UFC 5 - HUGHES VS PENN 2

UFC 5 - HUGHES VS PENN 2

Matt Hughes was defending his UFC Welterweight Championship against BJ Penn in a highly anticipated rematch. Their first encounter at UFC 46 saw Penn pull off a massive upset, submitting the dominant Hughes with a rear-naked choke in the first round to capture the 170-pound title. However, Penn was later stripped of the belt due to a contract dispute, allowing Hughes to regain the championship.

Hughes entered UFC 63 having regained the welterweight strap and looking to avenge his previous loss to Penn. As the more accomplished welterweight champion, Hughes was a moderate -225 favorite. His wrestling pedigree and vaunted ground-and-pound made him a nightmare matchup for most opponents.

Meanwhile, Penn was coming off the loss of his lightweight title and decided to move back up to 170 pounds to challenge Hughes once again. The versatile Hawaiian was a moderate +195 underdog but his elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and improved striking made him a live underdog. Penn had dominated Hughes on the feet in their first fight before securing the submission victory.

UFC 63 promised to be an epic battle between two of the greatest fighters in the sport's history. Hughes was determined to prove Penn's early upset was a fluke, while Penn aimed to cement his legacy by defeating the most dominant welterweight champion once again.