Should Matt Hughes Call it a Day? - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

StrikeHARD · 01-03-2008, 02:52 AM

Hi all.

Matt Hughes has been one of the most (If not the most) dominant Champions in UFC history. Holding an impressive record of 43-6-0, Matt has some of the sports biggest names on the large list of opponents he has overcome, including - Carlos Newton (2x), Sean Sherk, Frank Trigg (2x), Joe Riggs, George St-Pierre, Royce Gracie and BJ Penn.

Matt Hughes is almost certainly going to be a great addition to the UFC Hall of Fame. But with his recent convincing loss to George St-Pierre for a second time, do you think it is an appropriate time for Matt Hughes to finally hang up his gloves and retire from the UFC?

I think now would be a good time for Hughes to end his fighting carreer in the UFC. He has previously stated (During his coaching role on TUF), that he only had 2 or 3 more fights in him, so quitting must not have been far from his mind. But now with the state of the WW division, I can't see Hughes regaining the title. I'm predicting George St-Pierre to reclaim the title from Matt Serra, and I really don't think Hughes will ever hold the belt again while GSP defends it - Which I believe will be a long time.

At the moment I don't see anyone in the division that I would pick over GSP, I think Karo Parysian and Jon Fitch would make worthy opponents, but I don't see either one of them pulling out the victory. Somewhat like the MW division; with Silva holding the title and Franklin being the only real contender, but still never looks like having enough to dethrone the champion - I see the WW division this way, with GSP as champion (Just my personal prediction, no offence to Matt Serra or his fans) and Hughes being the next best fighter - Just with slim chance of ever regaining the title.

With this all being said, Hughes still could have a few more fights in him, should he desire to continue. He is already a very popular and wealthy man within the sport and has done so much for the UFC and MMA as a whole. For now for me seems like a good time to call it a day... Or perhaps one more fight, possibly looking to go out on a win, other than a resounding defeat.

Should Hughes decide to retire, I'd like to say my thanks for all he has done for the sport of MMA and to wish him luck in whichever path he chooses to follow

P.S Sorry for the long read - You can tell I'm bored

Xenofreak · 01-03-2008, 04:55 AM

Matt should get a nice win in, and then call it a day. Or a nice constant batle with someone. That should be cool. Someone he really hates.

Mulla · 01-03-2008, 06:15 AM

I wouldnt be surprised at all if he did. Other than a fight with Serra, which wont happen for at least 6 months, I cant see anything really motivating him to fight again.

mxfuel · 01-03-2008, 07:58 AM

He should fight Serra first.

theshee · 01-03-2008, 08:04 AM

I would wait till GSP beats serra, then fight him and call it done. Matt can not compete with GSP, and he isnt one to lower his standards to fight a bunch of low class fighters just to stay in the octagon. I say wait, beat serra and go out with a win.

Jenkins83 · 01-03-2008, 08:29 AM

There are still a bunch of guys I'd like to see Hughes fight. Serra, Karo, Koscheck, Sanchez to name a few. So I hope he doesn't retire yet.

Beazt · 01-03-2008, 08:32 AM

NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I'm no fan, but lets be honest with ourselves. I've said this before but it deserves repeating. MH is within two years of being widely acknowledged as the best WW ever! Yes, he is nearing retirement age but I don't think he should be persuaded to retire because of his loss to GSP.

If/when he wants to retire he should move up to MW and either face Anderson Silva/Dan Henderson for the title OR more likely face his buddy Rich Franklin. That way he'll be sure to retire in a 'classy' match with a win/loss to someone he can share the spotlight with.

Do you think Ken Shamrock wanted to retire after losing to Tito? I'm sure he'd rather lose to someone at his own camp. I would.

StratTone · 01-03-2008, 08:32 AM

No I say just take some time off if his mind isn't in the game. No reason to leave so soon.

T-Bone · 01-03-2008, 08:40 AM

I voted Yes. He has nothing more to prove and the talk (in other threads) of him moving up to fight Anderson Silva is kinda silly. I'm going to assume he's tired of getting tooled so why would he do that?

It's really up to him of course. If he still has the drive to fight, he'll stick around. Or if he thinks it'll help his gym or his book sales. At this point, he can probably name his next opponent. Waiting for Serra might take a while.

There's always the Couture, Clemens, Clemens, Clemens, Clemens, Clemens option of retiring, then coming back.

LEFTHIGHKICK · 01-03-2008, 08:56 AM

Guys , I wonder why Matt Hughes cant compete with GSP ?? , seriously I would have said Matt Hughes is stronger and had just as good , if not better skills then GSP ? , i dont see why he cant compete with GSP?

mammoth91 · 01-03-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEFTHIGHKICK

Guys , I wonder why Matt Hughes cant compete with GSP ?? , seriously I would have said Matt Hughes is stronger and had just as good , if not better skills then GSP ? , i dont see why he cant compete with GSP?

Matt said it himself after the fight " He's a better fighter " Simple, GSP is faster, stronger, bigger and has a better MMA skill set.

daval · 01-03-2008, 09:56 AM

I would love to see Hughes vs. Serra then he can retire.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 01-03-2008, 10:08 AM

just a thought.... can hughes move up to 185??? he could pose a problem for silva....

Mulla · 01-03-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSPALLTHEWAY

just a thought.... can hughes move up to 185??? he could pose a problem for silva....

He could and he has talked about it before, just after the first Franklin/Silva fight.

TBH I dont see him being nearly the force at MW as he was at WW. He'd be giving up a LOT of size to the bigger MWs.

mammoth91 · 01-03-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSPALLTHEWAY

just a thought.... can hughes move up to 185??? he could pose a problem for silva....

I really don't see how he could pose any problem for Anderson at all. Anderson is like a bigger, stronger and more vicious GSP. Black belt in BJJ, MT off the charts with pin point strikes and proved to be stronger than Franklen. Silva would KO Matt in under two minutes.

FrankenJim · 01-03-2008, 11:07 AM

I think hes got a few fights left in him, I think we will see him call it a day after a match up with Serra

Nasty-J · 01-03-2008, 11:10 AM

Unless he wants to i don't see why he should. He's 34, you got people like liddell who's 38 and plans on fighting his way back to the belt

StrikeHARD · 01-03-2008, 11:16 AM

Perhaps taking on Serra would be a wise move; providing he gets the win of course. Defeating Serra would further cement his position and ensure he is still looked upon as one of the 'elites' in the division, despite his loss to GSP.

You never know, Serra could throw a spanner into the works and succesfully defend his title against GSP - This would please Hughes and maybe motivate him to continue, as he must know that he was a far better chance of taking the title from Serra as opposed to GSP. Plus he has wanted a fight with Serra for a while and we all know of the animosity between the competitiors - A title shot against a person that you really don't like and want to fight anyway... What could be more motivating lol.

I think the outcome of the GSP vs Serra rematch will be a decisive factor in the future of Matt Hughes

I also think moving up a weight class to MW is a dangerous idea. There are a few people I could back him against, but I think he could find it difficult against a lot of others. He has such a legacy from his WW domination, I wouldn't like to risk tarnishing it by moving up and picking up what could be lots of unnecessary losses. I think Franklin would be too much for him, and I think he should steer well clear of Anderson Silva lol

FightFan76 · 01-03-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshee

I would wait till GSP beats serra, then fight him and call it done. Matt can not compete with GSP, and he isnt one to lower his standards to fight a bunch of low class fighters just to stay in the octagon. I say wait, beat serra and go out with a win.

I agree, from a competition stand-point MH could still beat most of the WWs in the UFC w/ the exception of GSP, Fitch, or maybe Kos (dont know). I believe he could/would beat Serra however and he wants that fight, it would be a perfect exit. Even though he is still better than most WWs he wants to be the best and hold the belt and he could fight GSP 100 times and never beat him again IMHO so yeah, if he just wants to stick around he is good enough but he wants to be the best and I just cant see him regaining the title again so he will probably fight Serra and retire.....

Straffe · 01-03-2008, 12:49 PM

hughes should fight serra and then possibly move to middle weight and try to take out anderson, if dan loses.