5 of the best one-round fights in UFC history

#2: Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry – UFC on Versus 4

Cheick Kongo recovered from two stunning knockdowns to beat Pat Barry in a UFC classic

It seems hard to believe now, but the heavyweight clash between Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry was never supposed to have been a headline fight.

Initially, the UFC’s fourth show on the Versus network would’ve been main evented by a welterweight bout between Nate Marquardt and Rick Story, but when that one went down the slot, the promotion bumped up Kongo vs. Barry into the headlining spot.

It was a decision they certainly didn’t forget, as the two big men treated UFC fans to a genuinely wild brawl that is still looked upon as a true classic today.

Both men were renowned for their striking, but it was Barry who seemed to have the edge as the fight began. After the two men traded low kicks, Barry countered one with an overhand right, folding Kongo up like a bad poker hand.

The Frenchman looked done as ‘HD’ closed in to finish him off, but somehow, he was able to roll and get back to his feet.

His legs looked thoroughly gone, though, and it came as no surprise when another right hand from Barry sent him crashing back down. This time, the fight definitely looked over. To the shock of everyone watching, Kongo somehow got up again.

This time he appeared to be on roller skates, sliding all over the place like a drunkard on ice. However, when Barry closed in for the kill, somehow the Frenchman found it within him to land a right hook and a follow-up uppercut that dropped ‘HD’, knocking him out.

After the fight, it quickly became clear just how close Kongo was to being stopped himself; a replay of the finish showed that he literally collapsed onto the fallen Barry seconds after knocking him out, as his legs simply couldn’t hold him up.

The whole fight lasted just 2:39, but instantly became part of UFC legend, and while neither man saw real success in the octagon, they were immortalized through this one-round classic.

---

#1: Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg – UFC 52

Matt Hughes' clash with Frank Trigg at UFC 52 remains Dana White's favourite fight

UFC President Dana White has naturally seen hundreds of fights during his tenure with the promotion, but he has always pointed out one clash as his favorite, the UFC welterweight title bout between Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg at UFC 52.

It isn’t hard to understand why White reveres this fight above all of the other classics in UFC history, even if it only lasted for a single round.

The two men had a major rivalry coming into the fight, with reigning champion Hughes having choked out Trigg in a previous encounter two years beforehand.

However, it looked like ‘Twinkle Toes’ would claim a slice of revenge – as well as Hughes’ title when he dropped him with a combination after first stunning him with a low blow missed by referee Mario Yamasaki.

Hughes appeared to be in deep trouble, and that trouble only got deeper when Trigg took his back and applied what looked like a tight rear naked choke.

The champion began to turn purple, but rather than tap, he showed a ludicrous amount of heart, and somehow wriggled free of the hold at the last possible second.

From there, Hughes turned the tables on his foe, lifting him into the air before planting him back down with a running bodyslam. With ‘Twinkle Toes’ clearly spent from his own onslaught, Hughes then returned the favor with some violent ground-and-pound before taking his back.

Where Trigg failed to apply a fight-ending choke, Hughes succeeded. Strangling ‘Twinkle Toes’ and forcing him to tap out at the 4:05 mark.

Everyone watching the clash, including White, was stunned by the action. Most notably Hughes’ incredible comeback, and the win cemented the champion as the UFC’s greatest-ever welterweight to that point.

That title has now been taken from him, but this clash remains arguably the UFC’s greatest-ever one-round fight, meaning Hughes and Trigg will never lose their place in UFC history.