In the third fight between two of the sport’s all-time greats, B.J. Penn knocked out Matt Hughes with a quick, brutal display of precision striking at UFC 123.
The whole fight lasted just 21 seconds, and delivered Penn one of the most spectacular wins of his MMA career. Penn had lost two straight lightweight title fights this year and seemed to be on the downside of his career, but he bounced back in a big way by beating Hughes.
Penn got things started with a 1-2 combination, and when Hughes threw a kick, Penn caught it and nailed Hughes again. They briefly stepped back, and then Penn nailed Hughes with an overhand right, knocking Hughes flat on his back. Penn landed four more punches on the ground and Hughes wasn’t defending himself, and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.