MMA Legacy 5.25.09: The Greatest Welterweight of All-Time, and UFC 98 Thoughts

Posted by Bill Wannop on 05.25.2009

In the debut column of MMA Legacy, we take a look at the Legacy of Matt Hughes. From breaking into the sport to his most recent fight with Matt Serra, we take a look at how Matt Hughes became known as the Greatest Welterweight of All-Time. Plus some UFC 98 thoughts.

Each and every week MMA Legacy shines the spotlight on a MMA legend. The legends may be retired or may be still actively competing. The column will begin with a bio on the selected legend following his career throughout its highs and lows.

Since UFC 98 was this past weekend and we finally witnessed the anticipated showdown of Serra-Hughes, this week's column will focus on the "Greatest Welterweight of All-Time", Matt Hughes.

Matt Hughes was born on October 13, 1973 (making him 34 years old today), in the small town of Hillsoboro Illinois (population 4500). He has a twin brother named Mark, who also competes in MMA and grew up on a farm living the "farm town life". The "farm town life" meant that Matt and Mark spend lots of their time working on the farm, which enabled them to develop a very strong work ethic early in life (as well as that crazy farm boy/wrestler strength). With very little free time for themselves, while in Junior High Matt and Mark only had time for one extra-curricular activity, and it was wrestling.

In high school the brothers competed in both football and wrestling (they played linebacker and running back). During the Junior and Senior years in high school, Matt went undefeated and won back to back state championships in the 145 division. His record in high school was an unbelievable 131-2.

After high school, both brothers wanted to stay competitive so both attended Belleville Area College for wrestling, however the wrestling program was cut from the school after their first year. Because of this both transferred to Lincoln College to continue their wrestling careers, and after one year at Lincoln College, Matt accepted a scholarship to attend Eastern Illinois University. Matt dominated in college wrestling and earned All-American honors in each of his four years there.

After his varsity eligibility ran out, Matt still loving the sport became an assistant wrestling coach at Eastern Illinois University, while he trained to become an electrician. His competitive juices never stopped however, and he jumped at the opportunity to continue to compete. This time the competition was different, as he was appreciated by a friend in 1996, to fight in a small local show. Matt accepted and in his first fight he was victorious earning $100 for his victory. It would be awhile however before Matt would fight again, and his next fight came at the same event one year later. After his second victory Matt met up with the man who became his manager Monte Cox.

With Monte Cox by his side, Matt began fighting more often all around the world such as Kuwait, Japan, and the U.S. Matt continued to use his strong wrestling to defeat opponents, going officially 4-0 before suffering his first lost to Dennis Hallman by guillotine chock at 0:18 of the first round at Extreme Challenge 21. This loss did not affect Hughes as he went on another 4 fight win streak before making his first appearance at the big stage (well at this point it wasn't as big) the UFC. At UFC 22: Only One Can Be Champion, Matt won his first fight inside the Octagon (although the match was not televised) by unanimous decision defeating Valeri Ignatov.

Matt would go an impressive 18-0 fighting all over the world, in the UFC (UFC 26 victory over Marcelo Aguiar), WEF, RINGS, and Extreme Challenge, before he would get his shot at redemption against Dennis Hallman, the only man to defeat Matt at this point in his career. At UFC 29 the rematch occurred and it seemed that Hallman had Matt's number however, as he submitted Matt 0:20 in the first round by armbar. Matt would lose his next fight suffering his first KO of his career as well as his first back to back losses.

These losses seemed to drive Hughes forward as he went on a 7 fight win streak, earning his first big opportunity at UFC 34, and title shot against then Welterweight champion Carlos Newton. Hughes again found himself in trouble my means of a triangle submission, but using his freakish power was able to lift Newton up and slam him to the ground, knocking Newton out cold, and earning himself his first title. There was some controversy surrounding the fight however as although Newton was knocked out, many people believe that Hughes also passed out from the triangle submission. The victory was upheld, and Hughes erased all questions when he defeated Newton by TKO in the fourth round at UFC 38.

Hughes continued his dominance and added to His MMA legacy in the welterweight division defeating Frank Trigg and Sean Sherk before suffering defeat to BJ Penn at UFC 46. Penn, a major underdog in the fight, was able to use his superior BJJ to get Hughes' back and sink in a rear naked choke at 4:39 of the first round. However after a legal dispute between Penn and the UFC, the belt was vacated, and Hughes regained the title at UFC 50 in a fight with up and comer Georges St-Pierre. St-Pierre seemed star struck fighting Hughes and tapped to an armbar at 4:59 of round 1. After this victory Hughes would dominate fighters such as Frank Trigg, Joe Riggs, UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie and defeated BJ Penn in a rematch. The rematch with Penn was dominated early by BJ almost catching Hughes in a submission at the end of round 1, however Matt held on and ended the fight in the third. After the fight with Penn, St-Pierre called out Hughes saying that he was not impressed with his performance, and the two were set to meet at UFC 65 for the welterweight title.

At UFC 65, Hughes seemed outmatched by St-Pierre losing the first round before being defeated by TKO due to strikes in the second round. Soon after this loss Matt Hughes separated from his long-time training camp Miletich Fighting, and started his own training camp H.I.T. (Hughes Intensive Training) with friend Robbie Lawler. His next fight earned him a decision victory over Chris Lytle, before suffering back to back losses to George St-Pierre and Thiago Alves, in which he was dominated in both fights, suffering a knee injury in the fight against Alves.

Matt Hughes has had a dominate career in MMA and is nearing the end of His MMA legacy. He has been past, present and future stars, and has a strength and work ethic that is seldom seen in sport earning the right to be called the Greatest Welterweight of All Time. His current MMA record is an impressive 42-7 and in that time he has only suffered 2 back to back losses. His first back to back loss occurred in 2001 after which he went on a 13 fight win streak. His most recent back to back loss came in his last two fights. Who knows if he has enough gas in the tank for one last run on the top as Matt has stated that he only has a few fights left in him. One specifically is a fight with middle weight champ Anderson Silva, which Hughes has shown an interest in.

Credit
Matt-Hughes.com
UFC.com

UFC 98 Analysis

Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar
Wow, the outcome of this fight really surprised me with Edgar winning a unanimous decision victory. Watching the fight Edgar just dominated Sherk on his feet, and Sherk seemed to have the mindset that most wrestlers seem to get at some point in their career, and that is to abandon the wrestling and try to prove that the can knock people out. During the first two rounds Sherk didn't even attempt a takedown, which makes no sense at all as that is his greatest strength as well as Edgar's last defeat was because he was constantly taken down and bullied. Good win for Edgar, but I can't see him threatening Penn for the title anytime soon.

Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen
Huge boos for Eves Lavigne at the start of this fight for some reason; perhaps something happened on the prelims, or people still remember the Matt Brown fight. Not much to say about this fight but pure dominance by Chael Sonnen. Sonnen used the strategy that Sherk should have used by taking Miller down and just beating him up using his ground and pound. Funniest line by Rogan nearing the end of the fight saying that unless Sonnen has a random stroke, Miller has no chance of winning.

Drew McFedries vs. Professor X
There is no way I am attempting to spell Professor X's real name. Pure dominance by McFedries. It seems that if McFedries is not facing a submission specialist that he has a great chance of knocking anybody out. I still wanted to see the original matchup of McFedries vs. James Irvin though.

Krzystof Soszynski vs. Andre Gusmao
Pretty decent fight with Krystof ending it with a knockout in the first round. I don't see Krystof going too far due to the dense light-heavyweight division, but he should do well against lower competition.

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
Great fight that had everything you could hope for with Serra almost finishing Hughes early by dropping bombs, but Hughes using his strength and wrestling to grind out a decision. After the fight, Hughes stated that he has no more fights left in his contract, but that he is open to continue fighting. From that fight however, I just can't see Hughes dominating the way he did in the past. His striking is non-threatening, and his wrestling while it can be dominating, when going against the bigger welterweights such as Alves, or St.Pierre was ineffective. While Hughes previously stated he wanted to fight Anderson Silva, I think if that fight were to happen Silva would dominate him with his striking.

Light heavyweight Championship

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida
Joe Rogan said it best at the end of the fight, welcome to the Machida era. Machida won both rounds, knocking Rashad down in round 1, and knocking Rashad completely out and leaving him crumpled against the Octagon cage in round 2. Looks like Rampage is next for Machida, and hopefully he will have an answer for Machida's style.

All in all it was a very entertaining event, which will be remembered for the great Hughes-Serra feud, as well as the beginning of the Machida era.