UFC Quick Quote: Matt Hughes needs to fight top guys to earn title shot
by MMAmania.com on Dec 3, 2009 9:42 PM EST
Email
Print
"[American Kickboxing Academy] has been asking for that fight for a very long time, and that fight is continually not made to happen or isn't allowed to happen. And he's publicly said that we're [Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Mike Swick} not big enough names and that we're not important enough for him to fight us. It kinda rubs us the wrong way. If you're trying to be a contender and you're trying to earn a title shot, then you need to fight the top guys. And Matt doesn't want to fight us.... I have no problem with [Matt Hughes] headlining cards with dream matchups against guys that people want to see him fight. If it's not for high rankings or a title shot, I don't see a problem with it. But he's not admitting to that. He's trying to say that he's still one fight away from a title shot. He wants to fight for the title. But if he's going to fight for the title, he has to put in the work. He has to fight the guys who are standing in line in front of him. But if he wants to fight someone like Renzo Gracie? I think that's a great fight. I'd love to see that fight. It's cool, you know? But don't make statements like you're still number two in the world and your next fight should be for the title."
-- Former number one welterweight contender, Jon Fitch, provides Heavy.com with more background regarding former 170-pound champion, Matt Hughes, and his apparent lack of interest in fighting anyone from the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) camp. Koscheck and Swick have verbally called out Hughes on numerous occasions, while Fitch has kept silent for the most part. Hughes recently revealed that he will likely return to the Octagon on April 10, 2010. He didn't mention his opponent; however, speculation has swirled that Renzo Gracie will likely get the nod. It's a fight between two legends of the sport, as well as a revenge match of sorts for Gracie, who is very close with Hughes' nemesis, Matt Serra. Hughes defeated Serra in his most recent performance via unanimous decision earlier this year. Prior to the win, Hughes dropped back-to-back fights to top division players, Georges St. Pierre and Thiago Alves. Fitch, meanwhile, is booked to compete against relative unknown, Mike Pierce, at UFC 107 on Dec. 12 after "The Pitbull" was forced to withdraw from a highly anticipated rematch because of an injury. So will Hughes feel the pressure to one day compete against Fitch, Koscheck or Swick, or can he make one final run to the top without them?
24 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I hate Hughes.
He had his day but that day has passed. Although I think he could take Swick. But not Fitch or Kos.
Fitch and Kos are younger, faster and better at what Hughes does. They would take him apart. Or in the case of Fitch, win a decision with a world-class display of damage-free octogon control.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches
I've seen more than I can recall.
Tell it to Dana
Fitch brings up a solid point. If Hughes wants to have glory fights thats great but make sure that one win over a beat up can doesn’t bump him to the front of the contender line… The problem is Dana- if he can sell it, we’ll see it.
I would still like to see Fitch vs Kos for #1 contender spot on the GSP vs British Clown card.
by SDA on Dec 4, 2009 7:36 AM EST up reply actions
Don't Throw Rocks in A Glass House
Did Jon Fitch just say “If you’re trying to be a contender and you’re trying to earn a title shot, then you need to fight the top guys?”
If I’m not mistaken three of the top guys in the 170 pound division refuse to fight each other and Jon Fitch is one of them. Put up or shut up.
Good call.
If they are all three top guys why haven’t they fought each other? They have their own reasons but they are still ducking fights. The only difference is their little camp is ganging up on Hughes. Hughes basically doesn’t want to fight any of them because they aren’t big names. I don’t blame him. I bet he’d fight Fitch though. That match up could be put together I think. Fitch isn’t as marketable but he has such an impressive record. If they both win their next fights I can see it happening.
by fenderacoustic (formerly wAyNe) on Dec 3, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly, B.L.!
If Fitch/Kos/Swick weren’t so busy avoiding each other, they wouldn’t have to call out irrelevant guys like Hughes. I agree with whoever said that Kos is the biggest threat to Hughes. I wouldn’t mind seeing Hughes take on any of those guys, but I’d rather see him drop down to LW and do a rubber match for BJ’s belt.
Leroy,…Who’s the MASTER?!?
.
"Dont Throw Rocks in A Glass House."
-Truth
Fitch/KOS/Swick NEED to fight. enough BS. As with Lyoto/Silva and what about little NOG (their training partner) being a force in the LHW division now? will they fight? NO!
BUT, i do like what Fitch had to say though. Hughes should be taking fights that are interesting and what people want to see at this point in his career. He’ll never be champion in the UFC again but fight with Gracies, BJ, Trigg (x3), and so on are the type of fights he should be gearing towards (and personally, i think he is/will be).
Will be one of the next few to be inducted into the HOF. He’s only got a few fights and a SHORT time left… He’ll go out with class, be inducted as the pioneer he is, then live out the days on the ol ranch………….
JDS vs Yvel? would be a great fight, Dos Santos tko, but Gilbert’s no sleeper
by SouthCaliStunNa on Dec 4, 2009 4:19 AM EST up reply actions
Glass House
Idon’t think that Swick is a top 5 guy and after Kos’s losses to Alves and then his flash KO loss he shouldn’t be considered top 5 either. Fitch was signed on to fight Alves who is clearly the next best fight out there for him to fight, (untill Alves’s cycle wouldn’t clear… jk). I really think that Kos and Fitch would drop the whole ‘team’ idea for another shot at GSP.
by SDA on Dec 4, 2009 7:44 AM EST up reply actions
Hughes has been ducking the AKA trio for a while, if he has any serious intentions of fighting for the belt then he should be fighting the top young WWs and not old has beens, I like Renzo but a Hughes-Gracie fight wasn’t relevant at UFC 60 nevermind in 2010 and a win over him doesn’t do anything for Hughes ranking wise.
I see Fitch and Kos as younger, stronger and faster versions of Hughes but with better stand-up. Not that it takes much to have better stand up than Hughes.
I agree to some extent that striking is where Swick would excel but I think Hughes has been there before and would use his superior wrestling to take Swick down and ground and pound. Although Hughes does have something in his head that makes him think his striking is better than what it is.
Either way…the AKA guys are barking up the wrong tree. Beating Hughes, albeit satisfying to pound out a real prick, isn’t driving up their rankings.
Hughes vs Kos
Kos would give Matt the biggest problem. Out of the 3 of them I feel that Kos is the most well rounded and his striking has improved leaps and bounds since when he first stepped into the Octagon. Matt is being stupid for not fighting these guys, these 3 guys pretty much are the gatekeepers for the Welterweight division while GSP is still holding the belt. If he doesn’t fight one of these 3, his only other options that would make a statement would be Alves, Hardy, or Rumble Johnson(he already lost to Alves once). The guy is no longer a top 5 fighter, he’s barely cracking the top 10 in the WW division, he should be at least 2 or 3 impressive fights away from a title shot. Does anybody know who the top 10 WW’ are?
Every fighter has a plan until he gets hit
Makes sense really
AKA calling out Hughes makes sense. Think about it. Look at Chuck for instance. Everyone calls him. Rashad, Jardine, Shogun, etc. You beat him, you get a shot… except for Jardine. Beating a former champ is a quick way to a title shot. Same for fighting a former #1 contender, but the AKA guys aren’t going to fight each other. Same for Jackson’s guys (Rashad/Jardine/Jones) and ATT’s guys (Cane/T. Silva). Teammates simply don’t want to fight. Even Shogun and Wand wouldn’t have fought during the ‘05 MWGP in Pride. As for Hughes trying to get another title shot, really? We’ve already seen him against GSP three times. The first time was a win, the second and third though? Hughes was beaten senseless. No point in another rematch.
But of course!
WTF does Hughes expect, the UFC to spoon feed him just like the others? Fuck that shite!
Whatever the fuck you do in life, echoes in eternity! <----slightly edited
-Maximus[Gladiator]
hughes aint done
I think hughes still has some fight in him.
Swick vs hughes. I think hughes could win if he shoots and stalls out a decision.
Kos vs hughes. there is always a possibility hughes can catch kos in an armbar or choke, he caught gsp in the past and gsps jits back then was better than kos jits now.
Fitch vs hughes. Probably hughes toughest fight cus fitch is good everywhere. When it comes to wrestling I think they can cancel each others so if they stand no question who takes it.
Any fight happens I hope hughes does well.
by Phenomenal Angel on Dec 4, 2009 1:34 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Fitch should have this conversation with Swick and Kos
They haven’t fought top competition as of late but feel they are title contenders. Laughable group.
@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
While I still think Hughes is a top 5/top 10 UFC WW, the AKA guys have a point. If he still wants to be considered one of the best, he has to fight the other top guys in the decision, and that DOES include the guys from AKA. Hughes trying to say they aren’t big enough for him to fight them is ridiculous. One of them had a title fight w/ GSP, and another was a fight away from a title shot. Not counting Matt’s first encounter w/ GSP, two of them lasted longer in the cage w/ GSP than Hughes did. I could easier understand the decision not to fight them if Hughes was planning to retire soon and just wants some more wins under his belt before he does so.
Hughes also defeated Royce
I think the “revenge” is more likely because of Hughes’ total domination of Royce. Perhaps the Serra connection is there, too, but I can’t imagine that is more important than the Gracie name.
Wouldnt expect anything
differant from Matt “douchebag” Hughes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get over yourself dude!!!!!!!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on MMAmania.com
Related FanShots on MMAmania.com
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
