Matt Hughes undecided on retirement, but would "love" a rematch with Thiago Alves
Posted on March 22, 2012, 01:05 PM by Joey SantosusUFC Hall of Famer, Matt Hughes, who was last seen in action at UFC 135 in September, openly contemplates retirement, and discusses life after fighting. Hughes admits that he is still undecided about his future with the UFC, but says that, should he fight again, he would like an opportunity to avenge his 2008 loss to Thiago Alves. Photo: Francis Specker
Matt Hughes
"I'm at a crossroad. I've got to figure out what I want to do - retirement or fighting another fight. To be honest, I'm still there on the trail trying to figure out which path I'm going to take. I don't get to decide my own fights. The UFC, Dana White, Joe (Silva) - they'll come up to me, and they'll say, 'This is what we've got for you next.' So, I don't decide who I'm going to fight. But, to be honest, you are catching me off guard. I don't know who it would be. I'd love to fight a guy who has already beaten me to be honest - Thiago (Alves). It happened. I took that fight, kind of, on short notice - as he did too. So, that may be a fight I'd look for."
Further Reading: Dan Hardy: Matt Hughes is a blood-thirsty kill freak, I would love to fight him
Comments
Matt hughes (uses) to be good. But he is too old now. I would still enjoy watching Hardy bang that old man though
:-0
I would not enjoy that... I would not enjoy seeing any man getting banged by another man...
Can't say that I want to watch Hardy "bang" another guy. But to each their own...
On a serious note, Matt has always been a dominant BUT one dimensional fighter. And the sport has progressed to a point where it is passing by the one dimensional fighters (Chuck, Tito, Matt, etc...). You have to adapt to the sport and develop EVERY aspect of you game. Matt's wrestling is unparalleled at 155, but he has weak BJJ from non-dominant positions, and his striking is amateur at best.
Some will say that decline comes with age, and to some degree that's true. But, I don't believe that can't be overcome with development of weaker skillsets.
Matt fights at 170, not 155, and Chuck looked great against Franklin until his glass chin shattered. That was aquired with age. If Chuck still had a chin, he would be the only true threat to Jones. I think you are right about Hughes though. The sport has passed him by, and its sad to say, but he will never be a contender again.
Meant 170.
I like him as much as anyone, but I disagree on Chuck. The last person he really beat was in 2006. After that he lost 5 of 6....all by KO/TKO to people who (when he was in his prime) he would've beaten or at least go to a decision. The problem is that 2010 Chuck has a lot more to worry about from a fighter than the 2006 Chuck. In Pride and pre-2007 UFC, a lot of his competition was also one dimensional, so Chuck had less to worry about (being taken down, sub'd, strike variety, etc...), so he was much more prepared as a defender and was at an advantage in the striking dept.
Fast forward 4 years and even gatekeepers have the tools of champions past, so now Chuck has more to defend against, leaving him vulnerable if he defends improperly or goes for a faint or fake. People see a degraded chin, and perhaps it is, but when your more vulnerable because you haven't adapted to the offensive attacks over the years, then you leave yourself open a lot more, and you take more punishment.
Chuck had a bad life style and was far 2 over confidant. When he beat randy he was hungry and was in great shape but in the 2nd fight with tito he looked far to fat in my opinion and he slowed as the rounds went on. For years chuck said he wanted his belt back but in reality that was a goal way out of his reach
I think Thiago and Matt should go at it again. They are both coming off loses so it makes sense.