UFC
Jeff Blatnick, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II announced as first inductees in 2015 class of the UFC Hall of Fame
May 20, 2015 - 10:55:57 PM Jeff Blatnick, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II announced as first inductees in 2015 class of the UFC Hall of Fame

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The first two inductions are set for the 2015 class of the UFC Hall of Fame, as it was announced on Wednesday that Jeff Blatnick and the second fight between Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg will go in this July during International Fight Week.

Blatnick goes in posthumously almost three years after his untimely death at 55 due to complications from heart surgery.

An Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1984 games, Blatnick's contributions to mixed martial arts - a term he happened to coin - were significant. He served as a commentator for the UFC from UFC 4 until UFC 32, and played a major part in bringing about the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. He would go on to be an MMA judge for a time as well over the next decade.

While Blatnick will join the new "contributors" wing of the UFC Hall of Fame, the Hughes-Trigg II fight will become the second bout recognized in that new dedicated wing.

Hughes, the former UFC Champion already in the Hall of Fame individually, beat Trigg in their first matchup at UFC 45, but their rematch at UFC 52 would go down as one of the great comebacks in UFC history.

After an early low blow went missed by the referee, Trigg took advantage and got in some significant offense. However, Hughes recovered, and in a highlight still played to this day, Hughes picked him up, ran him across the cage, and slammed him to the canvas. From there, it wouldn't take long for Hughes to do damage on the ground before sinking in a rear naked choke for the win.

The UFC is expected to announce inductees in the "Modern Era" and "Pioneer" wings for this year's class as well. All will be inducted during International Fight Week in Las Vegas leading into UFC 189 in July.