I still have the one from last night to do but this one featured two fights I've already reviewed so it was a no brainer to do this one first. Tonight we get both Hughes/Trigg matches and Rich Franklin in action against Evan Tanner. Let's get the show on the road.

UFC Welterweight Title Match:
Matt Hughes © 29-3-0 vs. Frank Trigg 9-1-0

Background:
Frank Trigg is a slightly above average fighter with a big mouth. Matt Hughes has probably been a top 3 welterweight for the last 5 years. That should give you an idea of where this is going.

Round 1:
Trigg gets a takedown right away but Hughes has a front face lock. They fight over position for quite awhile until Hughes lifts Trigg onto his shoulder and slams him to the mat. Trigg gets a half hearted kimura but Hughes easily gets out of the hold. They battle over control on the ground which Hughes basically wins by getting a few takedowns in the mix. Hughes gets on Triggs back to get a choke hold. Trigg stands up and Hughes locks in a sleeper hold, not really but that's what it looks like, and Trigg taps at 3:55. Trigg looked completely outclassed here. He put up a decent fight but everything just seemed like he was delaying Hughes victory. 1 for 1.

WINNER and STILL CHAMP: Matt Hughes by submission 3:55 into Round 1


Light Heavyweight Title Match:
Rich Franklin 9-0-0 vs. Evan Tanner 27-3-0

Background:
This happened at UFC 42. Tanner and Franklin have met twice. The other time was in June of this year when Franklin took Tanner's Middleweight Title.

Round 1:
They circle until Rich hits a high kick. Evan hits a couple of knees. They lockup and Evan hits another knee. They circle for a long time with Rich going for leg kicks and Evan going for knees. Rich hurts Evan with a flurry of punches. Rich rocks Evan and goes in for the kill at 2:40. Boring as it was almost all circling till the last little bit. 1 for 2.

WINNER: Rich Franklin by TKO 2:40 into Round 1


UFC Welterweight Title Match:
Matt Hughes © 38-4-0 vs. Frank Trigg 12-2-0

Background:
This is of course the rematch from earlier this year. Trigg decided to run his mouth about Hughes even though being completely outclassed by him in their first match.

Round 1:
Trigg being the piece of trash that he is knees Hughes in the balls. The ref for some reason doesn't stop it as Trigg goes right after Hughes. Trigg pounds Hughes on the ground and then goes for a rear naked choke. Hughes escapes, gives Trigg a nasty Oklahoma Slam, pounds him on the ground and then taps him with a rear naked choke at 4:05 like the little bitch Trigg is. 2 for 3.

WINNER and STILL CHAMP: Matt Hughes by submission 4:05 into Round 1

Rant:
I'd just like to say the two matches between Hughes/Trigg actually played a better wrestling angle than anything the WWF has done in a long time. You have the heel lose and claim he's improved in the ring and then use dirty tactics only for the face to ultimately win in the end. Trigg learned nothing from this fight as he ran his mouth almost immediately and then basically got booted from the UFC after getting beat by Georges St. Pierre a few months latter. Good riddance.

Final Thoughts:
Not a bad show as the Hughes/Trigg matches are excellent. If you haven't seen Hughes/Trigg II it'll probably have you on your feet when the Oklahoma Slam comes. Definate thumbs up show.