Will Matt Hughes ever dominate WW again?

The_Iceman · 07-04-2007, 11:20 PM

He dominated a division when there was nobody there. Now, you see great mma fighters in the mix, and a lot of them pose a threat. I'll just state that no one will dominate at ww, simply because there will be too much talent there.

BCguy · 07-04-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasty-J

He is 1 and 1 with GSP and with BJ. If he beat them before he could very well do it again.

Sure he "could" but he wont.

jm1010 · 07-04-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasty-J

He is 1 and 1 with GSP and with BJ. If he beat them before he could very well do it again.

Um no. He was dominated by both BJ and GSP. He just isnt as well rounded as them. No matter how you spin it, BJ was beating him the second time they fought until he was injured. I am not saying that Hughes didnt win, but BJ will beat him next time just like he did the first time, and just like he was the second time. Hughes' style is becoming out dated. I dont see him ever being the champ again, much less dominating the division.

AllTrac · 07-05-2007, 12:27 AM

I don't see him dominating again simply because the division is getting so deep.

He beat GSP before when GSP was not ready mentally for the fight, now that he has matured more and is ready we all saw what happened and there is no denying that.

BJ beat him before and was winning in the 2nd fight. Also now with BJ's training being taken to the next level (he was simply the best conditioned BJ we have ever seen against Jens Pulver) i really don't see hughes having a physical advantage on him now.

earvinarp · 07-05-2007, 12:42 AM

I actually think he has the talent and youth to dominate again but he will not because his head is partly out of the game. In the GSP fight he never looked serious about fighting. The KO always seemed a matter of time.

That said, if Matt can regain some commitment, he should be able to defeat Serra and maybe defend a couple times, if he does not get GSP right away.

F_B · 07-05-2007, 12:44 AM

I liked Hughes until he started showing his personality.

Do I think he'll ever reign supreme in the WW division again? Not at all. After Matt Serra decimates Hughes he'll retire forever in shame.

Kaledonia · 07-05-2007, 01:30 AM

nope, not a chance in hell

Kurtis636 · 07-05-2007, 01:40 AM

I said quite some time ago that the Miletich guys were going downhill. You just can't get away with only boxing and wrestling anymore. It's still a very good camp with some excellent fighters but I'll be very surprised if you see another Miletich trained champ in the UFC for a while. Hughes is the only guy out of that camp that could get a belt, but if he does beat Serra (not a given by any means) I don't see him holding it. GSP absolutely dominated him, BJ did the same, and frankly I think he'd be in big trouble against Koscheck.

So, short answer... no.

Ring_Raider_07 · 07-05-2007, 01:45 AM

If Kos beats GSP, GSP will be down and out mentally. Hughes will beat him. I think Hughes will beat Penn. Penn comes in at WW too small. Hughes will beat him again.

Heatwaves · 07-05-2007, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goeth27

1 loss the bandwagon gets shaky and everyone jumps off.

That quote is GOLDEN. So true with every former champion.

In my opinion, no one will dominate any weight class for quite some time. Every division is just too deep now to have a champion last more than 3-4 title defenses. However, I do think that everyone is too eager to throw Hughes under the bus. As a person I can stand Hughes, but he has the potential to regain the title and stay there for a few more fights. In the BJ-GSP-Hughes-Insert-another-talented-WW-fighter-here chain, they can all beat one another on any given day. The next year is going to be very intriguing. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hughes hold it for a few fights, nor would I be surprised to see the belt change hands with each and every fight next year.

Heatwaves · 07-05-2007, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Iceman

He dominated a division when there was nobody there.

How can you say that? He beat Penn, GSP, Sherk, Trigg (twice), Sakurai and Royce Gracie over this period. That hardly constitutes weak competition.

The Bodybag · 07-05-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

Will Matt Hughes ever dominate the UFC Welterweight division again?

In my personal opinion I don't think he will. With GSP showing at UFC 65 what he can do against Hughes, and with BJ showing what he can do when in the welterweight division in the first 2 rounds at UFC 63 against Hughes, I don't think Matt Hughes could ever beat these two fighters for a start without going into the likes of Kosheck and Sanchez.

I used to like Matt Hughes, but now I dont as much as I believe he is the only top contender in the WW division in the UFC to not try and improve his game. Matt does have great wrestling, submission and gnp ability, but its not amazing now compared to the likes of the fighters mentioned earlier, and its also not good enough for the ju-jitsu and takedown defense which most fighters are gaining and improving on. Also, with BJ's cardio improving, Matt won't have the chance of waiting for BJ to gas and then beating him.

What are your views?

First off, BJ wasnt gassed, hughes only said he was. BJ heart a rib in the 2nd round, so his cardio never cost him the match. And the guy lost to GSP once for christ sake everyone hopped off the wagon so damn fast. He has also beaten GSP in the first round and beaten BJ. BJ winning the first 2 rounds mean nothing, Hughes was a long time champion used to pacing himself for 5 rounders, and he weathered that storm quite well. People talk about BJ's phenominal bjj abilities, well he got Hughes in a triangle and Hughes hung in for days. Im not trying to attack you personally, I am just sick of people seeing one side and going with it. What makes Hughes different than GSP's story? They have both fought and both won, both have fought BJ but Hughes won in a more descisive way. Every person it seems is basing Hughes career on UFC 65 and thats a sham.

My GnP is Sick · 07-05-2007, 11:10 AM

I think he can beat almost any fighter at 170 lbs. the UFC has to offer, with the exception of GSP. Hughes might not be as well rounded as some of the other guys in his division, be he does what he does very well and that's what makes him good. Is he going to beat everyone, no, but I don't see him lossing many fights.... Not that I think thats going to matter, GSP should get his head on right an own everyone in this division

The Bodybag · 07-05-2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatwaves

How can you say that? He beat Penn, GSP, Sherk, Trigg (twice), Sakurai and Royce Gracie over this period. That hardly constitutes weak competition.

Agreed.

Trigg (twice)
Carlos Newton(Twice)
Joe Doerkson
Hayato Sakurai
Sean Sherk
Renato Verissimo
George St. Pierre
BJ Penn
Chris Lytle
Gil Castillo

He won the title in 2001 and GSP had a fight in 2002.

*****I know someone is going to say that GSP was too young or inexperienced and thats a load of horse ****. Everyone knows he was a dangerous guy when he fought the first time, he had beaten Karo. Randy Couture won the UFC HW tourney his second fight and the UFC HW tile his fourth, GSP was ready on his 8th fight. I am not knocking GSP i think he is an anima.

jyd94 · 07-05-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bodybag

First off, BJ wasnt gassed, hughes only said he was. BJ heart a rib in the 2nd round, so his cardio never cost him the match. And the guy lost to GSP once for christ sake everyone hopped off the wagon so damn fast. He has also beaten GSP in the first round and beaten BJ. BJ winning the first 2 rounds mean nothing, Hughes was a long time champion used to pacing himself for 5 rounders, and he weathered that storm quite well. People talk about BJ's phenominal bjj abilities, well he got Hughes in a triangle and Hughes hung in for days. Im not trying to attack you personally, I am just sick of people seeing one side and going with it. What makes Hughes different than GSP's story? They have both fought and both won, both have fought BJ but Hughes won in a more descisive way. Every person it seems is basing Hughes career on UFC 65 and thats a sham.

GSP was beating hughes pretty convincenly till he got caught in a very quick sub 1 second before the end of the round. In the second BJ fight Hughes had to (he said it) pray to get out of the sub attempt. He also had side control on BJ for 'days' and had to punch him in the head like 47 straight times to end the fight, after BJ suffered an ingury. I HATE hughes, but I will say this. I think he can go 50/50 with GSP over the long haul, just because A. GSP can mentally be beat and B. Hughes didn't do what he should have in the second fight (takedowns) so I can't say for sure. But BJ is better than him and he won simply because of an injury.

earvinarp · 07-05-2007, 01:26 PM

Guys, no one is questioning Matt's ability. But the real issue is his head. He's got a family, good money. He can make a career coaching and working in the the sidelines. He did not want to fight GSP in his last fight. He looked sort of serious against Lytle, but that was not a top contender. Now, he is in a tv show, TUF, making a good buck and then fighting Serra, whom, in all bets, he should dominate. Hughes does not want to fight Parisyan, Fitch, GSP, Koscheck, Sanchez... If you don't believe me, rewatch the last GSP fight. Look at the guy's attitude in that fight. He is out.

BCguy · 07-05-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bodybag

Agreed.

Trigg (twice)
Carlos Newton(Twice)
Joe Doerkson
Hayato Sakurai
Sean Sherk
Renato Verissimo
George St. Pierre
BJ Penn
Chris Lytle
Gil Castillo

He won the title in 2001 and GSP had a fight in 2002.

*****I know someone is going to say that GSP was too young or inexperienced and thats a load of horse ****. Everyone knows he was a dangerous guy when he fought the first time, he had beaten Karo. Randy Couture won the UFC HW tourney his second fight and the UFC HW tile his fourth, GSP was ready on his 8th fight. I am not knocking GSP i think he is an anima.

Noone is saying Hughes wasnt a great (if not the best) WW champ of all time. All people are trying to say is he is NOT well rounded , and his days of dominating with his wrestling ability alone are over.

IrishRage · 07-05-2007, 01:34 PM

BJ beat him the first time , And then In there second fight completly dominated Hughes for 2 rounds almost finishing him In the last seconds of round 2. Then screws up his stomach with rib problems then hughes ends the fight. GSP got cought with a late submission then made Matt never want to try a stand up fight again In there rematch. Kosheck wrestling skills are much much better then Hughes and both have horible standup but It looks like Kosheck Is the type that will now go work on 80% standup In the gym to Improve , submission advantage clearly goes to Matt. And I just personally think Jon finch and Karo Paryisan can beat him on any given night .
So the answer Is NO he won't dominate anymore , thats not saying he still Isn't a amazing fighter and a UFC legend and very well could hold the belt again I just don't think there Is anymore Frank triggs left for him LOL

The Bodybag · 07-05-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyd94

GSP was beating hughes pretty convincenly till he got caught in a very quick sub 1 second before the end of the round. In the second BJ fight Hughes had to (he said it) pray to get out of the sub attempt. He also had side control on BJ for 'days' and had to punch him in the head like 47 straight times to end the fight, after BJ suffered an ingury. I HATE hughes, but I will say this. I think he can go 50/50 with GSP over the long haul, just because A. GSP can mentally be beat and B. Hughes didn't do what he should have in the second fight (takedowns) so I can't say for sure. But BJ is better than him and he won simply because of an injury.

GSP winning convincingly? Come on, it was the first round where neither fighter did much. Would he have probably taken that round?yes, but convincingly is just wrong. And another thing is the rounds do not mean squat if the fight doesnt go to decision, thats why fighter's finish people, so they dont loose on the cards. And who cares if he had to pray, i dont care if he needed to think worship the devil to get out of that triangle, he got out, period. And the injury that BJ had was inflicted by Hughes, saying someone lost only because the other figther hurt him bad is the whole point of the fight. Kaleb Starnes got hurt by Grove, Rich Franklin got hurt against the crow. Avoiding injury is part of fighting. I just dont get your arguement, all the reasoning you are giving is in a way a compliment for Hughes. He had a well established side controll on BJ and hit him "47 times", that sounds like some good GnP.

The Bodybag · 07-05-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCguy

Noone is saying Hughes wasnt a great (if not the best) WW champ of all time. All people are trying to say is he is NOT well rounded , and his days of dominating with his wrestling ability alone are over.

I wasnt jsut throwing stats out to be a pompus ass, The Iceman said that Hughes dominated the division when there was no one in it, I was simply showing him the good WW that were in it.