Author: Brian Lopez-Benchimol

UFC: Matt Hughes’ Retirement Is the Only Move That Makes Sense

Most men creeping closer and closer to 40 usually indulge in those same, old, tired cliches: sports cars, gaudy jewelry and ill-fitting toupees. For former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, he just wants to fight. Arguably the most instrumental fi…

Most men creeping closer and closer to 40 usually indulge in those same, old, tired cliches: sports cars, gaudy jewelry and ill-fitting toupees.

For former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, he just wants to fight.

Arguably the most instrumental figure in cultivating the 170-pound class, Hughes has done more than most fighters could ever wish to accomplish in their careers.

The wrestling powerhouse first earned UFC gold in 2001 with a highlight-reel knockout of then champion Carlos Newton, slamming the Canadian into unconsciousness and dethroning him from the welterweight mantle.

Several title defenses followed before Hughes succumbed to defeat at the hands of “The Prodigy” B.J. Penn, though the Hillsboro, Illinois native later avenged the loss in his second run as champion.

Victories over Hayato Sakurai, Royce Gracie and Georges St-Pierre are just a small part of what has helped build the legacy of Hughes.

There’s something to be said about the drive and vigor of Hughes, who after losing four of his last seven fights, still wishes to step back inside the Octagon.

However, it’s his last two outings in particular that have fans and most pundits hoping that this current five-month stretch of inactivity extends to an inevitable retirement.

Riding high on the strength of a three-fight win streak with victories over Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida, Hughes looked like he was reentering contender status in 2010.

That’s before the aforementioned Penn registered a swift 21-second knockout in their rubber match, victimizing Hughes for that hefty “Knockout of the Night” bonus.

Josh Koscheck followed suit, as the heavy-hitter used some hellish ground-and-pound blows to record the first-round finish last September, leaving Hughes asking the UFC to put him “on the shelf” before he makes a finite decision.

In every fighter’s career, there comes the point where they weigh out the benefits of continuing to fight versus life thereafter.

For Hughes, another devastating loss could prove detrimental to his health, though the careless, half-baked idea that another win will remedy everything is sometimes too alluring to pass up.

The fact of the matter is Hughes is a UFC Hall of Famer, two-time world champion and has more than nine title defenses to his credit.

At 38 years old, Hughes has done more than most men twice his age and has the chance now to keep his legacy intact before another loss tarnishes what was a legendary career. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

B/R Official Rankings for April: The Top 10 Featherweights in MMA

Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will look to defend his UFC title for a fourth time come this July.Who will that opponent be? Well, that remains to be seen.Since entering the Octagon last year, Aldo has dispatched the likes of Mark Hominick, Kenny Flor…

Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will look to defend his UFC title for a fourth time come this July.

Who will that opponent be? Well, that remains to be seen.

Since entering the Octagon last year, Aldo has dispatched the likes of Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes.

With rumblings of a preemptive move to the lightweight class, Aldo’s days as a 145’er could be numbered, though there still exists a few formidable challengers who can give the champ a run for his money. 

 

*These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA‘s best writers, as we continue to try and provide you with the best content on the web.*

 

Photo Cred: Jose Aldo/ Ken Pishna for MMAWeekly.com

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UFC’s Nick Diaz Should Stay Retired

Was anybody really surprised that Nick Diaz retired the way he did?The Stockton, CA, native has a penchant for the dramatic, which was not unlike his most recent escapades in the media following his controversial loss to Carlos Condit.Diaz was last see…

Was anybody really surprised that Nick Diaz retired the way he did?

The Stockton, CA, native has a penchant for the dramatic, which was not unlike his most recent escapades in the media following his controversial loss to Carlos Condit.

Diaz was last seen inside the Octagon on February 4 where “The Natural Born Killer” edged Nick by circling away from the cage and out landing Diaz with slapping low kicks. 

Though Diaz was the consummate aggressor and had Condit back-mounted in the final round, it was not enough to persuade the judges, who awarded Condit the decision unanimously.

Soon after the decision was read, Diaz respectfully congratulated his opponent before bursting out in a typical-Diaz tirade: 

“I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss,” said Diaz whilst inside the Octagon for the usual post-fight interview.

“I’ve lost fights before, where, uh, ya know, like, I’m not going to accept that either. That ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down. I got the take down. I’m the guy who went out on top…Hey Carlos is a great guy, I’m happy for him and his family. I think I’m done with this MMA. It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. You guys pay me way too much. But I don’t think I’m going to get enough to keep going in this…You know I don’t need this (expletive).” 

With another memorable speech turned in, Diaz left the MMA world on his own terms. Having cultivated a loyal fan following, the Gracie Fighter has become one of the sports leading men in the welterweight class.

All the while, Diaz turned in aesthetically pleasing performances time and time again, though he really turned heads last October when he bested former champion BJ Penn at UFC 137.

The pay-per-view event marked the highly anticipated return of Nick, who was fresh off his stint with Strikeforce, where he captured the organization’s 170-pound title, having defended it three times in consistently exciting battles. 

The victory over Penn helped secure Diaz, on most polls, as the No. 2 fighter in the world.

It may fail in comparison to earning UFC gold or being coveted as the No. 1 fighter in your division, but if it’s good enough for Diaz, then it should serve as a good ending for the sport’s most enigmatic fighter. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Bellator vs. TUF: What’s the Better Way to Spend Your Friday Night?

Recently, The Ultimate Fighter has been actually registering a pulse within the MMA community, as the show has been revamped since crossing over to the FX network.With a new format which invites fans to tune into live fights every Friday night, the org…

Recently, The Ultimate Fighter has been actually registering a pulse within the MMA community, as the show has been revamped since crossing over to the FX network.

With a new format which invites fans to tune into live fights every Friday night, the organization’s only threat appears to be that of the Bellator Fighting Championships, who coincidentally will be airing their events on Fridays as well.

With several tournaments underway, both TUF and Bellator will be going head-to-head for the foreseeable future. 

So, what does TUF provide that you just can’t get with Bellator?

Well, for starters, the opposing coaches of this season of TUF will feature UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Urijah Faber—two men who have become beneficial to the onward ascension of the lighter weight classes, specifically at 135 pounds.

With short verbal jabs being thrown here and there, both Faber and Cruz have remained relatively civil with one another, though their mutual disdain for one another is as apparent as ever.

Now with live action coming every Friday night, we get to bear witness to all the happenings. Both amongst the fighters and coaches in relative real time, with all the drama unfolding the same week the show is produced, rather than waiting months on end for a mitigated version. 

Now, what does Bellator provide?

The Chicago-based promotion has adopted the use of the tournament format to produce an engaging experience for both the fans and fighters alike.

It’s especially intriguing when notable, world renowned talents get upset by these young, upstart talents that nobody has ever heard of.

It’s because of these tournaments that stars such as Pat Curran and Michael Chandler have been able to ascend the ranks of their respective divisions, having become recognized as top 10 level fighters.

So, what’s your best way to spend these lonesome Friday nights?

DVR the crap out of both shows. 

Between budding talents and new drama unfolding with each passing week, neither Bellator nor TUF is something that you’ll want to miss. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Power-Ranking the Bellator Champions

Bellator Fighting Championships have been able to cultivate a promising batch of fighters through their unique tournament formats. Though many notables have graced the cage, fighters like Pat Curran, Cole Konrad and Michael Chandler have been able…

Bellator Fighting Championships have been able to cultivate a promising batch of fighters through their unique tournament formats. 

Though many notables have graced the cage, fighters like Pat Curran, Cole Konrad and Michael Chandler have been able to use the organization to spearhead their respective careers and become mainstream successes in the world of mixed martial arts.

Their paths to the top have come through the grace of the aforementioned tourney, as well as acquiring some championship gold along the way. 

 

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St. Patrick’s Day: 20 Fighters We’d Like to Spend the Holiday with

Today is a day filled with debauchery, green beer and funny little hats.Imagine how your fun-filled day of adventure will unravel. Maybe you’ll take in a parade here and there, eat some corn beef and call it a day. Why? Because you’re boring.But maybe …

Today is a day filled with debauchery, green beer and funny little hats.

Imagine how your fun-filled day of adventure will unravel. Maybe you’ll take in a parade here and there, eat some corn beef and call it a day. Why? Because you’re boring.

But maybe you can take some notes from the following fighters, whose personalities and penchant for troublesome behavior would make them good additions to anyone’s day of festivities. 

 

Jason Miller/ Jeff Cain for MMAWeekly.com

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