5. Matt Hughes
Much of the history associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight division is tied up in two men: Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. Hughes made his promotional debut at UFC 22 on Sept. 24, 1999 and then bounced around the regional scene, sharpening his skills and biding his time. When he put down roots in the UFC for good in 2001, he was a finished product. The Pat Miletich protégé went 9-3 in UFC title fights -- only St. Pierre and B.J. Penn managed to defeat him -- and laid claim to the welterweight championship for the first time with his slam knockout of Carlos Newton at UFC 34. Hughes ruled the division for the better part of five years, placing himself among the all-time greats.
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