UFC Betting Sites – The Best MMA Online Bookies
UFC best betting sites and the best MMA odds and gambling news
Matt Hughes is one of the fighters that Zuffa LLC built the UFC upon. He was a dominant champion in one of the deepest divisions of the company.His wrestling and ground-and-pound was a thrill to watch over the years, and few had an answer for it.Throug…
Matt Hughes is one of the fighters that Zuffa LLC built the UFC upon. He was a dominant champion in one of the deepest divisions of the company.
His wrestling and ground-and-pound was a thrill to watch over the years, and few had an answer for it.
Through his illustrious career he has amassed an astonishing 45-9 record, including 18 under the UFC banner. Hughes is one of the sport’s greats.
These are the UFC Hall of Famer’s 10 best fights inside the Octagon.
When Fedor Emelianenko’s much-acclaimed career took a turn for the worst back in 2010, his lock on the mythical title of “Greatest of All Time” seemed to be slipping. After three consecutive losses, the consensus opinion is that UFC middleweight champi…
When Fedor Emelianenko‘s much-acclaimed career took a turn for the worst back in 2010, his lock on the mythical title of “Greatest of All Time” seemed to be slipping. After three consecutive losses, the consensus opinion is that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has earned the crown.
Currently holding a flawless 16-0 record in the UFC, which includes a 3-0 run at light heavyweight, as well as ten defenses of his championship against some world-class athletes, Silva is a true member of the sport’s elite, and has looked invulnerable for most of his UFC career.
While I am part of the camp who thinks The Spider deserves such an honor, I think it is important to note that he has someone nipping at his heels.
On Saturday night, Georges St-Pierre made his return to the UFC and reminded fans of why he was once considered the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Through 25 minutes of action, the longtime welterweight kingpin showed that his torn ACL wouldn’t hinder his speed or explosive takedown abilities, as was feared by many.
Let’s compare some of the major achievements and pitfalls of both Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva as I build a case for GSP as the greatest of all time.
Success rate
What more relevant statistic is there in determining the greatest of all time than win-loss record? The best fighter in the world is someone who can overcome adversity at every turn and still have his arm raised.
When looking at Georges St-Pierre, we see that he has put together a stellar record of 23-2. That is a 92 percent success rate.
On the other hand, Anderson Silva also has an immaculate record of his own. Sitting in at 33-4, the Spider’s 89.1 percent success rate comes in just shy. Even if we were to throw out the disqualification loss to Yushin Okami, Silva would still be beneath Georges at 90.9 percent.
Total wins and quality of wins in the UFC
While the list of consecutive wins inside the Octagon is longer for Anderson Silva, we must not forget that Georges St-Pierre has more of them.
That might feel like splitting hairs, but when we look closer, we can also see that the quality of opponents for GSP is higher than that of Silva.
The least impressive names on St-Pierre’s UFC resume are Mayhem Miller and Jay Hieron. While neither man is a world beater, they went on to have notable careers while fighting for other organizations. Everyone else has been a legitimate threat to winning the UFC welterweight championship at some point in their career.
On the other hand, Anderson Silva has benefited from competing in a division that hasn’t historically had a lush assortment of worthy contenders. With title defenses against the likes of Patrick Cote and Thales Leites, as well as fights with Stephan Bonnar, James Irvin and Travis Lutter, there have been too many cake walks for The Spider.
Avenging losses
Everybody loses eventually. Every single champion on the UFC’s roster has lost at one time or another. The way you come back from those losses is what defines you as a fighter.
In the case of Georges St-Pierre, he has two losses, both via stoppage. Like a true warrior, the champ learned from his mistakes and dominated rematches against both Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. The fact that there is not a single unavenged loss on his record is a tremendous statement, and it’s something that Anderson Silva cannot claim for himself.
Defeating other champions
After a quick glance at GSP‘s record, we notice that several world champions are in his record. With wins over Matt Hughes (twice), BJ Penn (twice), Carlos Condit, Sean Sherk, Matt Serra and Jake Shields, Rush has won eight fights against fighters who were once ranked No. 1 in the world.
In comparison, Silva only has six. His wins over Rich Franklin (twice), Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin and Carlos Newton are the only ones that came against men who once held world championships.
To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. As long as both Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre are active fighters, fighting a catchweight contest between their respective stomping grounds is the only way to prove who is ultimately deserving of the GOAT moniker.
Andrew Saunders is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report, and a pretty handsome one at that. Follow him on Twitter @SaundersMMA, and he will consider mailing you a warm chocolate chip cookie.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Many years from now, when fans look back on the sport, they will be able to recognize several important men who were celebrated for their contributions and achievements in the sport by way of the UFC Hall of Fame. Sadly, should they content themse…
Many years from now, when fans look back on the sport, they will be able to recognize several important men who were celebrated for their contributions and achievements in the sport by way of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Sadly, should they content themselves with that accounting they will never know such fighters as Frank Shamrock, Fedor Emelianenko, Jeremy Horn, Kazushi Sakuraba and others—men who either fought for other promotions or who simply weren’t on Dana White’s list of friends.
The UFC Hall of Fame is a great thing, but it will never be a true HOF for the sport because it is totally dependent on the whims of a single man who is not above ignoring the contributions of others if he does not like them.
A true HOF is not dependent upon the selections of one man. The International Boxing Hall of Fame has five categories (Modern, Old-Timer, Pioneer, Non-Participant and Observer). Those inducted are chosen by an international panel of boxing historians and members of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Votes are cast and tabulated, and inductees can become members.
And that is just what the sport of MMA needs: a true HOF that recognizes fighters and other contributors to the sport with no biases for or professional prejudices against. It would be a committee of many minds and sensibilities, not an army of one, and from there, recognition and induction would be the byproduct of a concerned consensus.
Which is how it should be.
As great as the UFC is, the sport is too big to have its HOF members decided upon by a single man.
So, who should be inducted without hesitation or delay once such a HOF is born?
Here are the names of 25 deserving individuals for your consideration.
An old adversary of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre doesn’t only believe that GSP can beat Anderson Silva, the middleweight title holder, but that he can bump up a weight class and take “The Spider’s” title. Matt Hughes, a former domin…
An old adversary of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre doesn’t only believe that GSP can beat Anderson Silva, the middleweight title holder, but that he can bump up a weight class and take “The Spider’s” title.
Matt Hughes, a former dominant UFC champion at 170-pounds, said as much in a recent interview with BJPenn.com.
“If I was Georges I would tell the UFC if they want to make this fight between the two of them they should contest it at 185lbs. and Silva should put his title on the line. If Georges is going to fight Silva he might as well add the additional weight and try and get a belt out of the deal. That’s the way I would look at it, the price for me would be an opportunity to unify the two titles.”
Hughes attributes “Rush’s” ability to transition from striking to wrestling well and his superior conditioning as to why he would be able to defeat Silva in a long-awaited Octagon showdown.
“I really believe if GSP and Silva fight Georges will have his hand raised,” Hughes said confidently. “I have a lot of respect for Georges having lost to him twice. GSP is not a great wrestler, but he transitions so well from striking to wrestling that he will be on Silva’s legs before Anderson even knows what’s going on. I believe Georges is that quick and I don’t think Silva will be able to do a whole lot with Georges on top of him … Georges is going to be in great shape, he always is and I don’t think Silva would be able to use his weight advantage on GSP to try and tire him out. If anyone will get tired I think it will be Silva because he’s not going to be in the positions he wants to be in.”
Many expected a superfight with Silva to be academic if St-Pierre beats interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit at UFC 154 this Saturday.
More fuel was added to the fire when it was announced that the Brazilian would be in attendance at UFC 154, with the speculation being that Silva would personally challenge GSP in the Octagon with a victory.
However, Silva told Brazilian MMA media outlet Tatame on Sunday that would not happen and he doesn’t plan to return to the Octagon until late 2013.
Silva last defended his title against rival Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, defeating him via Round 2 TKO. The 37-year-old most recently defeated Stephen Bonnar, also via TKO, at UFC 153 in October, but that bout was contested at light heavyweight.
Hughes had a trilogy with St-Pierre from October 2004 and December 2007, defeating him at their initial meeting at UFC 50, but losing their subsequent meetings at UFC 65 and UFC 79.
Is Hughes analysis of GSP vs. Silva realistic or is his opinion skewed due to his old rivalry with the French-Canadian champion?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
As fans of mixed martial arts, we all have our favourite fighters. Some are liked because of how they fight, some because of their story, and yet others because of their charisma. On the flip side, there are also those fighters who fans dislike—n…
As fans of mixed martial arts, we all have our favourite fighters.
Some are liked because of how they fight, some because of their story, and yet others because of their charisma.
On the flip side, there are also those fighters who fans dislike—nay, hate. Not only do they have a distaste for these athletes, but they appear to derive pleasure from expressing said distaste.
With that in mind, I present to you seven fighters that fans love to hate.
The UFC era following shortly after the tournament era faded was a tumultuous and unstable time with many on the outside trying to ensure the failure of the promotion. The UFC was holding on for dear life and needed fighters and names to at l…
The UFC era following shortly after the tournament era faded was a tumultuous and unstable time with many on the outside trying to ensure the failure of the promotion. The UFC was holding on for dear life and needed fighters and names to at least drive demand and interest.
In the pre-TUF era between 1999 and 2005, Matt Hughes was that name, and the most dominant champion the UFC had ever seen. Fans were still getting used to the different weight classes and different champions from each weight, and Hughes was knocking them all down at 170 pounds.
In the dark days of the UFC, when they kicked and clawed to stay alive, Hughes sticks out front and center in my mind as someone who kept me and many coming back form more.
When I reflect on watching his great career, two fights of his really hooked me completely on the sport and the skill and determination it takes to step inside the Octagon.
Matt Hughes vs Carlos Newton I – UFC 34 November 2, 2001
I always tuned in to Hughes’ fights at the time, and this one in particular because it was for the title, and against one of my country’s best in Carlos The Ronin Newton. Newton had shocked many earlier that year when he choked out Hughes’ teacher and heavily favored, Pat Miletich, for the win and the title.
Hughes was evenly matched in the early going of the fight and got caught in a very bad spot early in the second round. Newton got Hughes in a triangle choke near the cage and things looked bleak for the challenger.
This was where that real rush of the early UFC was born as Hughes picked up Newton as a last resort and slammed him hard down on the canvas, knocking Newton out in the process and taking the victory. The fans went wild.
The referee called the bout over, and after Newton went out and let go of his hold, Hughes also slithered to the ground, seemingly out from the choke. It was an incredible, movie-like finish to a title fight. Both fighters out, but Newton being called out the second before.
I was personally disappointed for the Canadian Newton, but was in awe of the heart and power of the new champion Hughes. With title fights like this, the division thing could be ok after all.
Matt Hughes vs Frank Trigg II – UFC 52 April 15, 2005
Matt Hughes had just returned to being the champion a few months earlier and was defending it for the first time against flamboyant wrestler and former foe Frank Trigg when his next big moment came, and again made me in awe of the sport.
This fight with the loud and lippy Trigg (let’s say he was that era’s Chael Sonnen in a way) was epic and remains my favorite fight in UFC history to this day.
The trash talk and hype was enormous coming into this one, and Hughes was hit early by an undetected low blow by Trigg. Trigg pounced on the hurt champion and fed him some punches to the head before the two went to the ground. The challenger quickly took the dazed Hughes’ back and the end seemed all but there for Hughes in this one.
After struggling in the position for nearly two minutes, Hughes was able to reverse position, pick up Trigg and carry him across the cage on his shoulder before slamming him down with the fury and force of a madman hell bent on revenge. He then did some ground and pound of his own before securing his own rear naked choke for the win. It was the greatest win the UFC had seen to date and an incredible come back from Hughes.
This fight was a week after the Ultimate Fighter One finale, and the lights would turn on bright for the sport for years to come.
Hughes would go on to defeat BJ Penn and Georges St-Pierre but in my opinion, these were his two greatest moments and he hooked me on the UFC forever.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca.
Catch him on Facebook and Twitter @wakafightermma
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com