs Rampage II





A sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd was shocked, as was the former champ. Liddell initially protested the stoppage, but in the following replays, the UFC's knockout artist had obviously suffered a KO loss of his own. The stoppage was just, and Jackson's victory was clear-cut.




In a post-fight interview, Liddell vowed to come back. However, an immediate rematch with Jackson won't be granted. Instead, the UFC announced throughout the event that PRIDE middleweight and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson would instead get the first shot at the night's winner. And to the surprise of many, it's Jackson not Liddell.




The upsets weren't limited to the main event, though.




Keith Jardine, a top light heavyweight contender who looked dominant in his win over Forrest Griffin at UFC 66, suffered a lopsided and shocking upset to 36-year-old UFC newcomer Houston Alexander. The UFC struggled to find someone willing to fight the surging Jardine, and it was a little-known Midwest fighter and Nebraska hip-hop DJ who took the challenge and made the most of it, scoring a TKO just 48 seconds into the first round.



Jardine Vs Alexander





Only two of the nights nine fights went the distance both on the main card, and both were well worth the 15 minutes of viewing time.




The one with the most significance toward the championship picture was Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman. Both fighters had emerged as top-five contenders in the UFC's stacked welterweight division, and both were looking to take a step closer to a title shot. Although that shot won't come any sooner than spring 2008, Parisyan scored a unanimous decision in an entertaining three-rounder and promptly requested a shot at the belt anyway.



Parisyan Vs Burkman





In the only other fight to go the distance, The Ultimate Fighter 3's Kalib Starnes earned a solid UFC victory with a unanimous decision over The Ultimate Fighter 1's Chris Leben. Starnes looked slightly gassed halfway through the fight, but he did plenty to win the decision and delivered Leben a third loss in his past four fights.







A bout between Terry Martin and Ivan Salaverry rounded out the main card. Like so many other of the night's fight, this one ended quickly. After two unsuccessful takedown attempts, Martin was successful on the third and dropped Salaverry square on his head. The force appeared to knock Salaverry temporarily unconscious, which prompted a stoppage at 2:04 of the first round.



Martin Vs Salaverry





On the undercard, Wilson Gouveia set up Carmelo Marrero with a series of brutal leg kicks and then finished off his opponent with a guillotine choke at 3:06 of the first round.




Din Thomas proved to be too much for UFC newcomer Jeremy Stephens, and the UFC veteran and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt used slick groundwork to score an armbar submission at 2:24 of the second round. After the fight Thomas called out Mayweather and Cintron to fight him. Totally unnecessary and uncalled for in my opinion.



Thomas Vs Stephens





Sean Salmon got caught while trying to take down his opponent, Alan Belcher. At just 0:53 of the first round, Belcher locked in a guillotine choke and forced Salmon to tap.






Rounding out the preliminary lineup was a fight between Thiago Silva and James Irvin that was probably best left off the pay-per-view broadcast. While bracing for a takedown, Irvin planted his right leg, which took the brunt of the slam. His knee looked to pop out of its socket, prompting an immediate stoppage at 1:06 of the first round.

Article By: Primetyme199