UFC 5 - HUGHES VS GSP 2

UFC 5 - HUGHES VS GSP 2

The Highly Anticipated Rematch

The main event of UFC 65 featured a highly anticipated welterweight title rematch between the reigning champion Matt Hughes and the young, hungry challenger Georges St-Pierre.

Hughes was the dominant 170-pound king, having held the belt since regaining it from Frank Trigg in 2004. The gritty wrestler from Illinois was on an incredible 7-fight winning streak in the UFC, with his only loss in 6 years coming against BJ Penn in a controversial stoppage.

On the other side was the fast-rising Canadian star St-Pierre. At just 25 years old, GSP was already 12-1 in his MMA career with his lone defeat coming against Hughes in 2004. That first encounter left St-Pierre determined to avenge the loss and claim the welterweight strap.

The rematch had been building for over two years, with St-Pierre earning his shot by racking up 5 straight wins, including a unanimous decision victory over former champion BJ Penn. Tensions were high between the two elite welterweights heading into their UFC 65 grudge match in Sacramento.

A Clash of Styles

The fight promised to be an intriguing clash of styles. Hughes was a powerhouse wrestler with a granite chin and relentless ground-and-pound attack. St-Pierre was the more well-rounded fighter, blending superior striking skills with an elite wrestling pedigree of his own.

With the welterweight title on the line, the stakes could not have been higher. For Hughes, it was a chance to cement his legacy as one of the greatest 170-pounders ever. For the younger St-Pierre, it represented an opportunity to dethrone the king and launch his own era of dominance.

All the pieces were in place for an epic battle when the Octagon door closed behind Hughes and St-Pierre at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento on November 18, 2006.