Matt Hughes Would Return To Fighting On One Condition

Wow, did not see this one coming…

Former two-time UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes is considered one of the division’s greatest ever talents. Back when he started out fighting, the division was arguably the deepest in the promotion.

Although he had actually fought 18 times before his UFC debut, it wasn’t until Hughes’ 33rd fight that he would compete for the title. Winning the belt against Carlos Newton at UFC 34, Hughes would go on to fight some of the greatest of all time.

Hughes’ Legacy & Retirement

During his peak, Hughes had an 18-fight unbeaten streak, and a 13-fight unbeaten streak. In fact, between 2001 and 2006, Hughes lost just one out of 20 fights, most of which were in the UFC.

Defeating Royce Gracie, Georges St-Pierre, Frank Trigg, Carlos Newton twice, Hayato Sakuri and many others made Hughes a legend of the sport. Once he retired in 2011, at age 37, Hughes had 54 fights, 45 wins and 35 finishes.

According to the recent report by MMAFighting.com, Hughes is seriously considering a comeback fight:

Following The Trend

Having fought fellow MMA legends BJ Penn and Georges St-Pierre three times each, Hughes could possibly be following in their footsteps. Both GSP and Penn are back in action, and Hughes sounds keen to get in on the action, on one condition:

“If I could find an opponent that I could definitely beat, I would go again,” Hughes said in an interview that was shot earlier this month. I do love adventure, and who knows what’s next for me.”

Bellator?

According to multiple sources, the 43-year-old has had talks with Bellator recently about fighting again but no offer has been made and those talks were classified as preliminary.

After being sacked from his ‘fake’ job with the UFC when the new owners took over, Hughes may have that incentive to go elsewhere. Although he has taken his firing in good stride, the report about talks with Bellator is certainly interesting.

“The UFC has been great to me,” Hughes told MMA Fighting after he was relieved of his duties in December. “Times change, and I understand the decision that was made. I will move on. My family and I are fine.”