Matt Hughes was a transcendent figure during the formative years of the modern Ultimate Fighting Championship, and his accomplishments hold water nearly nine years after he announced his retirement.
The two-time welterweight champion closed out his remarkable career with a 45-9 record that included 35 finishes, 25 of them inside one round. Hughes piled up 18 wins in the UFC—a number that still ties him with Max Holloway, Neil Magny and Frankie Edgar for 12th on the organization’s all-time list. Enshrined in the pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame, he made his final appearance inside the Octagon in a first-round knockout loss to Josh Koscheck at UFC 135 on Sept.