UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy

Tito Wordsmith
5 days ago
5 min read

Introduction

UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn. September 23, 2006. Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California. Matt Hughes retained the UFC Welterweight Championship by stopping B.J. Penn in round three with crucifix ground and pound at 3:53. The series was levelled at 1-1: Penn had submitted Hughes at UFC 46 in 2004; Hughes won the rematch at UFC 63.

The event was originally scheduled as Hughes vs. Georges St-Pierre — GSP withdrew with a severe groin injury in early August. Penn stepped in as the replacement. In one of the night's most memorable moments, GSP was cage-side after the fight and told Hughes he was coming for the title. Hughes dismissed him. GSP replied: “I am not impressed by your performance.” One of the most quoted lines in MMA history.

Joe Lauzon, 21, made his UFC debut and knocked out former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver in 48 seconds. Rashad Evans defeated Jason Lambert by TKO. The event drew 12,604 fans and approximately 400,000 PPV buys in the second UFC event in Anaheim.

Quick Stats

Date: September 23, 2006

Venue: Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, USA

Gate: $1,582,370 — 12,604 attendance (9,343 paid)

PPV: ~400,000 buys

Main Event: Matt Hughes (c) vs. B.J. Penn — UFC Welterweight Championship (5 rounds)

Result: Matt Hughes def. B.J. Penn — TKO (Punches from Crucifix) — R3, 3:53 — series 1-1; KO of the Night

Context: Originally scheduled as Hughes vs. GSP; GSP withdrew (groin injury); Penn replaced on short notice

The Build-Up

The fight that was supposed to happen at UFC 63 was Matt Hughes vs. Georges St-Pierre. GSP had rebuilt from his loss to Sean Sherk at UFC 56, won a split decision over B.J. Penn at UFC 58, and earned his long-awaited title shot. In early August, a severe groin injury forced him off the card.

B.J. Penn stepped in as the short-notice replacement. He had submitted Hughes at UFC 46 in January 2004 to win the Welterweight Championship before vacating it. A rematch had been requested for years. The injury that removed GSP created the chance. Penn arrived on roughly six weeks' notice.

The series record going in was Penn 1, Hughes 0. Penn was a favourite with many pundits despite the short notice, pointing to his submission skills and the fact that Hughes had struggled in their first fight before being caught by Penn's rear-naked choke.

Main Event

Matt Hughes (c) vs. B.J. Penn — UFC Welterweight Championship (5 rounds)

Matt Hughes dominated with his wrestling across the first two rounds. He took Penn down repeatedly, controlled him on the mat, and denied Penn the submission opportunities that had defined the first fight. In round three, Hughes put Penn on the mat and secured the crucifix position. He landed unanswered right hands until referee Big John McCarthy stopped the bout at 3:53.

B.J. Penn sustained a significant rib injury during the fight. He took a 16-month hiatus from the UFC, not returning until his lightweight title challenge against Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 in January 2008. The trilogy’s third fight came years later at UFC 123 in November 2010, where Penn stopped Hughes in round one.

Co-Main Event

Joe Lauzon vs. Jens Pulver — Lightweight (Lauzon UFC Debut)

Joe Lauzon was 21 years old and making his UFC debut. Jens Pulver was a former UFC Lightweight Champion (2001-2002), a veteran, and a founding figure of the division. In 48 seconds, Lauzon knocked Pulver out. The debut was immediate proof of concept — Lauzon became a fan favourite who spent years on the UFC roster.

The contrast made the finish feel significant: a 21-year-old unknown on debut; a former champion who had been the face of the lightweight division. Lauzon received a Fight of the Night bonus.

Full Results

Preliminary Card

Tyson Griffin def. David Lee — KO — R1

Jorge Gurgel def. Danny Abbadi — Decision — R3, 5:00

Eddie Sanchez def. Mario Neto — TKO — R?

Roger Huerta def. Jason Dent — Submission — R? — Submission of the Night (both fighters)

Main Card

Joe Lauzon def. Jens Pulver — KO — R1, 0:48 — Lauzon UFC debut; former LW champ Pulver stopped in 48 seconds; Fight of the Night

Rashad Evans def. Jason Lambert — TKO — R? — LHW

Melvin Guillard def. Gabe Ruediger — Submission (RNC) — R1

Mike Swick def. David Loiseau — TKO — R?

UFC Welterweight Championship (5 rounds)

Matt Hughes def. B.J. Penn — TKO (Punches from Crucifix) — R3, 3:53 — Hughes retains; series 1-1; KO of the Night

Bonuses & Awards

KO of the Night: Matt Hughes — crucifix ground and pound on B.J. Penn at 3:53 of round three.

Fight of the Night: Joe Lauzon vs. Jens Pulver — $40,000 bonus to Lauzon; 48-second KO of the former LW champion on debut.

Submission of the Night: Roger Huerta vs. Jason Dent — $40,000 bonus to each fighter.

Records & Milestones

Originally scheduled as Hughes vs. GSP — the first time a GSP title shot was postponed by injury; Penn replaced on short notice.

Series levelled at 1-1 — Penn won UFC 46, Hughes won UFC 63. Trilogy completed at UFC 123 (2010) with Penn winning R1 stoppage.

Joe Lauzon at 21 KOs former LW champion Jens Pulver in 48 seconds on UFC debut — one of the most memorable debut finishes in UFC history.

GSP post-fight: “I am not impressed by your performance.” — delivered cage-side after Hughes dismissed his title claim; one of the most quoted lines in MMA history.

Legacy & Impact

Matt Hughes' win at UFC 63 extended his welterweight reign and demonstrated that his wrestling was an answer to Penn's submission game. But the card is remembered as much for the post-fight moment as for the fight itself. Georges St-Pierre's “I am not impressed by your performance” declaration became the most quoted line of the 2006 UFC season.

Lauzon's debut was an announcement of a fighter who would spend 12 years on the UFC roster and win multiple Performance of the Night bonuses. Penn's rib injury effectively ended his 2006 and pushed him to lightweight, where he became champion at UFC 80 in January 2008.

Rashad Evans's TKO of Jason Lambert continued his steady climb toward the LHW top five. He won the LHW Championship at UFC 87 in August 2008.

FAQ

Who was originally scheduled to fight Matt Hughes at UFC 63?

Georges St-Pierre was the original main event opponent. GSP withdrew in early August with a severe groin injury sustained during training camp. B.J. Penn replaced him on short notice.

How did Matt Hughes defeat BJ Penn at UFC 63?

Hughes dominated with his wrestling across three rounds, taking Penn down repeatedly. In round three, he secured the crucifix position and landed unanswered right hands until referee McCarthy stopped the bout at 3:53.

What is the significance of GSP's post-fight line at UFC 63?

After the fight, GSP told Matt Hughes cage-side that he was coming for the title. Hughes dismissed him. GSP replied: 'I am not impressed by your performance.' It became one of the most quoted and referenced lines in MMA history and set up their title fight at UFC 65.

Who was Joe Lauzon and why was his UFC 63 debut notable?

Joe Lauzon was 21 years old and making his UFC debut. He knocked out former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver in 48 seconds, won Fight of the Night, and began a UFC career that lasted 12 years.

What happened to BJ Penn after UFC 63?

Penn sustained a significant rib injury during the fight and took a 16-month hiatus from the UFC. He returned at UFC 80 in January 2008 to challenge Joe Stevenson for the Lightweight Championship, winning by TKO in round two.

References

UFC 63 — Wikipedia

UFC 63 — Tapology