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[Nos 5]

Source: Matt Hughes speaks on MMA judging and how to fix it and who he wants to rematch

I think Hughes should just keep fighting older guys. Especially if he's got just one fight left, he should go out strong. A fight against Alves would be brutal imo.

Matt Hughes is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all-time. This is not an opinion, but a fact. The man was Georges St-Pierre before there was a Georges St-Pierre. He won the UFC welterweight bout twice, and defended it seven times during his illustrious career.

Hughes is a hard nosed wrestler with serious submission abilities. The thought of some Iowa farm boy submitting high level fighters was crazy to comprehend, especially considering that Hughes has no Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt to speak of. But that never bothered him.

"You know what, when I was coming up with Pat (Miletich), we didn't have a belt system whatsoever so I was never interested in what belt I am, could care," Hughes told MMA Fight Corner presented by FiveKnuckles.com. "If I'm effective in the cage then it's good enough for me. So, you know what, there's probably (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) black belts out there that would submit me and there's probably black belts out there that I would submit. That's the way I look at it. But we never had a belt system so we never worried about it."

Georges St-Pierre, a BJJ black belt, is someone Hughes has grappled back and forth with throughout his career. In their first meeting, a prime Hughes submitted the young Canadian with an armbar to win his welterweight title. In their third and deciding meeting, Hughes was submitted by that very same move.

With the history that Hughes and St-Pierre have, it wouldn't be out of the question to assume that there were some sort of animosity between the two, but listening to Hughes talk changes that opinion. The veteran obviously sees the talent held by St-Pierre and he doesn't see him losing anytime soon.

"I think that's gonna be a pretty easy fight," Hughes said when asked about St-Pierre's upcoming fight against Jake Shields. "I really do. I think GSP's going to be able to do whatever he wants. Jake's not going to be able to get on top, so I just don't see him being effective really anywhere. I definitely don't think he's going to be able to take him down, and if Shields is on his back I just don't see him being effective. I have to really wonder why he got a title shot in the first place... but, I'll tell you why he got a title shot is there's no one else."

While Hughes may not believe that Shields worthy of a shot at St-Pierre, he is intrigued by a potential showdown with middleweight champion Anderson Silva. While he admits that it would dangerously close, he still believes the Canadian would walk away with his arm raised.

"I gotta think GSP has got a pretty good chance of winning that fight," Hughes said. "I think his takedowns are going to be effective enough to may get [Silva] down on back and I think his GNP (ground-and-pound) is going to be effective enough to hurt him. And his submission defense is going to be effective enough to not get caught with stuff. So, if I had to put money on it, and this is one of those fights that I would not bet, but If I had to put money on it, I would put it on GSP, I really would.

With St-Pierre the current king of 170 and the history between the two fighters, it would make sense for Hughes to want to face off against him someday. But with the trilogy completed (St-Pierre took it 2-1) that ship has...

[sonofsteven]

Props to Hughes for still wanting high level competition but I don't see it going much differently than the first time. So make it happen!

[Luc1an]

yep if Thiago come motivated i dont see it ending well for Huges. =(

[0mega1]

i just want to see matt hughes vs. john fitch God Damnit!

Hughes vs. Alves II = another tko loss for Matt

[Esox Express]

Your thread title doesn't match up with the section of article you quoted.... You should have quoted the section where he talks about himself and Alves. Your quote is pretty much entirely about GSP.

[LefthookStcrook]

Pretty long read, but good non the less.

Let me start off by saying im a big thiago Alves fan. Now thats out of the way, I see Thiago beating Hughes again if they fought imo. Hughes relies heavily on his TDs when facing a better striker, and (imo) Alves is in the top 3-4 for TDD at WW. I doubt if it would end they same way, but I cant see it going good for Hughes imo.

Im also not big on ex fighters becoming judges myself. I have no problem with them "shadowing" or trying to change the system/add in some insight etc. But to actually see Matt Hughes as a judges name would put a bad taste in my mouth personally. Like Dan Henderson vs Jeremy Horn, With Hughes/Militech and Couture as judges? Not something I wanna see myself.

BUT with that said I do somewhat agree with his system for judging a fight. (For those who dont want to read it all)

When I was judging, and I've judged a lot of fights for Monte Cox and other promotions, and my number one criteria was always damage," Hughes explained. "I think that is the most important thing you can judge a fight on, because without damage what is there? I don't care, somebody could be aggressive if they want, but if they don't do damage it means nothing. If the guy on bottom does more damage than the guy on top, then the guy on bottom won the round in my book."

"I'm big on submissions. When someone goes for a submission, they should not only get aggressive points, but what I call "ending points." They're trying to end the fight right then and there, so it would count even more than just being aggressive"

Thoughts? I think this system would end alot of "Lay n pray" myself, because you would actually have to make an attempt to do damage or finish the fight, or risk losing. (Sounds a lil familiar dont it lol)

And I hate it how a JJ master can pull guard(where he wants to be), go for subs and do more damage from the bottom. But the guy on top did nothing but "not lose", and he wins 9 out of 10 times

Good find.

[end it with a left]

Yeah id have to agree with Omega in that I would love to see him fight Fitch. Mainly because I don't see Fitch K.O'ing Hughes and I have little doubt that Matt would out wrestle John all day long.

[The Muss]

because the first fight wasnt one sided at all

[MetallicKnight3X]

I dont remember much animosity between GSP and Hughes.. first he looked up to him couldn't look him in the eyes, second he grew up and knew he could beat him but the respect was still there and nothing changed in the 3rd.. so where that comes from i dont get it.

[rivethead]

Hughes takes the rematch.

rh