Ultimate Fighter Meets Ultimate Muzzleloader

Nine-time Ultimate Fighting Champion (Welterweight) Matt Hughes met another champion in Tennessee, and again Hughes was the only one left standing. This time, however, the opponent was a big 8-point buck.

After sighting in his new Knight Long Range Hunter .50 caliber muzzleloader, Hughes took to the woods with cameraman Greg Yarbrough and Jim McConville in search of his first whitetail buck. It was midday Dec. 7, 2006, and the trio was still-hunting the ridges and tall timber of Henderson, Tenn. Yarbrough caught movement on the next ridge and stopped to investigate. It was a doe walking toward them.

Then, more movement behind her. A big 8-point buck was trailing her, and the pair was walking toward the hunter. McConville sat down and sent Hughes and the cameraman ahead to intercept the deer. The doe crossed the logging road just 50 yards in front of the hunter and he readied his Long Range Hunter and found a steady rest.

Hughes' heart was pounding like he was in the octagon fighting another championship. Yarbrough coached him and asked him to hold off a moment for a better camera angle.

The buck crossed the road behind the doe, and Yarbrough gave Hughes the go ahead. With a great puff of smoke, a worthy opponent hit the dirt and Hughes admired his first buck ever.

Click here to see a video of Matt Hughes successfully harvesting his first buck.

Meet Matt and get your free Matt Hughes/Knight Rifles KP1 autographed poster - Saturday, May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Booth #521, when you attend the 137th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits