It's been an entire generation since Rashad Evans put Chuck Liddell's lights out in a way he never had experienced before, and never quite that bad ever again.
In the UFC 88 main event in Atlanta 18 years ago, Evans positively starched Liddell with a right hand that had the ex-champ unconscious for several minutes on the canvas. It was the first of three straight knockout losses that led to Liddell's eventual retirement.
Going into the fight, Liddell still had some aura left around him. "The Iceman" reigned over the UFC's light heavyweight division for several years until he lost his title to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in 2007. Later that year, he lost a close split decision to Keith Jardine, but bounced back from the two-fight skid with a win
over Wanderlei Silva.
So pretending Liddell was the same version UFC CEO Dana White wanted to see retire for his own health when he fought Evans is misguided. His title days were in the past, but it wasn't until Evans shut his lights off that his career truly was done.
Take a look back at Evans' sickening one-hitter quitter against Liddell in the video below.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: This Date in MMA History: Rashad Evans officially ends Chuck Liddell's aura
