• UFC 123

Hughes v Penn - The meeting of two MMA legends

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Two MMA greats will enter the Octagon this Saturday when BJ Penn and Matt Hughes face off for the third and final time at UFC 123.

Hughes was once regarded as "the perfect MMA fighter" as he saw off all comers during his reign at the top of the 170lb division. Regardless of the opposition, Hughes rose to the challenge, always finding a way to win. Outstanding in his first championship reign, Hughes became a five-time defending champion; seeing off the likes of Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk and the man from whom he initially took the title - Carlos Newton.

During a second stint at the top Hughes produced some of the most memorable moments in welterweight history: the submission victory that handed a young Georges St-Pierre his first loss; the comeback against Trigg in their re-match, and not to forget the UFC 60 marquee fight against the returning legend Royce Gracie.

The comeback win against Trigg will go down as one of the defining moments of Hughes' glittering career. An accidental low blow handed Trigg an opportunity, and one he was happy to capitalize on, as he threw a barrage of shots that sent Hughes to the canvas. The title looked on the verge of changing hands as Trigg locked in a rear-naked choke with Hughes struggling to defend himself.

A test of a true champion is how he responds to adversity, and as Hughes worked his way back to his feet, he scooped Trigg up onto his shoulder, ran the length of the Octagon, and brutally drilled the challenger into the canvas. In one show of almost inhumane power, Hughes had not only captured the essence of what made him such a freakish proposition, he had produced a video clip that completely encapsulated the previously indescribable something that makes MMA the sport it is. Under extreme attack from his rival, Hughes had dragged himself from the cusp of defeat - displaying supreme skill as well as courage in the process - to once again defend the welterweight title.

BJ Penn has not looked himself in his last two fights © Getty Images

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While Hughes has already claimed his seat in the UFC Hall of Fame, it is expected that Penn will soon follow as The Prodigy looks to continue the writing of his legacy with Saturday night's co-main event. Penn will undoubtedly go down as one of - if not the - very best lightweights in UFC history, having dismantled the likes of Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez.

Penn has however, suffered a recent slump in fortunes, losing his title at UFC 112 to Frankie Edgar, and then falling victim to a one-sided white-wash during their UFC 118 rematch. The manner in which Edgar defeated Penn made critics question what was next for the Hawaiian, and whether he would even fight again. The general consensus was that another charge in the welterweight division may be the correct move, and shortly after, Penn vs. Hughes III was confirmed.

Holding a victory over one another, this rubber match-up is a long time in the making, and Penn himself has referred to the fight as "a reason to live". Penn will be looking to recreate the kind of performance that saw him defeat Hughes, and shock the MMA world, when they first met back in 2004. With Hughes pretty much clearing out all of the challengers available at welterweight, the UFC turned to 155lb standout - Penn - to offer their champion a fresh challenge.

Hughes himself stated that he found it insulting that a fighter from a weight class lower imagined he could prise the welterweight crown away from his grasp. At UFC 46 that is exactly what happened as BJ dropped Hughes to the canvas before taking his back and submitting the shell-shocked defending champion inside the first round.

Penn had achieved the unthinkable by moving up in weight and defeating the "invincible" Matt Hughes in devastating fashion. As Penn celebrated he kissed Hughes while knowing he had not only become the welterweight champion, but had cemented himself as an MMA superstar.

In their rematch two years later, Hughes again suffered an early scare as Penn took the first two rounds before his foe came back in round three. Trapping Penn in an extremely effective crucifix position, Hughes was allowed to land over 30 unanswered blows, forcing the referee to stop the fight as he subsequently handed Penn the first stoppage loss of his career.

A win this Saturday for Hughes may see him thrown into the title mix for what would be a fourth and final shot at the welterweight crown, while victory for Penn could be just what is needed to revitalise The Prodigy.

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