MMA Ironman #4: Matt Hughes - 12/15/2003
by Michael DiSanto

Matt Hughes is a champion among champions. He is the single most dominant force in the UFC and, quite possibly, in the world. Hughes holds more wins than any other current champion within Pride FC or the UFC. Never one to back down from a fight, Matts last 6 opponents came against fighters ranked in the top 3 at the time of the match. Each time he not only defeated his opponent, he dominated them. Matt continues his Ironman pace as faces the unquestioned lightweight king, B.J. Penn on January 31st at UFC 46. Its his warrior spirit and his good old fashion work ethic that earns Matt Hughes the #4 spot on the list of MMAs Top-5 American Ironman as voted on by you, the fans.

InsideFighting: Hows life following the Frank Trigg fight?
Matt Hughes: Life is fine. Ive actually jumped right back into training because of the B.J. Penn fight, so thats somewhat of a good thing. Im already in shape, so Im going to stay in shape and Im just going to keep right on training.

IF: Is that normal for you to jump right back into training following a fight? Rumors abound that you typically just go back to the farm and work.
Hughes: Thats actually exactly what I do. My fight before this followed an 8 month layoff, and I spent 6-7 months back on the farm. So this is very unusual for me.

IF: Whats your typical day like on the farm? You may not train much, but you seem like youre in fantastic shape for every fight.
Hughes: Life on the farm iswake up at 7 or 8 oclock in the morning and just start working. I will take a lunch and go into town to meet my girlfriend for lunch or run some errands. But most of it is just typical farm work. You know, anything from cutting a tree down to mowing the lawn to repairing the equipment.

IF: When we look at the public fighter database, it shows that you are 31-3. That makes 34 total professional MMA fights. Does that encompass the entire gambit of your professional or amateur fights?
Hughes: No, Ive never had any amateur fights. But Ive had some fights in Japan in RINGS. Are you familiar with RINGS?

IF: Yes.
Hughes: Good. Okay, theyre not all thrown in there and Ive had about maybe 6 of those and some early fights in Chicago that arent on there. So Ive probably won about 10 fights that are not on there.

IF: So the 3 listed losses are your only losses to date?
Hughes: Correct.

IF: Of all your fights, Matt, who has been your toughest opponent?
Hughes: Id have to say my 3 losses. Those two guys have to be my toughest opponents for that reason. Carlos Newton is also a very tough opponent just because you can be beating him for 4 rounds and he can catch you in that 5th round like he did Pat Miletich. Its just a guy like that who forces you to always stay on top of your game no matter what youve done to him in the previous rounds because hes always dangerous. Its those guys that are mentally tough on you, not so much physically tough. I cant ever say that Ive actually been beat up. Ive been hit. Ive been cut even on my forehead. But I cannot actually say that someone has gotten me down and beaten me up. So I feel pretty lucky. But its those guys who are tricky so you have to watch the whole time that are mentally tough.

IF: Speaking of Newton, I was at your first fight with him. What was going through your mind when you had him lifted up against the cage, he was trying to choke you and then the slam happened knocking him out?
Hughes: A lot was going through my head. I lifted him up thinking it would put too much pressure on his legs causing him to break the hold and come down. But he didnt. He actually grabbed the fence and tightened in a little bit tighter. I slammed him for the sole purpose of breaking the lock. I had no idea he would get knocked out from it. All I wanted to do was release the hold. The reason I waited so long to slam him was that I knew if I slammed him down and he didnt break the hold then I was done because I would not have enough energy to lift him up again. So it was a last ditch effort and I had no idea that he was going to get knocked out from it.

IF: It sure worked out well, didnt it?
Hughes: It did!

IF: You mentioned having losses to only two fighters. Obviously, Dennis Hallman is the more notable of the two because he keeps putting his name out in the MMA community trying to get another shot at you. Is that loss to Hallman something you need to avenge before you quit or is it water under the bridge at this point?
Hughes: Its totally water under the bridge at this point. I could care less about fighting Dennis Hallman to be honest with you. Hes making those two wins the focus of his whole career. Really, he cant beat anybody else tough. Im not trying to be mean, but just being factual about it. But no I dont need to fight Dennis Hallman. Im totally content and happy with whats happened. Im sure he wants to fight me again, so he can start making some money. But he has to beat somebody in the top 10 or close in order to warrant a rematch or a match period.

IF: Matt, obviously Pat Miletich has been unbelievably successful with his fight team. When youre in training, how intense are the sessions with Jeremy Horn and the guys?
Hughes: That room is actually pretty amazing when were all together. Weve got Jeremy Horn nothing needs to be said about him. Jens Pulver former lightweight world champion. Pat Miletich former welterweight world champion. Tim Sylvia heavyweight world champion. And then there are some guys that you dont even know about like my roommate Ben Uker, a former Iowa wrestler, and Jason Black, a former All-American wrestler, Division III, I believe. There are just so many good guys in there that are tough that youve got to learn. And no matter what happens, youre going to learn. Its a great environment and a great situation.

IF: Monte Cox mentioned that some of the rolling sessions with you and Horn are legendary because you hate being caught in submissions so you go at each other even harder when he does catch you. Do you want to talk about rolling with Jeremy Horn for a moment?
Hughes: Yeah, sure. Gosh, I cant remember who I was fighting. Maybe it was Gil Castillo, but I dont really know. But before the fight we were rolling we always roll hard the week before a fight just because I really enjoy it and Jeremy caught me twice that day in guillotines. Usually if somebody has a fight coming up that close, the other guys (and I do this when Im cornering somebody) lighten up on them and dont do that to them because it's quite an ego crusher, but you have to be confident when you go in there and you dont want to do anything to make them lose that confidence. So I was a little surprised that Jeremy caught me twice. [laughs] Jeremy and I roll really well together now. We learn from each other and were more on the same level. But yes, the moment one of us catches the other, its really on. If I catch him, he comes right back at me. And if he catches me, hes guaranteed that Im coming after him.

IF: I understand that some of your roommates have a wrestling background. You have a wrestling background yourself, right?
Hughes: 2 time state champion, 2 time Division I All-American, and 2 time Junior College All-American.

IF: Very impressive. What made you make the jump into MMA?
Hughes: The biggest reason I took the jump is competition. I am a competitor and wanted to compete. Theres no money in wrestling, so I took up this sport. It was a very easy jump for me.

IF: Youve been in the game since 1998. How long do you see yourself actively fighting?
Hughes: Until I get the shit kicked out of me to be quite honest with you. [we both laugh] As soon as that happens, Ill think about retiring.

IF: [laughing] Yep, that would be a good time to consider retiring.
Hughes: Now that doesnt mean losing. Anybody can lose. I mean when somebody actually gets me down and beats the shit out of me. Thats when Ill think about retiring.

IF: One thing that bothers me about the sport is that you guys do not get paid very well compared to other sports like boxing where athletes risk their health to compete and entertain the crowd. What do you think needs to happen so that the sport can reach out to a bigger fan base thereby resulting in bigger pay-per-view numbers and better pay?
Hughes: I would say that the sport needs legitimacy. When we get that then ESPN, Fox Sports and stuff like that will pick us up and well be on daily television. Also, well start getting covered by newspapers more and other sports broadcasts. But without legitimacy, the general public will think of us as a freak show. Without legitimacy, our sport will stay where its at now. The UFC is working very hard on that trying to get legitimacy. And its right around the corner. Its on its way here. It shouldnt be very long and then well actually be called a sport by the common people.

IF: That will be great for everybody. As we enter 2004, what are your goals for the new year?
Hughes: I dont have any goals for 2004 - none whatsoever. I dont even think about it. My life focuses on one fight after the other. Im not looking past B.J. Penn whatsoever. All thats on my mind is fighting B.J. Penn and not on what going to happen in 2004.

IF: We will definitely talk to you again as that fight approaches so that we can get your thoughts and talk in detail about it.
Hughes: Okay.

IF: Lets take a moment and play name association. Ill toss a name at you and you just respond with the first thing that comes to your mind.
Hughes: Okay.

IF: Frank Shamrock
Hughes: Very talented. I just wonder why he got out of the UFC when he did. I think he got out of the UFC undefeated, and he kind of brags on that. But youre only undefeated until you get beat. If you stay in this game long enough, youre going to get beat. Franks a very talented guy and I just wonder why he got out of the fight game.

IF: Hayato Sakurai
Hughes: Quick. I would say weak. Id say somewhat overrated.

IF: Carlos Newton
Hughes: Tricky. Sly. Slick. Master of submissions. Exciting.

IF: Phil Baroni
Hughes: [laughs] Strong. Deadly hands. Power in both hands. And, um, arrogant.

IF: Jeremy Horn
Hughes: Gentleman. Quiet. Tricky. And I would say underrated.

IF: Tito Ortiz
Hughes: [laughs] I would definitely say "just got humbled." Maybe Tito now thinks hes just a regular person. But Titos good. Hell be a legend, to be honest with you.

IF: In closing, Matt, is there anything youd like to say to your fans?
Hughes: Id just say thanks. Thanks for the support. And thanks also to you guys for covering the sport and making us who we are.

IF: My pleasure. You take care. Stay healthy and well catch up with you again right before your fight with B.J. Penn at UFC 46 on January 31st.
Hughes: Okay. Great. Take care.

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