Sherdog’s Top 10: One-Round Fights

Frank Trigg and Matt Hughes had some battles. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

2. Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg
UFC 52 “Couture vs. Liddell 2”
April 16, 2005

Hughes and Trigg did not much care for one another. Hughes had beaten Trigg in their first meeting, slapping on a standing rear-naked choke in the opening frame to tap out his adversary, and by the time their rematch rolled around, a legitimate feud had developed between the two men. That feud was heightened by the fact that UFC 52 was a do-or-die event for the promotion, coming a week after the epic Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar fight and featuring the coaches’ matchup of Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture, so the card got plenty of exposure.

Forty-five seconds into the fight, Trigg landed a brutal knee directly on Hughes’ cup. Referee Mario Yamasaki failed to notice it, and Trigg pounced on his damaged opponent, knocking him down with punches and following him to the floor. Trigg rained down vicious shots, passed to mount and then took the back, where he attempted a rear-naked choke that came close to finishing the champion.

Hughes survived the choke, turned over into Trigg’s guard and secured a grip around his body. He then picked up the challenger, carried him all the way across the cage and slammed him to the ground with incredible force. Hughes immediately passed to mount, dropped elbows and punches and forced Trigg to give up his back, where Hughes locked in a tight rear-naked choke of his own that forced him to tap.

The second matchup between Trigg and Hughes was recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in recognition of both its inherent greatness and its place in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. It is hard to argue with that assessment.

Number 1 » Diaz vs. Daley