I remember when that fight finally happened it was something huge. The idea of a champ vs champ happened even though they had both lost twice coming into the match. It definitely softened the impact of the match leading up to it, and it didnt change the landscape of the division, but imo it did not kill the overall magic of the moment.
Its something I'll never forget. Very few fights had me so pumped, and in the moment, as that one. At the time i knew I was watching something historical taking place.
As the years have passed it seems less important than many fights that have since happened, but to me this was an all time thrill.