Report: UFC legend Matt Hughes hit with restraining order following ‘disturbing pattern of violence’ against wife, brother

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion Matt Hughes, who earned a spot in the promotion’s Hall of Fame back in 2015, was hit with a restraining order from his wife, as well as his brother, following a “disturbing pattern of violence and abusive behavior.”

That’s according to court documents obtained in a report by TMZ Sports.

Hughes allegedly assaulted his wife multiple times from 2017-2018 and also threatened to shoot her last summer. In addition, the longtime wrestler is also accused of “roughing up” his nephew before trying to destroy his brother’s tractor.

From the report:

Audra claims she refused to give Matt his truck keys, saying, “I told him he can’t have them because he shouldn’t drive due to his DAI (brain injury).” She alleges Matt then snapped ... choked her -- and asked her for the code to his gun vault. When Audra refused again ... she says Matt choked her again, smashed her head against the shower wall and screamed, “This is what choking is!” Audra claims she refused to give Matt his truck keys, saying, “I told him he can’t have them because he shouldn’t drive due to his DAI (brain injury).” She alleges Matt then snapped ... choked her -- and asked her for the code to his gun vault. When Audra refused again ... she says Matt choked her again, smashed her head against the shower wall and screamed, “This is what choking is!”

His wife has subsequently filed for divorce, according to MMA Junkie.

After more than 20 years in combat sports, which resulted in 54 professional fights (and five knockout losses), Hughes, 45, was involved in near-fatal train accident that left him brain damaged (more on that here).

What role chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played in his recent troubles in unknown.

Hughes (45-9) has not competed since his knockout loss to Josh Koscheck in late 2011, but was teasing a return to cage fighting as recently as May 2017.

“I would love to come back,” Hughes previously told The MMA Hour. “I didn’t want to retire in the first place. Dana thought it was the best thing for me and so did my stinking wife. My wife said she didn’t want me to fight anymore and that it wasn’t as fun like when I was out there kicking ass.”