Matt Serra: Matt Hughes 'is a one trick pony'

by MMAmania.com on Sep 29, 2008 9:54 AM EDT

Quoteworthy:

"This fight should happen. A lot has been said by both sides, and I don’t plan on talking without walking. I plan on fighting. I would love to be the nail in his coffin.... Matt Hughes is a one trick pony, but he’s very good at that one trick. Top position is his thing, both submission wise and ground-and-pound. That’s what he’s the master of, and I know that. I feel that my jiu-jitsu is going to have to be where it should be, and I plan on doing more wrestling."

Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra continues the steady drumbeat of talk that surrounds an eventual "grudge match" with nemesis Matt Hughes. Both fighters are currently recovering from injuries and hope to settle their score once and for all in early 2009. The pair was originally slated to face off in December 2007 before a back injury to Serra forced him off the New Year's Eve weekend card.

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i agree with serra.

and i would also love for him to be the person to put the

final nail in hughes coffin.

this fight better happen.

it is the only matt hughes fight i want to see.

after that he can fudge off.

by ricky dooby aka s~f on Sep 29, 2008 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed. I can’t stand Hughes either. One last beatdown by Serra is something I’ve been looking forward to for some time now.

by Flyingknees on Sep 29, 2008 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I for one think serra and hughes are the only ones interested in this self promoted fight. they both need to retire.

by blah. anything can/and will happen in MMA on Sep 29, 2008 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Serra calling Hughes a 1 trick pony, thats laughable! Serra should hope to acomplish half of what Hughes has done. Serra is the one thats obsessed with hughes, talking about him in every interview. MAN! I hope Hughes pounds Serra into early retirement or to LW atleast?

by JV on Sep 29, 2008 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

cmon jv, hughes talks about serra every chance he gets too. They don’t like each other, and it’s gamesmanship!
name a fight hughes one by not GNP or sub from top position, thats all he meany, I didn’t take it as disrespect!

by kevin doesn't know shit on Sep 29, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Well look at the interview Serra/GSP rematch! Serra talked more about Hughes than GSP. And all through the TUF coaching Serra kept trying to make fun and talk about Hughes.

by JV on Sep 29, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s all good for the sport anyway. hope Serra wins. I was never a fan of Hughes anyway…

by The Negation on Sep 29, 2008 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

You know what though? I’m getting sick of serra running his mouth so much. It’s looking to be a battle of the d-bags, IMO. I was rooting for serra, but now I think I’m hoping for a double KO. Shut ’em both up.

by chefdaddy on Sep 29, 2008 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not that excited to be bloggig about this fight taht should of happedn eons ago.. just put it on a fight card.. get it out the way.

by PhilQNY on Sep 29, 2008 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

I agree phil, but really hope serra beats the piss out of hughes

by kevin doesn't know shit on Sep 29, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Serra should drop Hughes.. then drop to 155.. IMO he is a true 155’er.. he’ll have better match ups there.

by PhilQNY on Sep 29, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree as well. i dont know why serra is just waiting on hughes (ufc politics most likely). he should be fighting at 155 and i think he could be a legit contender at that weight.

by b.w. on Sep 29, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope this fight is an unaired prelim and not a main event as the UFC is probably going to market it.

by James S on Sep 29, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the UFC will make it a co main event.

by PhilQNY on Sep 29, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

They’d better, and sooner!

by The Negation on Sep 29, 2008 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t about 1 prick pony. I would say his stubbornness and unwillingness to develop and evolve as the sport has is his undoing.

by DSmith on Sep 29, 2008 10:01 AM EDT reply actions

Hughes has tried to evolve. His only real weakness is his striking. Sometimes you can’t teach someone to be good at something. I have no doubt that Hughes works hard at learning new stuff. He’s just one of those guys that used to be dominant in the old days, because back then, you could get away with it. Now that he’s getting older, its tougher to learn new stuff. Also, its much harder to be a one-dimensional champion anymore. All of our champs now are well rounded. Think about it: Torres, Urijah, BJ, GSP, Anderson, Forrest, and Nog are all extremely well rounded. Now look at the way it used to be: Pulver, Hughes, Tanner, Tito, Sylvia. Times sure have changed.

by --utaptout-- on Sep 29, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Truth.

by OJR on Sep 29, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

You’re very right.

by DSmith on Sep 29, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

True, however Serra is not exactly the most well rounded fighter either. I am going against the grain in this chat, and I am picking Hughes to win. Serra hasn’t submitted anyone in about 3 years.

by naturalshadow on Sep 30, 2008 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I could care less about both of these pricks. Serra is a guy that runs his mouth like a yenta and Hughes is the most arrogant fighter in the business. With that being said I think Hughes takes it, even though he is turning into a smaller version of Ken Shamrock.

by the_mexicutioner on Sep 29, 2008 10:07 AM EDT reply actions

Hughes is a has-been, Shamrock is a never-was. I’m not a huge fan of Hughes either, but comparing him to a complete loser and mochery of MMA like Ken Shamrock is going too far. It may seem harsh, but Ken Shamrock (and Frank too for that matter) is a disgrace to the sport.

by --utaptout-- on Sep 29, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

If your knowledge of the UFC goes back farther than TUF 3 you would know that Ken is a UFC original and a former champion, hardly a loser.

by PW on Sep 29, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Don’t talk to me about pre-TUF 3 stuff. I’ve been here since the beginning. Ken may be an original, but he is a sub-par fighter, that happened to be decent for his time when everyone else hadn’t trained in the right martial arts. Ken is a side-show circus act, even though he should be an ambassador for the sport. Look at the way he treats fans, and look at his disrespect for some of his opponents (not just tito) throughout his career. I’d love to see Shamrock/Ortiz 4,5,and 6, just to see him get lumped on some more.

by --utaptout-- on Sep 29, 2008 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

There’s a difference between having a personal dislike for a guy and refusing to recognize him as one of the great submission fighters of all time. He may be a dick, I don’t know, I’ve never met him. You’re entitled to that opinion. And I agree he should have retired several years ago. But in his prime Ken was one of the best on the planet, certainly not a never-was.

by PW on Sep 29, 2008 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

A few guillotine chokes and a few ankle locks against a few opponents that hadn’t ever trained to defend them does not make him one of the greatest submission fighters of all time. You want to talk about great submission guys, lets bring up Royce or Rickson Gracie, or almost any other Gracie for that matter. Ken was good in his prime, which happened to be a time when steroids ran rampant, Ken took advantage of that fact, and there was no level playing field. If you want an example of an old school fighter that is a great ambassador for the sport, go look at Bas Rutten. he has class, and doesn’t walk around with a chip on his shoulder, and a need to have his ego stroked.

by --utaptout-- on Sep 29, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Bas was also submitted twice by Shamrock. Like it or not, Ken was very good back in the day. He just should have retired about 10 years ago, before killing his legacy.

by naturalshadow on Sep 30, 2008 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I was refering more to the bitterness they both have towards other fighters that are much better than them.

by the_mexicutioner on Sep 29, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Funny coming from a guy who landed the luckiest punch in MMA history. Ground and pound and submissions shouldn’t be considered one trick due to the fact that they are 3 distinct ways to beat your opponent.

by Robert on Sep 29, 2008 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

I think Serra was referring to the top position as his one trick. Serra has more tools, but I don’t think he can stop the takedown. I see this one being a mirror image of Hughes/Lytle. Being a jiujitsu practitioner, I’ll be rooting for Serra, although I don’t see it happening.

by --utaptout-- on Sep 29, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I dont know what drives me more crazy, hughes chuckle when he makes stupid jokes and laughs like a hyena at his own words, or serra’s high pitch voice screaming in the corner “breath just breath, thats it”. Either way i guess its a fight that has to happen, cause lets face it, they did tuf together and are still talking. So lets squash this bug, but dont except a fight of the year type of match, better yet fight of the night.

by Toad on Sep 29, 2008 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

drago!! your picking him apart!!

by kama kaze on Sep 29, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Kettle calling the pot black

by RiverHorror on Sep 29, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

A lot of serras hostility seemed to have come from what laimon was starting with the royce gracie fight with hughes and I cant blame him for getting pissed about it laimons a good grappler nothing else hes not a fighter and shouldnt run his mouth about a guy whos at least had the balls to step up and especially royce if it wasnt for him man the sport would definitely be different in the US…

But so far as hughes fighting lytle….Well Hughes wrestling is his strength serras got some ko power but to be totally honest ive only see him really show it in two fights…Hughes has tkoed quite a few more guys so i see this being hughes beating on serra unless serra can land something.

by Joe on Sep 29, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

I disagree with one small point. If it wasn’t for Royce, then Rickson Gracie (Royce’s older brother)wouldve been there to bring BJJ to the mainstream. Rickson was head and shoulders better than Royce was, and proved it in international competition. Try to find the movie “Choke” on ebay for about 10 bucks if you want to see a great documentary on the greatest Gracie walking the earth. Royce is more well known, but Rickson is the champ of the Gracie family.

by --utaptout-- on Sep 29, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

always been a fan of serra, the guy always cracks me up… hughes is a cool too. his sponser is bushmaster.. who else has that sponser?!! serra gets difinitive advantage in standup and Hughes is KOable. But I’m pretty sure the fight will go to the ground. Hughes still has his wrestling / farmboy strength in him and is no stranger to bjj. Gonna be pretty evenly matched. I’m gonna pick Hughes but root for Serra…hehe

by kama kaze on Sep 29, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

win or lose to hughes i will always love serra for his total embarrasment and brutal beatdown of GSP at 69.Serra could never win another fight in his life and i will like him.

by GEEZZZZ on Sep 29, 2008 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

Serra will beat hughes. I think Hughes’ time has just past him up.

by belfort_fan on Sep 29, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

i think once serra loses to hughes he needs to drop back down to lightweight, i think he would have a great chance of capturing the lightweight title especially if bj penn moves up to 170 for a while. I think serra has great skill but he does not have the size nor the strength to compete with todays welterweights, many of whom cut down from 185 pounds or more such as alves who i believe cuts down from about 200 pounds

by matt on Sep 29, 2008 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

I dont think Hughes will beat serra but, I do agree with you about Serra goin down to lightweight.

by belfort_fan on Sep 29, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Prediction:
Serra loses via: Open mouth insert Foot.
Hughes loses via: I am too old for this. I’m going back to the farm.

My opinion, both will happen.

by Grembone on Sep 29, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

Hughes has defended his title many times. We’ll see if GSP can equal his reign at the top. Hughes gets a bad rap from haters cause he tells it like it is and gives thanks to God and Jesus Christ. We don’t care if you don’t want to see a hughes fight or if you don’t like him. We do and our money spends just as yours. He is still a good draw after the fact that he is getting older. He shouldn’t have fought alves cause the fat ass was a monster. Hughes could have kept him on the ground and got that win but the 205 alves was to much of a hulk. Stop hatin Hughes and think who you would want your kids around. Serra can’t talk without cussing and slammin people. I hope that Hughes finally lets it all go and punish him for his mouth. OLast guy that talked that much shit about Hughes was Franky Trigg! How did that work out for him? LOL YOU KNOW!

by Tony P. Draper on Sep 29, 2008 4:41 PM EDT reply actions