October 5th 2011

 

Frankie Edgar and Grey Maynard will both be looking for a definitive performance in their third encounter in Houston on Saturday in the main event of UFC 136.

The pair have met twice previously with Maynard holding the upper hand in their rivalry defeating the present UFC Lightweight Champion via a unanimous decision in 2008. Their second encounter, of course, ended in an enthralling draw which sets up Saturday’s main event. 

Third encounters between fighters are pretty rare in MMA but when they do happen, such battles have often been memorable and occasionally spectacular. Despite what’s gone on before, the winner of the final match-up in a trilogy usually also comes out on top in the bragging rights too.  

Here are a few choice third encounters since MMA as we know it started in 1993…

Gary Goodridge vs. Don Frye – Pride Shockwave 2003

Despite the fact that Don Frye pretty easily handed Goodridge in their two UFC matches when you speak to any fan about their rivalry, Goodridge’s head kick in their final fight is pretty much what they’ll remember.

Just 30 or so seconds into the bout Goodridge, who really brought anything other than punches and brute strength to the table, surprised everyone, especially Frye, by not only throwing a head kick but landing it perfectly and instantly knocking Frye out.

Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture – UFC 57

One of the great rivalries in MMA culminated when Liddell, then pretty much at the peak of his powers, KO’d the veteran wrestler Randy Couture. It was the second time Liddell had knocked out Couture and it solidified his position as the most dangerous octagon striker of his time.

It looked like this would be the end of the road for Couture – he announced his retirement from the sport after. However he ultimately changed his mind and went on to astound everyone by moving up a weight class and defeating Tim Silvia to win the belt and gain a second, third or fourth lease of life.

Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva – UFC 92

Jackson had previously suffered two of the most memorable KO defeats in the sport at the hands of Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva in Japan’s Pride organisation. Fighting on home territory Jackson was determined to lay these ghosts to rest. He did this, and how!

He landed a vicious left hook on Silva which knocked out the Brazilian. A pumped up Jackson followed his felled opponent to the mat and landed several more shots before the referee jumped in to stop. This would be the last time Silva would fight at 205lbs – a weight class he once dominated.

BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes – UFC 123

Despite his age some had veteran Matt Hughes as the favourite in the final match-up of their vaunted rivalry. He was coming off the back of three straight wins and was particularly impressive in choking out the dangerous Ricardo Almeida in his previous fight. BJ Penn was coming into the fight having lost consecutive fights to lightweight Frankie Edgar.

Penn though dispatched Hughes in about 20 seconds flooring him with a right and then continuing to pummel a dazed Hughes with precision strikes until the referee called it. Within the blink of an eye arguably MMA’s greatest rivalry to date had been put to bed.

Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock – Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3 - The Final Chapter

No one really cared for a second encounter between these two, let alone a third. Predicatively Ortiz dispatched a well past his prime Shamrock in the first round with strikes. This match-up did little for either fighter. Ortiz would only win won more fight – some four years later. Shamrock, well, the less said the better.

Matt Hyde - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.