Author: Alex Ballentine

Does the UFC Owe Matt Hughes Another Shot at Victory?

In a recent interview with Inside MMA on HDNet former welterweight champion Matt Hughes verbalized his desire to fight in the Octagon one more time. He cited his desire to go out with a win as his main motivation for wanting one more fight.With Hughes’…

In a recent interview with Inside MMA on HDNet former welterweight champion Matt Hughes verbalized his desire to fight in the Octagon one more time. He cited his desire to go out with a win as his main motivation for wanting one more fight.

With Hughes’ last performances, a knockout loss to Josh Koscheck preceded by a quick knockout loss to longtime rival B.J. Penn, it has become apparent that Hughes needs to ride off into the sunset or face the consequences of hanging on too long to a sport that has passed him by.

Hughes remains one of the greatest welterweights in the history of the sport, and with all of his contributions to the organization the question comes up: Does the UFC owe Matt Hughes another shot at victory?

Hughes’ sentiment is easy to understand. When you hold a 45-9 record, you should be remembered more for your wins than your losses, and no one wants to walk away on a losing note.

Hughes’ legacy will always be that he was one of the most dominant champs the UFC has seen. A two-time welterweight champion with seven total title defenses, few champions have accomplished as much as Hughes in their careers.

If Hughes were to get another fight and come away victorious, he would be able to walk away from the sport on his terms.

Hughes isn’t the first superstar to want just one more fight to walk away a winner.

Most Recently Chuck Liddell, possibly the most recognizable face in the history of the UFC, badly wanted to fight nemesis Tito Ortiz one last time before walking away but was ultimately talked into retirement by UFC boss Dana White.

The latter stages of Liddell’s career, riddled with knockout losses and glass jaw jokes, served to tarnish the Iceman’s legacy, so it is easy to see why the UFC would want to prevent Hughes’ legacy from being perceived the same way.

Should Hughes get his wish and fight one last time and suffer a knockout loss, that would be three losses in a row and could have a similar “Liddell effect.”

So the question remains: Does the UFC owe Matt Hughes another shot at victory? Or should he be forced to not jeopardize his legacy with another loss?

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 146: What Jason "Mayhem" Miller Must Do to Ensure He Stays in the UFC

There is little doubt that at UFC 146, Jason “Mayhem” Miller will be fighting for his job.
Despite Miller’s immense popularity and ability to sell a fight, Dana White made it clear that Miller is on a short leash after mulling over cutting him after hi…

There is little doubt that at UFC 146, Jason “Mayhem” Miller will be fighting for his job.

Despite Miller’s immense popularity and ability to sell a fight, Dana White made it clear that Miller is on a short leash after mulling over cutting him after his lackluster performance against Michael Bisping at the TUF 14 finale.

In a sport that rewards characters, Miller has made a name for himself with his MTV show “Bully Beatdown,” and just generally being a quirky character who talks a good game. However, Miller has yet to win a fight in the UFC and was outclassed in fight against Bisping.

Dana White and Co. will be looking very closely at Miller’s UFC 146 matchup against C.B. Dollaway to determine if Miller truly deserves a spot in the world’s largest MMA promotion. Here’s what Mayhem must do to keep his job.

Begin Slideshow

UFC on Fuel TV 2: Alexander Gustafsson vs Rogerio Nogueira Breakdown

UFC on Fuel TV 2 marks the UFC’s first trip to Sweden and it takes place on April 14th. The main event features native son and fast rising light heavyweight champion Alexander Gustafsson against seasoned veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.While this even…

UFC on Fuel TV 2 marks the UFC’s first trip to Sweden and it takes place on April 14th. The main event features native son and fast rising light heavyweight champion Alexander Gustafsson against seasoned veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

While this event is more than a month away it is never too early to take a look at how these two stack up in the cage in what should be an exciting main event for the UFC’s second offering on Fuel TV.

Will Gustafsson keep his rise alive? Or will Rogerio Nogueira spoil Gustafsson’s homecoming?

Here’s how they stack up.

Begin Slideshow

25 UFC Fighters Who Will Win a Title Before the End of Their Career

Winning the UFC championship is the ultimate prize in MMA. Being a UFC champion automatically places you among the elite fighters in the world and every fighter dreams of holding up the belt at some point in their career.For many, this is a dream that …

Winning the UFC championship is the ultimate prize in MMA. Being a UFC champion automatically places you among the elite fighters in the world and every fighter dreams of holding up the belt at some point in their career.

For many, this is a dream that never comes to fruition. Some of the best fighters in the UFC have failed to capture UFC gold in their careers and their legacy suffers because of it.

Here are 25 fighters on the UFC roster who will capture the elusive honor before they call it quits.

Begin Slideshow

Condit-Diaz II Would Set Bad Precedent for UFC Matchmaking

With an immediate rematch between newly-crowned interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz reportedly in the works, Dana White and company should take a step back and think about the precedent being set.Traditionally, immediate rematches…

With an immediate rematch between newly-crowned interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz reportedly in the works, Dana White and company should take a step back and think about the precedent being set.

Traditionally, immediate rematches have been rare in the UFC, especially for a title.

Why is Condit-Diaz any different?

The threat of Diaz’s retirement surely seems to set this instance apart. The polarizing fighter is certainly great for ratings. Whether you love Nick Diaz for his brash attitude and aggressive exciting style or you hate Diaz for his perceived thug image and potentially inflated record, you will tune in to watch him fight.

The UFC knows that they would lose a huge draw if Diaz is actually serious about his retirement.

However, while losing Diaz would be bad from a financial perspective, what message would an immediate rematch send?

There is no denying that Condit’s win over Diaz was considered controversial, but with Diaz’s inability to adjust within the fight, what did he do to deserve an immediate rematch?

A rematch down the road is an easy sell and definitely warranted, but giving Diaz a rematch just for the sake of keeping him in the UFC is akin to giving a spoiled child a lollipop just so he will stop crying.

One of the great things about the UFC has been their insistence on utilizing Joe Silva and company to create the matchups. By basically allowing Diaz to whine his way to a second title shot, the UFC is opening a door that could lead to more fighters threatening to retire to get their way.

Should the UFC make Diaz-Condit II happen right away, let’s hope that this does not become a trend.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fuel TV: Stipe Miocic Will Be a Force in the UFC Heavyweight Division

UFC on Fuel TV features a welterweight clash between Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez that is sure to entertain. The night will also feature a future force in the heavyweight division—Stipe Miocic.Miocic, a Cleveland-based fighter of Croatian d…

UFC on Fuel TV features a welterweight clash between Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez that is sure to entertain. The night will also feature a future force in the heavyweight division—Stipe Miocic.

Miocic, a Cleveland-based fighter of Croatian decent, has more in common with Mirko Cro Cop than similar shorts and Croatian heritage. Miocic is a fearsome striker.

Sporting a perfect 7-0 record in MMA, Miocic has compiled five wins by knockout on the regional circuit. Miocic is a finisher and has only been to the third round once, in his UFC debut victory over iron-chinned Joey Beltran.

A former Division I wrestler, Golden Gloves boxing champion and collegiate baseball player, Miocic represents the new breed of MMA fighter. An overall athlete who is well-rounded and can win a fight anywhere the fight takes place.

At 6’4″ and 236 pounds, Miocic strikes a resemblance to current heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in terms of build and style. A similar career arc may not be out of the question either.

At UFC on Fuel, Miocic will attempt to keep his unbeaten record intact when he takes on fellow heavyweight prospect Philip De Fries. De Fries, an English fighter, will most definitely attempt to take the fight to the ground and put his excellent submission skills to use.

De Fries is also undefeated with a record of 8-0 with seven submission victories.

In a division largely devoid of many new talented prospects, the winner of the De Fries-Miocic fight should emerge as the brightest prospect in the division, and Miocic should come out victorious.

In a grappler-heavy division, Miocic’s take-down defense will need to be on full display. With a decisive victory over De Fries, Miocic will show that he is going to be a force in the UFC heavyweight division.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com