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UFC On Fox 2 Video: Matt Hughes On Retirement, Diaz/Condit Winner

Matt Hughes talked to Ariel Helwani Saturday night, answering questions about whether he's going to retire.

While at UFC On Fox 2 Saturday, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani caught up with former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes and when asked about his fighting future, Hughes said he wants to compete but there's a few factors that may prohibit that.

The 38-year-old said that he wants to return to the UFC, but his wife wants his fighting career to be done. The deciding factor? UFC President Dana White. At the time of the interview, Hughes said he hadn't talked to White yet but hoped to very soon. He didn't lay out a timetable for a return, but if given the green light, he wants to return as soon "as this old body can get back into shape".

Hughes has lost his last two fights to B.J. Penn and Josh Koscheck by first round knockout, respectively. After competing three times in 2010, Hughes fought just once in 2011 against Koscheck who was an injury replacement for Diego Sanchez.

Hughes also picked his winner for this Saturday's Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit UFC 143 bout for the interim UFC Welterweight Championship. See that on the 90 second video after the jump.

SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

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I met Country Breakfast at the weigh-ins Friday.

He was surprisingly super friendly. They should give him one last opportunity to fight Dennis Hallman.

by The Hamburger Pimp on Jan 30, 2012 9:12 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

Agreed

But why are you surprised he was so friendly? He’s not a mean guys, never talks trash or anything.

by TheConcreteKid on Jan 30, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions  

I though he was a super douche.

But that was to another fighter. Outside of that he seems like a fan friendly dude.

I thought Lay N Pray was a stupid insult until I watched Tyrone Woodly fight.

by DankNabbot on Jan 30, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions  

Some people can be great people, but then when they get into competition mode they transform into a-holes.

My older brother is like that. Super cool dude, but when we play football or basketball, we always end up fighting.

Learn JiuJitsu.
Semper Fi'
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.

by RolloTomasi on Jan 30, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions  

I think a lot of fighters are like that, frankly

Out of a felt need to generate buzz, or to talk themselves into thinking they’re indestructible. Also, I think a lot of people have a lot of trouble maintaining the line between opponent and coworker. Diaz is a perfect example, and the most honest and direct about it. I just think that at this point, all the narratives have been used so many times that douchebaggery as a substitute for real beef is so overplayed that it seems stale. meh.

I thought Lay N Pray was a stupid insult until I watched Tyrone Woodly fight.

by DankNabbot on Jan 30, 2012 3:22 PM EST up reply actions  

Let him fight GSP. I mean, GSP’s done, right? That’s all we’ve been hearing here on BE for last couple of months.

But seriously, I’m not sure who’s a good fight for Hughes anymore. Who’s a big name enough while not being too dangerous on the feet… Hardy, I suppose, but I’m kind of sick of watching him fight by now… Maybe we get the Hughes/Sanchez fight if he loses to Ellenberger?

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 9:33 AM EST reply actions  

I'd be interested in seeing both of the ones you mentioned

Hughes didn’t look great against Kos, but Kos is a miserable matchup for him. I think he can still be dangerous to mid-level guys.

From the UFC’s perspective, its probably best to feed Hughes to an up-and-comer who can build off of a name win, but I’m not sure I know who that up-and-comer is.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

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by Dave Strummer on Jan 30, 2012 9:57 AM EST up reply actions  

I’d be surprised if Hughes took a fight with an up-and-comer… but a fight with Sanchez, definintely. I’m hoping Ellenberger beats Sanchez and we get to see Hughes/Sanchez. I can’t think of a better fight for him that I actually want to see.

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 10:00 AM EST up reply actions  

just curious...

wouldnt diego smash hughes at this point?

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by gspmademegay on Jan 30, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions  

I'd pick Diego to win

but I think “smash” is pretty strong. Diego doesn’t have a lot of punching power, and I don’t think that he’s going to dominate Hughes wrestling. Diego probably wins being the more active guy over three rounds, but I don’t see it being a mismatch.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

BECW Season 1 - The NOT LAST PLACE Team Spinning Fish
BECW Season 2 - WAR Cecil Peoples Champs

by Dave Strummer on Jan 30, 2012 10:15 AM EST up reply actions  

Possibly… but Sanchez doesn’t have a history of KO’ing people left and right…

But we know Hughes only wants to fight a ‘name’ guy… if not Sanchez, who else? He’s faced a lot of the ‘name’ guys already…

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 10:15 AM EST up reply actions  

yeah that's definitely a fun fight

and an interesting style matchup. And since I really don’t see Diego ever making much noise at the top of WW, it’s not a waste to have him fight Hughes.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

BECW Season 1 - The NOT LAST PLACE Team Spinning Fish
BECW Season 2 - WAR Cecil Peoples Champs

by Dave Strummer on Jan 30, 2012 10:13 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah, Hughes really got an awful matchup when Diego got hurt. I think the UFC can still sell a Hughes vs Diego fight as a co-main, and its a competitive fight.

by Hardcharger on Jan 30, 2012 10:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Hughes vs Frank Shamrock at some catchweight

Both retire afterwards and Frank gets put into the HOTF like he’s supposed to be.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
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by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 9:41 AM EST reply actions  

Def agree about the HOF part, but who cares about that matchup when both are so past their primes?

by phantom5691 on Jan 30, 2012 9:48 AM EST up reply actions  

Just so they're fighting someone on their own level

Frank had the good sense to retire when it was time but one more outing on the biggest stage against a fellow legend would be great.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
Daniel James Miller Foundation - Please donate, every penny helps.

by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 9:52 AM EST up reply actions  

But why even have that fight? Nobody wants to see an old broken down Frank Shamrock fight in the UFC.

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 9:56 AM EST up reply actions  

Replace any "up and coming" HW match with that fight

Infinitely better.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
Daniel James Miller Foundation - Please donate, every penny helps.

by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions  

Disagree. I’d much rather see a fight like Barry/Morecraft than Hughes/Shamrock.

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions  

That was one of the worst televised fights ever

It was only slightly less offensive than Konrad v Buentello

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
Daniel James Miller Foundation - Please donate, every penny helps.

by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions  

You didn’t like Barry/Morecraft? Are you dead inside? Do you not like MMA?

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions  

That question should be asked of the person who prefers that fight to Hughes v Shamrock

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"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
Daniel James Miller Foundation - Please donate, every penny helps.

by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions  

Remember how terrible Hughes/Gracie was at UFC 112? Hughes/Shamrock would be even worse, and Shamrock would need crutches just to get into the cage, not to mention just to stand up with Rogan to give him his losing interview… His body is broken like MMA fighters’ bodies rarely break on them. There’s a reason he last fought almost 3 years ago. He just can’t do it anymore.

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions  

Hughes vs Gracie was a slaughter because Royce never evolved

Frank was a “complete” fighter back in the paleolithic era of MMA and despite being battleworn (which Hughes is too) I think it’d be a decent scrap. Frank’s trouble on the ground for anyone and K1 Hughes wouldn’t offer much of a threat on the feet.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
Daniel James Miller Foundation - Please donate, every penny helps.

by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Who’s talking about Royce? I’m talking about Renzo Gracie back at UFC 112… that was a joke of a fight, and Hughes fighting Frank Shamrock would be even worse as he can barely stand up nowadays.

by Shnak on Jan 30, 2012 10:46 AM EST up reply actions  

Oops, sorry I forgot about that fight because that whole end of the PPV was a giant WTF

That fight was awful and you’re greatly exaggerating FRANK Shamrock’s condition. If you were going on about Ken I’d agree but Frank isn’t nearly as depleted as Ken.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
Daniel James Miller Foundation - Please donate, every penny helps.

by menckenstein on Jan 30, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions  

Agree with you menckenstein, Shamrock vs Hughes would be a good entertaining scrap. Shamrock is a LOT more well rounded than a lot of guys currently under contract with Zuffa.

by sheikybaby on Jan 30, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions  

Big Johnson vs HD Barry

That would be a fun fight.

by fightersvizion on Jan 30, 2012 10:24 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

Hughes vs Fitch make it so

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jan 30, 2012 11:42 AM EST reply actions  

"My wife's a great lady but she's not gonna decide when Matt Hughes retires."

Learn JiuJitsu.
Semper Fi'
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.

by RolloTomasi on Jan 30, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions   2 recs

WIN!

I thought Lay N Pray was a stupid insult until I watched Tyrone Woodly fight.

by DankNabbot on Jan 30, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions  

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