UFC 55: Fifteen Seconds to Glory

UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski

UFC 55: Fury – Uncasville, Conn. – Mohegan Sun Arena – Oct. 7, 2005

Andrei Arlovski only needed 15 seconds to retain the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 55.

The Belarus native plastered Paul Buentello with a right to the jaw, ending the main event almost as soon as it began.

Arlovski had been the interim champion, but was promoted to undisputed title holder due to Frank Mir’s injuries from a motorcycle accident.

Speaking of accidents, Ian “The Machine” Freeman missed the show due to a horse-riding mishap. He retired from the sport.

His scheduled opponent was TUF winner Forrest Griffin, who instead beat Elvis “The King of Rock & Rumble” Sinocic by TKO in 3½ minutes.

Ultimate Fight Night 2: Don't Mess with Monday Night

David Loiseau (Photo: twitter.com)

Ultimate Fight Night 2 – Las Vegas, Nev. – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Oct. 3, 2005

UFC battled WWE for Monday night ratings at Ultimate Fight Night 2.

Who won? Well, there’s a reason why World Championship Wrestling no longer exists.

Invading the traditional night for pro wrestling, UFC drew a 1.6 rating on Spike TV. Monday Night Raw returned to USA Network that night after several years on Spike TV.

Raw blew out UFC in the ratings by presenting a three-hour reunion show, featuring the returns of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley.

In the UFC main event, David “The Crow” Loiseau beat Evan Tanner on a second-round TKO due to severe cuts.

Loiseau scored his fifth win in a row and earned a middleweight title shot against Rich Franklin at UFC 58.

Chris Leben remained undefeated in the Octagon, forcing Edwin DeWees to tap out to an armbar at the 3:26 mark.

UFC 54: Chuck Liddell Puts Another Foe on Ice

Photo: Jeremy Horn (mmamicks.com)

UFC 54 – Boiling Point – Aug. 20, 2005 – Las Vegas, Nev. – MGM Grand Garden Arena

Chuck Liddell held onto the UFC light heavyweight title with a fourth-round TKO win over Jeremy Horn at UFC 54.

Liddell, who had won the title four months earlier by knocking out Randy Couture, scored his 12^th UFC victory to break Royce Gracie’s record.

Horn returned to the UFC after racking up 31 wins during a four-year odyssey through Pride, WEC, IFC, King of the Cage and other smaller promotions.

The title fight ended when Liddell blasted Horn in the eye, and Horn told referee John McCarthy that he could not see.