Completed Bout
BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes III
Co-Main Event | Welterweight | 170 lbs
BJ Penn defeats Matt Hughes via KO/TKO at 0:21 of Round 1
-
-
-
Penn
KO/TKO
Round 1
"The Prodigy"
| 15-7-1 | Pro Record At Fight | 45-7-0 | ||
| -220 | Moderate Favorite | Betting Odds | +180 | Slight Underdog | ||
| United States | Nationality | United States | ||
| Hilo, Hawaii | Fighting out of | Hillsboro, Illinois | ||
| BJ Penn's MMA | Gym | HIT Squad | ||
| 31 | Age at Fight | 37 | ||
| 169.0 lbs (76.7 kgs) | Weigh-In Result | 169.0 lbs (76.7 kgs) | ||
| 5'9" (176cm) | Height | 5'9" (176cm) | ||
| 70.0" (178cm) | Reach | 73.0" (185cm) |
- Bout Information
- Date: Saturday 11.20.2010 at 10:00 PM ET
- Referee: Dan Miragliotta
- Venue: The Palace of Auburn Hills
- Enclosure: Octagon
- Location: Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
- Bout Billing: Co-Main Event (fight 10 of 11)
- Weight: Welterweight | 170 lbs (77.1 kg)
- TV Commentary: Mike Goldberg, Joe Rogan
- Broadcast: Aired Live on Main Card
- Post-Fight Interviewer: Joe Rogan
- Penn Total Disclosed Pay: $80,000
- Hughes Total Disclosed Pay: None Disclosed
Shop the latest from:
Penn vs. Hughes III Wiki Wiki Page
BJ "The Prodigy" Penn put a quick end to his rubber match with welterweight legend Matt Hughes by starching the Illinois native with a straight right in the opening exchange and following up with strikes on the ground to win via stunning knockout in only 21 seconds.
Before Detroit fans in attendance had settled into their chairs, Hughes lay prone on the canvas and momentarily stiffened up as referee Dan Miragliotta pulled Penn aside. Hughes stood from the flash knockout and looked to his corner, asking "what happened?," while a charged-up Penn ran from the Octagon and halfway down the entranceway. On Penn's mind at the time was a repeat of his even quicker knockout of Caol Uno a decade earlier, which he had followed up by immediately exiting the arena. This time around, however, an older and more mature Penn quickly returned to the cage in what he identified as a show of respect for Hughes. At the time of the bout, Penn's lightning destruction of Hughes tied for the 20th fastest knockout in UFC history.
For Penn, the bout marked his first return to the welterweight division since his January 2009 loss to Georges St. Pierre, and his first win in the division since 2005. After two straight losses at lightweight to new divisional champ Frankie Edgar, Penn was at a crossroads in his MMA career, and needed a win far more than the surging Hughes, who had defeated Renzo Gracie, Ricardo Almeida and others in impressive recent outings. Hughes had approached the fight seriously, taking the unusual step of training away from home in preparation for the fight. But the night belonged to Penn, who had stated on previous occasions that he believed he had Hughes's number despite splitting their first two encounters with one fight apiece.
Speaking to Joe Rogan immediately following the win, "The Prodigy" was as jubilant and elated as fans had seen him in years. "I love you Detroit!" Penn shouted. "I love you! I love you UFC! You're my idol -- Matt Hughes, you're my idol, you will always be my idol, thank you."
Latest Contributors Contribute
Penn vs. Hughes III Fight Predictions
Videos & Highlights
Highlight | Fan Highlight and Promo Video for BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes 3 report dead link
A retrospective look at the first two Penn vs. Hughes fights and a look forward to the third fight.
Interview | Matt Hughes UFC 123 pre-fight interview report dead link
Watch this pre-fight interview video from UFC 123 as Matt Hughes says he was surprised BJ Penn and UFC wanted trilogy fight.
Interview | BJ Penn UFC 123 pre-fight interview report dead link
Watch this pre-fight interview video from UFC 123 as BJ Penn says he surrounded himself with new faces to prepare for Matt Hughes.
Shop the latest from:
