UFC free fight: B.J. Penn dethrones Matt Hughes to claim welterweight title

B.J. Penn and Matt Hughes faced off for the first time in 2004 in what would be the start of a memorable rivalry.

Penn faced five-time defending welterweight champion Hughes at UFC 46 as he made his 170-pound debut, but the Hawaiian looked instantly at home as he dominated the reigning champion on the mat to secure a memorable victory.

Penn got Hughes on his back early, and “The Prodigy” never let him off the hook. He controlled him in top position for the majority of the round before eventually transitioning to his back with under a minute left and securing the rear-naked choke that forced the tap.

At the time it was a huge upset win for Penn, and it went on to set up a memorable trilogy between the pair. Hughes won the second fight two years later, finishing Penn in the third round, but it was Penn who got the last laugh, knocking Hughes out in just 21 seconds in their final meeting in 2010.

That was Penn’s last victory in the octagon, and he has recently hinted at the possibility of officially calling time on his career.

Check out Penn’s win over Hughes in the video above.