10. Carlos Newton vs. Matt Hughes
UFC 34 “High Voltage”
Nov. 2, 2001 | Las Vegas
It was a finish that was talked about for years, and it made Hughes a champion for the first time. Newton rose to prominence on the strength of his dangerous submission skills and had put away longtime Hughes mentor Pat Miletich with a bulldog choke to capture the welterweight crown at UFC 31. Hughes posed a serious threat but had not yet established himself as the top 170-pound fighter in the sport. His clash with Newton in the UFC 34 co-main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena started him down that path. After a competitive first round, Newton seized control in the second. Hughes was bogged down in the Canadian’s guard and eventually found himself entangled in a triangle choke. The challenger fought to extract himself, but as the seconds ticked off the clock, it seemed more and more likely that Newton’s submission skills would allow him to retain his title. No one could have foreseen what followed. In a desperate but genius maneuver, Hughes scooped up Newton, walked him over to the cage and rested him against the top of the fence. The two rivals then slammed down hard on the canvas, the concussive impact knocking out the Canadian. Hughes also appeared to be out, having lost consciousness in the clutches of the choke. However, when Newton’s triangle was undone by the slam, Hughes was set free and was the first to come to his senses. Since Newton was still unconscious, referee John McCarthy essentially had no choice but to award the Miletich protégé the victory. Newton to this day believes the Hillsboro, Illinois, native fell victim to the choke, while Hughes remains steadfast in his belief that he slammed the champion on purpose to prevent going to sleep.
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