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Matt Hughes will try to become the most dominant Vice President of Athlete Development and Government Relations of our time. Why? Because he's retired from MMA!
It's time for Matt Hughes to call it a career.
The former UFC Welterweight Champion today (Jan. 24, 2012) announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) following back-to-back knockout losses to B.J. Penn and Josh Koscheck, finishing with a 45-9 record with 35 finishes.
The former NCAA All-American was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame back in 2010.
In addition to multiple appearances on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Hughes is perhaps best known for his run as 170-pound champion over the past decade, with memorable wars against Georges St. Pierre, Frank Trigg and B.J. Penn.
For the record Matt Hughes has:
• 45 pro wins
• 18 UFC wins
• 2 welterweight championship reigns
• 7 successful title defenses
• 9 championship fight wins
• 5 knockout wins in championship fights
• 5 successful consecutive welterweight title defenses
• 12 welterweight championship fights
• 27 welterweight championship rounds fought
• 3 submission wins in welterweight championship fights
• 6 former or current UFC champions defeated by Hughes (St-Pierre, Serra, BJ Penn, Dave Menne, Sean Sherk, Carlos Newton)
Now that he's stepped down as a fighter, following a brief but grateful speech at today's UFC on FOX 6 press conference (see it here), Hughes will assume the position of UFC Vice President of Athlete Development and Government Relations.
How will you remember the former champ?
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