A Country Boy Should Retire: Hughes should hang 'em up in a loss at UFC 117
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 10:22 AM EDT
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"The best time to start thinking about your retirement is before the boss does."
-- Author Unknown
Matt Hughes is a proud man and a tough competitor. He is a legend in the sport and one of the most dominant champions in the history of the UFC.
Matt Hughes is also in the twilight of his career.
His 44 wins read like a Who's Who of Mixed Martial Arts: BJ Penn, GSP, Royce Gracie, Carlos Newton, Frank Trigg, Hayato Sakurai, Akihiro Gono, Matt Serra, the list goes on and on. There is no doubt that Hughes has cemented his legacy in the MMA landscape.
Hughes is already a member of the UFC Hall of Fame, inducted this year at the fan expo during UFC 114 and, along with Chuck Liddell, is one of two active UFC fighters to be inducted..He's two time UFC Welterweight Champion, he's defended the belt more than any other champion and, to show the length of his dominance, he's beaten every other Welterweight Champion in the history of the UFC except his mentor Pat Miletich. There's little more that Hughes has left to prove.
With that in mind, if Hughes loses to Ricardo Almeida on Saturday at UFC 117, he should give great consideration to hanging up his gloves and stepping away from the cage.
It was apparent to most observes of the sport that Hughes wasn't the dominant force he used to be following his 2nd loss to Georges St. Pierre by armbar at UFC 79.
He then went on to be thoroughly dominated by Thiago Alves, losing by TKO in the 2nd round at UFC 85. This was seen almost as a "passing of the guard"; two fighters intersecting while going on divergent paths, Alves on the way up and Hughes on the way down.
Hughes then went on to put on a decent performance against his much-smaller Matt Serra at UFC 98 coming after a year off due to a torn MCL. He then followed that up with a TKO victory over handpicked rival Renzo Gracie. Hughes dismantled Gracie, who hadn't fought in years, with leg kicks forcing the referee to ultimately stop the fight.
Though Hughes was the victor in both of his last bouts, it was clear that the fighter's skills had declined. The powerful takedowns, the strength and speed that put him head and shoulders above the welterweight pack have all but disappeared.
The current highly-skilled uberathletes of today's welterweight division, such as GSP and Josh Koscheck to name a couple, have passed Hughes by. The question is "Does Hughes know that and, if so, will he admit it to himself?"
Hughes' pride in himself and his accomplishments are well-known. It's what drove the Hillsboro native to work hard as an amateur wrestler coming up and to achieve his successes in the UFC. That same pride, however, may be the hindrance keeping him from realizing it might be time to step away.
Hughes has to look no further than long-time friend and training partner Jens Pulver as an example of what happens to MMA fighters who refuse to admit that the sport they love so much has passed them by.
Matt can also look at the other man who was inducted into the Hall of Fame before retiring, Chuck Liddell. Liddell has long ignored the signs that he game has passed him by and refuses to, even at the insistence of UFC President Dana White, stop fighting and putting himself in serious danger. His recent string of knockout losses has put a blemish on what is a storied MMA career.
Hughes is too proud of a man to continue fighting as a "gatekeeper" in the UFC, matching up against young prospects as a litmus test to their talents. He wants another title shot and his determination in that fact will potentially match him up against fighters that outclass him in 2010 and beyond.
Whether Hughes realizes that losing to Almeida is turning point to him either stepping away from the game with his head held high or continuing to fight, and most likely lose, against fighters with more talent I don't know. What I do know is that when "A Country Boy Can Survive" plays, I'll be on the edge of my seat.
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No way
His losses are not that bad. He hasn’t shown a weak chin or anything else to indicate that his health is in jeopardy (unlike the other fading legend). The way GSP handled him in the third fight (and to some extent the takedown Serra got in the third round of the fight) was a bit surprising, but Hughes still has solid wrestling.
He is a huge name and deserves to make some of the money that is flowing into the UFC these days, whether as a gatekeeper, a contender, or as a sacrificial lamb for a rising star. His continued career in the UFC is fine by me.
PS. I can’t believe I am defending Matt Hughes. He was one of the first champs I was always rooting against.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
It's not that I don't think Matt doesn't have the skills to stick around
The thing is Matt is too proud to be a “gatekeeper”. He’ll want to fight Koscheck, Fitch, Alves, etc. And he’ll lose. Continuously.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't know the man that well.
But I would hope that a bad loss to one of them would hurt his pride enough for him to hang it up, or at least take a few senior fights with other fighters. I’d pay to see him constantly RNC Frank Trigg.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Aug 6, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
MATT HUGHES
is on a Retirement Tour.
It stops within a year if not sooner.
one of the GOATs
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Aug 6, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I seriously doubt it.. those guys have been calling him out repeatedly (at least Kos), but instead he chooses to fight Matt Serra and Renzo Gracie. Almeida is a step up, but I think Hughes realizes he won’t be fighting for a championship again. I agree though that I would rather see him retire before he fades even more.
by Horselover Fat on Aug 6, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
but Hughes still has solid wrestling
He couldn’t take down RENZO GRACIE.
He’s not even a big name anymore. I don’t think anyone even knows who he is, except that he’s the guy GSP embarrassed. Twice.
Seriously?
He won that fight, no? You might as well say Anderson Silva couldn’t take Maia down. And at least Hughes got the finish.
I’m giving Matt a pass in the first GSP loss. Getting kicked in the nuts twice in a row can lead the best fighters in the world to drop their hands. He probably would have still lost, but not a devastatingly.
I hope you were being sarcastic, and I just didn’t pick up on it.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Aug 6, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
What does Hughes have other than wrestling?
His striking is not good at all. He has no power in his hands. That was his first KO in like 20 UFC fights, and he had to hit Renzo with a bunch of clean shots before he went down. Not every opponent can be a 43 year old guy coming off a 3 year layoff, who never had great striking to begin with. And he STILL couldn’t take that guy down.
Why does he need to be well-rounded?
Even if he only had wrestling, he isn’t a lay n pray style of fighter. He finishes over 75% of his fights, more than the current champ.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Aug 6, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
In the last 4 years, he's finished only 50%
and lost more than he finished.
GSP has finished 50% (against much better competition) and only lost once.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't trying to say Hughes was better than GSP
Only that for a guy with only wrestling, his non-decision victories show a surprising ability in striking, GnP, and submissions. To say criticize Hughes as being one-dimensional seems weird to me, when you can criticize the current champ for the same behavior.
I’m not sure that GSP has fought better competition than Matt Hughes. After all, Hughes had to face GSP twice. And GSP got to face a washed up fighter like Hughes twice.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Aug 6, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Hughes, Serra, Koscheck, Hughes, Serra, Alves, Penn, Fitch, Hardy
GSP, Serra, GSP, Alves, Gracie, Lytle,.Penn,
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
But he DOESN’T HAVE WRESTLING. That’s my point. He couldn’t take down Renzo, not even once. And if he doesn’t have wrestling, what the hell does he have?
Demian Maia couldn't take down Dan Miller
Not even once. Does that prove that he doesn’t have the ability to take guys down?
You’re reading an awful lot into a few fights, especially when he was such a dominant champion for a long time.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
Maia is not a wrestler
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
True, but takedowns are part of his BJJ.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
Wait, he took down Miller a few times
At least 4 or 5 times.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Really?
I thought it was a standup fight the whole way. There’s no fightmetric report on it. So someone’s going to have to watch it again.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
You are correct sir.
My mistake.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
This is the last thing I’ll hate on Hughes for, but let’s be honest about his time as a dominant champion – other than GSP, none of his opponents could hack it in 2010’s welterweight division. Not as they are now, and not in their prime. And GSP was winning the fight against Hughes until he made a rookie mistake (he was 23 at the time, and idolized Hughes). Hughes fought at a time when it was okay to be one dimensional. It’s not okay anymore.
You could say the same about Chuck
And Wand in PRIDE. The game is changing.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Aren't most of the top contenders at WW fairly one dimensional?
Fitch with his wrestling. Shields with wrestling. Alves with striking. Hardy with striking. Even GSP has been a very one-dimensional wrestler as champ.
Kos might be the best example of a multi-dimensional fighter.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
They're still all so good at that dimension
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
My mistake
I thought you were agreeing with the statement:
Hughes fought at a time when it was okay to be one dimensional. It’s not okay anymore.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
Nah, I was talking about this.
none of his opponents could hack it in 2010’s welterweight division
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It's amazing to me
That you can write off GSP’s loss to Hughes as a rookie mistake, yet criticize Hughes’s win as proof that he is done as a big name. Why does GSP get the benefit of the doubt when he loses?
Why can’t Matt Serra, Chris Lytle, or BJ Penn hack it in the 2010 welterweight division? (Unless you mean just the guys that he beat as champion and not at a later point. And if that’s the case, he beat Serra and Lytle after his time as a dominant champ, and that’s even more impressive.)
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
Did he even try to take him down? I don’t remember him struggling to take him down at all. All I remember is him leg kicking the shit out of renzo where he couldn’t even stand and Matt Hughes actually helping him up. I’m sure he could take him down if he wanted to.
He tried at least once that I remember
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 7, 2010 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Anderson wasn't trying to take him down either
And what about the 2nd GSP loss? And the Alves loss? And him barely skating by Serra who he outweighs? Or his “Shogun against Coleman” like fight with Renzo.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
My point was that he won the fight. Convincingly.
I’m not trying to say he is still as dominant as when he was champ. I’m only pointing out that losing a couple of fights to the top of the division does not mean you are done.
But if I have to defend his other losses, here is how I’d do it:
2nd loss to GSP was b/c GSP is the best in the division. Matt Hughes no longer is.
The loss to Alves was at a catchweight, and Hughes is in a tough spot to take that fight. No way he could turn it down, and now he has to face an even bigger Alves than other WWs.
Serra was the previous champ, with a win over the current champ. Plus he won.
And as for the Renzo fight, he TKO’d Renzo. Just b/c it wasn’t the way it was expected or even the way he wanted to finish the fight, he still beat the crap out of him. Anderson Silva had to win the fight against the Michael Jordan of BJJ in a manner that he didn’t want. He still won.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Aug 6, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
and deserves to make some of the money that is flowing into the UFC these days
^ This.
Matt spent much of his career fighting for nickels. His extended retirement tour will help assure his future and the future of his family. Asking the guy to quit now that he is finally making real money is bullshit. As long as he is not getting hurt or embarrassing himself, Matt Hughes should be allowed to fight as long as he fucking wants to (or needs to).
I’d much rather see Matt fight a little too long and then retire for good rather than retire now and make comeback after comeback when he realizes he didn’t have enough money to retire.
by Steve4192 on Aug 6, 2010 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Just in case you didn’t notice … I really hate it when fans/journalists * cough * JAKE ROSSEN * cough * try to tell a fighter what to do with his life. As long as Matt Hughes is not harming himself, he has earned the right to go out however he chooses to.
Me and you are on the same page
It happens in all sports (current guys making lots more than the last generation), but you really feel for these guys who put their bodies thru absolute hell, possibly doing permanent damage, and walk away with less than a mil career earnings.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
I'm not speaking for Matt
But I’m sure he’s content with the money he’s made (and he’s made a nice chunk, more than a mil).
He also has years left as a trainer and a coach and I’m sure Dana has a job for him in the UFC.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 7, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
THE WIN OVER BJ DOESN'T EVEN COUNT
My completely unbiased opinion is that Hughes needs to stick around and get beat on some more.
No way
He’s got one last thing he needs to accomplish before he calls it quits. Fellow UFC 117 fighter Dennis Hallman currently holds a 2-0 career record against Matt Hughes, both by submission in less than 1 total minute combined. I think Hughes wants to avenge that loss before hanging them up, win or lose at UFC 117
twitter.com/GotaHemmi
instrength.com <-- Best MMA forum
Yeah I think he fights Hallman after this
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 6, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
lol imagine the fighters backstage. Matt is a millionaire legend HOFer
and Hallman, a unknown journeyman, is sitting there thinking what the shit, i kicked this guys’ ass twice in less than a minute combined and his tractor cost more than my double wide.
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Aug 6, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
What if he wins?
Nothing about his chances to compete with the elite will have changed. He still won’t beat Alves, Kos, GSP.
Why is there a “If he wins this one, he should continue” clause? Shouldn’t you just be calling for his retirement, with maybe the chance to go out on a winning note?
Because I know that if he wins he won't retire
And if he wins, then he still has more skills left than I thought he does.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 7, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
LEGENDS NEVER DIE
Hughes is going to beat Almeida by decision, because he fights better against Gracie related fighters. Also, props to Dr Obviously for this picture. I posted it in a thread yesterday, but I think lots of people didn’t see it,.
by DirtyML on Aug 6, 2010 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 7 recs
Why is this not green?
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 7, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Boy was I wrong.
Well not wrong, I did say IF he loses
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
Close.
I was surprised just as much as you probably were. Matt wobbling someone in the striking department?? That’s just a little rare. I was very happy for him. He is a legend without a doubt.
Can I gloat now?
Jk. To be honest with you, the reason I was defending Hughes before the fight was I thought this was a terrible matchup for him. I could easily foresee him getting caught in some never before seen in MMA submission b/c he was getting picked apart on the feet and decided to take the fight into Almeida’s guard. I was completely off on that part.
I didn’t want Hughes to lose and everyone to write him off. He was the top of the pound for pound ladder when I started watching MMA and I didn’t think he was done yet.
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." -Will Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.
by PapaBumpants on Aug 9, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Black Lesnar!
:P
BTW it might help to see Matt’s fights in text form.
Win 45-7 Ricardo Almeida Technical Submission (Arm-in front headlock)
Win 44-7 Renzo Gracie TKO (Punches)
Win 43–7 Matt Serra Decision (unanimous)
Loss 42–7 Thiago Alves TKO (Strikes)
Loss 42–6 Georges St-Pierre Submission (armbar)
Win 42–5 Chris Lytle Decision (unanimous)
Loss 41–5 Georges St-Pierre TKO (Strikes)
Win 41–4 B.J. Penn TKO (Punches)
Win 40–4 Royce Gracie TKO (Punches)
Win 39–4 Joe Riggs Submission (kimura)
Win 38–4 Frank Trigg Submission (rear naked choke)
Win 37–4 Georges St-Pierre
"I ain't got time to breath."
Watch Tosh.O
Pain don't hurt...
Look at the fights
Not the results
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 8, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I've seen 'em all
he won a vast majority
"I ain't got time to breath."
Watch Tosh.O
Pain don't hurt...
Perfornabce in the last few
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 8, 2010 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Obviously you didn’t watch those fights.
Matt got dominated in both of them. If he hadn’t pulled off a lucky KO/sub, he would have been destroyed in both fights.
Damn fight finder weenies.
[/sarcasm]
OK OK You've convinced me..
he should hang ’em up.
"I ain't got time to breath."
Watch Tosh.O
Pain don't hurt...
You think he looked GOOD against Royce?
Or was great against Matt Serra?
Or great against Alves?
Obviously I wasn’t talking about this fight.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 9, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
He dominated Royce
Did you mean Renzo?
"I ain't got time to breath."
Watch Tosh.O
Pain don't hurt...
I'm a Gracist.
They all look alike to me.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 9, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree with the “too proud to be a gatekeeper” sentiment. He made it clear at the press conference that he didn’t care if he was in the mix or not after this fight, he just fights whoever the UFC puts in front of him and is happy to do it.
That's what he SAYS not what he does.
Called it before the fight:
Cardio - The BIG question. Does Shane Carwin have cardio? He's never gone past the first round. His muscle mass is astounding and we all know that with all that muscle comes a need for the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood to keep them from building lactic acid. He does train up in the thin air of Colorado, so that can't do anything but help. However, we have seen him pretty winded after a 1st round fight. Adrenaline dump or cardio problems? We won't find out the answer to that until someone takes him out of the first round.
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 8, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I was so shocked when Matt knocked Alemda down.
His boxing seems much improved in his last 2 fights.
I wasn’t giving him much credit for the Renzo TKO ’cuz Renzo is so old, but Almeda is a former 185er who went 3 rounds with power striker Cote. Matt is STILL improving.
Fight as long as you want Matt, you’ve earned as much, you pompus ass.
"I ain't got time to breath."
Watch Tosh.O
Pain don't hurt...
Why do people keep picking jiu jitsu guys against Hughes? Gimme a break, how many of their asses does he have to kick ?
The only guys that are gonna beat Hughes are the younger hungry bigger guys in the division. GSP, Alves, Kos, FUCK FITCH..etc
Actually I don’t think Fitch could beat him either, Hughes is probably stronger since Fitch is so twiggy, hell Matt “K-1” Hughes might even knock him down with strikes.
Matt Hughes
Should stay as long as he feels like it. He’s still winning against legit guys. Hell, I would love to see him against a younger wrestler like a Fitch. Fitch vs. Hughes would be awesome because, hell, Fitch fights are boring and Hughes could take him off that perpetual #1 contender spot he bores us with.
Wrestler vs. wrestler beats the hell out of wrester vs. guy who is going to be on his back getting hit with weak hammerfists for the whole fight. At least with two wrestlers the takedown isn’t a given.
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