MMA Fighter Bios: MATT HUGHES

MATT HUGHES

BORN: Hillsboro, Illinois

5’9, welterweight

Nobody has ruled the welterweight class as Matt Hughes did in his heyday. While GSP is the new king of 170 pounds, it was the country boy in Matt Hughes who was the master of the welterweight category for a long while.

Pacing before across the Octagon while the introductions were being belted out by Bruce Buffer was the constant sight prior to a Matt Hughes fight. Casting a evil glare towards his opponent across the cage was a staple pre-fight ritual. No words were needed to explain the menacing look—Hughes would be feeling strong disdain that the competitor across the cage actually believed he could beat him. 43 times out of 50 he proved him them. Not too shabby a record for a fighter who fought some of the top tier fighters in the game for large chunk of his career.

Hughes had a target on his for a long while in the 2000s. Fighter after fighter looking to get a piece of UFC gold would eventually have their road lead to Matt Hughes. The Illinois entered the UFC welterweight belt under unusual circumstances. It was odd a title shot in his first UFC bout against Carlos Newton, but stranger was the way he won it. After Newton secured a triangle choke, Hughes picked up the Canadian welterweight placed him on the top of the Octagon cage before slamming Newton on the head unconscious, and ending up in a semi-unconscious state himself. When Hughes awoken from his momentary slumber, he realized he had become the UFC welterweight champ.

Always a believer that to be a true champion you have to not just win the strap, but defend it, Hughes honored his commitment to that statement. Defending 5 times, Hughes become well known as the most dominant welterweight champion sport had ever seen. He even defeated Newton in dominant fashion to put to rest any controversy lingering over their first battle.

The loss to BJ Penn in early 2004 could have totally demolished Hughes from a mental standpoint. He lost to a fighter he was expected to crush, a fighter coming up from a smaller weight class, and for the first time in over 2 years he was not the welterweight champion. But one of the most pivotal characteristics of Hughes throughout his career has been a very strong mind. Hughes would win his next 6 fights, regain his title, defend it twice, avenge his loss to BJ Penn and handily defeat a legend in Royce Gracie.

Like many wrestlers who enter into the sport, Hughes, has a very strong mental ability to push through adversity. The two-time Division I All-American wrestler has taken that mindset to MMA and allowed him to flourish in the sport. Perhaps the most impressive victory of Hughes was one where he was on the brink of defeat. After taking an accidental groin shot from Frank Trigg, the fight continued as the referee was not able to catch the illegal blow in time. Trigg pounced and severely stunned Hughes and dropped him with punches. A mount and strikes would ensue and a rear naked choke that looked to be extremely close to being completely locked in. It appeared Hughes was done for, and the vast majority of fighters would have checked out at this point. But Hughes dug deep to escape, pick up Trigg and run across the cage with him and slam him to the mat. A completely reversal of fortunes would unfold–vicious ground and pound and then Trigg having his back taken. Hughes however was able to seal the deal and choke out Trigg and pull off one of the most amazing comebacks and action packed first rounds the UFC had seen.

Some fighters look for a way out in tough times, but Hughes has always looked to find a way to win. An avid poker player, Hughes always has a confident poker face going and looking for a way to trump his opponent. You have to either knock out or be within an inch of choking him unconscious or ripping off a limb for him to stop. Hughes has never gone to decision in defeat.

NO LUCKY STREAK

Matt Hughes has some impressive win streaks in his career:

18 fight win streak between 1998 and 2000

13 fight win streak from 2001 to 2003, which included 5 UFC title defenses