Matt Hughes: From Kid to Veteran
Ben Zeidler Jun 5, 2008
"I'm okay being the veteran, but I'm still just a kid."
-- Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants pitcher.
On Saturday, a grizzled veteran of mixed martial arts will take on one of its fresh faces when Matt Hughes (Pictures) fights Thiago Alves (Pictures) in the main event of UFC 85 in London. But it was not so long ago that Hughes was the fresh face himself.
Hughes, 34, began his professional career a decade ago, but the
two-time welterweight champion was just another wrestler in an
exploding sport before his exclamatory knockout slam of Carlos Newton (Pictures) at UFC 34 in 2001. The highlight
reel move earned his first welterweight title and began Hughes'
terrifying assault on the 170-pound division.
He would lose the title to B.J. Penn (Pictures) in Jan. 2004 and then regain it from Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) less than 10 months later. He represented the new wave of MMA fighters against old-guard legend Royce Gracie (Pictures) during a dominant win in May 2006.
On Saturday, Hughes hopes to prove the sport has not evolved beyond him.
In Nov. 2006, Hughes looked awestruck against an improved St. Pierre, who picked his spots beautifully and earned a second-round stoppage. A little over a year later, the gap had widened for the rubber match. With video game precision, St. Pierre executed his game plan and finished with a poetically judicious submission.
"I definitely want that fourth fight with Georges," Hughes said. "I walked away pretty disgusted with myself. That wasn't me out there. I'd love to fight him again.
"I didn't work my takedowns enough. There was no ground game, to put it plainly. There were situations where I got him where I wanted him, but I didn't pull the trigger. I didn't do my moves. I just didn't improve from the first St. Pierre loss to the second."
Before St. Pierre, however, the Illinois native must get past brawler Thiago Alves (Pictures), who is coming off an underdog win against Judo legend Karo Parisyan (Pictures). Alves has won five straight, only one of which was a decision. The UFC is billing the fight as a path to the title, but Hughes isn't buying. He knows there is one fight he - and the fans - want to see.
"My next fight will be Matt Serra (Pictures), not a title shot," Hughes said. "I'm not overlooking Thiago one bit and then after (Serra), I'm gonna cut straight on to the title. But that's not yet. The title shot is still three fights away. But, they can bill (this fight) however they want or whatever sells tickets."
While certainly not his biggest name opponent, Hughes still has Alves well-scouted.
Alves "is not a step back or anything," Hughes said. "Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (had never) been KO'd, so if Thiago can do that, it's a great accomplishment. Thiago is very dangerous with his striking too.
"Obviously I need to neutralize his punching. I'll go for the take down and I believe that my size, strength, and technique will be superior. From there, I can either wear him out or go for a submission."
Alves is the faster and younger man, and if the fight becomes a battle of speed, Hughes could lose. When asked if he believes Alves' clinch could pose a problem, Hughes offers a response that conjures an image of a teacher simply toying his with student.
"I'm willing to clinch with him," he said. "I'm not worried about anyone getting my head down or putting it where I don't want it. I pick where my head is going to be."
No matter how the Alves fight finishes, it's clear that Hughes is not done. He may be older and a step slower, but call him done and you'll be swiftly corrected.
"No, I'm not retiring," he said. "I'm definitely still happy fighting. I never retired, and if I ever said anything to make people think that, then I didn't mean it."
When Hughes looks across the cage comes Saturday night, it will not be about Alves or the chance at the title. It will be, and has always been, about Matt Hughes (Pictures) and his legacy in the sport. It is about being a veteran and a kid at the same time. For the self-proclaimed country boy, it is about a never-ending pursuit to be the best.
"I think I have about six losses and 48 wins, so am I pleased? Yes.
"Could it be better? Yes."
-- Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants pitcher.
On Saturday, a grizzled veteran of mixed martial arts will take on one of its fresh faces when Matt Hughes (Pictures) fights Thiago Alves (Pictures) in the main event of UFC 85 in London. But it was not so long ago that Hughes was the fresh face himself.
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He would lose the title to B.J. Penn (Pictures) in Jan. 2004 and then regain it from Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) less than 10 months later. He represented the new wave of MMA fighters against old-guard legend Royce Gracie (Pictures) during a dominant win in May 2006.
Hughes let go of an arm bar because he "didn't want to break
Royce's arm" and went on to say, "When I beat Royce, it showed that
the sport had really evolved."
On Saturday, Hughes hopes to prove the sport has not evolved beyond him.
In Nov. 2006, Hughes looked awestruck against an improved St. Pierre, who picked his spots beautifully and earned a second-round stoppage. A little over a year later, the gap had widened for the rubber match. With video game precision, St. Pierre executed his game plan and finished with a poetically judicious submission.
"I definitely want that fourth fight with Georges," Hughes said. "I walked away pretty disgusted with myself. That wasn't me out there. I'd love to fight him again.
"I didn't work my takedowns enough. There was no ground game, to put it plainly. There were situations where I got him where I wanted him, but I didn't pull the trigger. I didn't do my moves. I just didn't improve from the first St. Pierre loss to the second."
Before St. Pierre, however, the Illinois native must get past brawler Thiago Alves (Pictures), who is coming off an underdog win against Judo legend Karo Parisyan (Pictures). Alves has won five straight, only one of which was a decision. The UFC is billing the fight as a path to the title, but Hughes isn't buying. He knows there is one fight he - and the fans - want to see.
"My next fight will be Matt Serra (Pictures), not a title shot," Hughes said. "I'm not overlooking Thiago one bit and then after (Serra), I'm gonna cut straight on to the title. But that's not yet. The title shot is still three fights away. But, they can bill (this fight) however they want or whatever sells tickets."
While certainly not his biggest name opponent, Hughes still has Alves well-scouted.
Alves "is not a step back or anything," Hughes said. "Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (had never) been KO'd, so if Thiago can do that, it's a great accomplishment. Thiago is very dangerous with his striking too.
"Obviously I need to neutralize his punching. I'll go for the take down and I believe that my size, strength, and technique will be superior. From there, I can either wear him out or go for a submission."
Alves is the faster and younger man, and if the fight becomes a battle of speed, Hughes could lose. When asked if he believes Alves' clinch could pose a problem, Hughes offers a response that conjures an image of a teacher simply toying his with student.
"I'm willing to clinch with him," he said. "I'm not worried about anyone getting my head down or putting it where I don't want it. I pick where my head is going to be."
No matter how the Alves fight finishes, it's clear that Hughes is not done. He may be older and a step slower, but call him done and you'll be swiftly corrected.
"No, I'm not retiring," he said. "I'm definitely still happy fighting. I never retired, and if I ever said anything to make people think that, then I didn't mean it."
When Hughes looks across the cage comes Saturday night, it will not be about Alves or the chance at the title. It will be, and has always been, about Matt Hughes (Pictures) and his legacy in the sport. It is about being a veteran and a kid at the same time. For the self-proclaimed country boy, it is about a never-ending pursuit to be the best.
"I think I have about six losses and 48 wins, so am I pleased? Yes.
"Could it be better? Yes."
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