10 UFC Events That Changed The Game
9. UFC 71 - First Consistent Mainstream Coverage
On the subject of mainstream attention, UFC 71 marked the first time that some of the biggest names in sports broadcasting started to get behind Dana White's promotion.
ESPN were the first to jump on the bandwagon, opting to air the weigh-ins and post-fight interviews attached to the much-hyped card.
UFC 71 also marked another pivotal moment in the company's history, as this PPV came hot on the heels of Zuffa's recent acquisition of PRIDE and therefore the featured main event would present a symbolic PRIDE vs. UFC narrative, too.
PRIDE's Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson dismantled UFC's Chuck Liddell for the second time in his career, finishing 'The Iceman' in under two minutes to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
The card also contained its fair share of shocks, with Houston Alexander earning an unexpected KO victory over Keith Jardine (in just 48 seconds) and Din Thomas grasping the Submission of the Night award for his armbar tapping out of Jeremy Stephens.
All in all, it was a cracking night of action that helped usher in a new found level of recognition for the company and this would eventually lead to UFC calling multiple sporting networks 'home' further down the line.