UFC 57
UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States.
Headlining the card was an anticipated rubber match between top UFC stars and former coaches of The Ultimate Fighter Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture, widely touted and marketed as MMA's first major trilogy.
It was the UFC's largest grossing gate to date, $3.3 million, in addition to an estimate of over 400,000 pay-per-view buys. The disclosed fighter payroll for the event was $667,000.
Results
Preliminary card
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Keith Jardine vs. United States Mike Whitehead
Jardine wins by a unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This match was a preliminary match and was not aired on the pay-per-view broadcast.
* Heavyweight bout: United States Jeff Monson vs. United States Branden Lee Hinkle
Monson wins by technical submission (referee stoppage) with a North/South choke in the first round at 4:35. This match was a preliminary match, but was aired on the pay-per-view broadcast.
* Heavyweight bout: United States Paul Buentello vs. United States Gilbert Aldana
Buentello wins by technical knockout in the second round at 2:27. This match was a preliminary match and was not scheduled to air on the pay-per-view broadcast, but was broadcast on tape delay after time allowed for an additional fight to be aired.
* Light Heavyweight bout: Italy Alessio Sakara vs Australia Elvis Sinosic
Sakara wins by unanimous decision (29–25, 29–26, 29–26). Sakara got a point deduction for an illegal vertical elbow to the head of Elvis Sinosic. This match was a preliminary match and was not aired on the pay-per-view broadcast.
Main card
* Welterweight bout: United States Joe Riggs vs. United States Nick Diaz
Riggs wins by a unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 29–28).
* Light Heavyweight bout: Brazil Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs United States Mike van Arsdale
Sobral wins by submission with a rear naked choke in the first round at 2:19.
* Heavyweight bout: Brazil Márcio Cruz vs United States Frank Mir
Cruz wins by a technical knockout in the first round at 4:10.
* Heavyweight bout: United States Brandon Vera vs. United States Justin Eilers
Vera wins by knockout with a kick and a knee in the first round at 1:22.
* Light Heavyweight championship bout: United States Chuck Liddell (c) vs. United States Randy Couture
Liddell wins by knockout in the second round at 1:28. Couture announces his retirement after the loss.
