What does Matt Hughes have to prove? That really seems to be the question. A lot of folks would feel fine if Hughes hung up his gloves, waved to the crowd, and waited for his UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Maybe they’re right. After all, from the moment Hughes won the title from Carlos Newton in 2001 his dominance was undeniable. It was not until he met George St. Pierre at UFC 65 that Hughes experienced an unsuccessful title defense. A combination of training with the Miletich camp, mental toughness, a good work ethic, superior strength, wrestling skills and consistent improvement lead Matt to his five year run at the top. He carries with him an impressive record of 43-7-0, more fights than most could dream of. Hughes has had a remarkable run. Nobody can take that away from him. So what does Matt Hughes have to prove?
What makes the sport of MMA so unique is its evolution. Everyone remembers what happened in years after the first few UFC tournaments. In that short period of time the sport evolved from a collection of fighters with unique skill sets to a collection of fighters incorporating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into their unique skill sets. It has never stopped evolving. The true test of a great fighter is whether or not he can evolve with the sport. He needs to be able to continue adding checks to his win column despite changing trends and the influx of younger fighters. Has Matt Hughes demonstrated such an ability? The answer is simple, no.
Hughe was dominant his specific skill set went unanswered by the majority of his opponents. From 2001-2006 he had something nobody else did. Few could contend with Hughes’ strength and wrestling ability. It was these skills that carried him to the top. The true test for Hughes came after his first loss to George St. Pierre. Pierre entered the octagon with a superior skill set. His striking outclassed that of Hughes and Pierre’s Jiu-Jitsu could handle Hughe’s wrestling. The welterweight division had caught up to Hughes and slipped right past him. His one-dimensional fight game would no longer carry him through a fight against well-rounded fighter like George St. Pierre. After that fight, the sport issued Hughes a challenge: evolve as a fighter or get let behind. Did Hughes rise to the occasion? It does not look like it.
Now lets talk for a minute about a fighter’s legacy. Consider Randy Couture. He is not as well rounded a fighter as a George St. Pierre or a B.J. Penn, but he has proven that he can hang with the best of them no matter how old he is. Couture has taken his loses, learned from them and come back better. He has evolved. Nobody shamed him when he announced his retirement after his lost to Liddell. In fact, they celebrated his legacy. Why? Because he was 41 years old and had nothing to prove. Hughes, on the other hand, has wracked up an amazing record but he’s only 34 and has no serious injuries. If he retired now, his legacy would be that of a fighter who was a great champion, but was unable to keep up with the sport. A guy of Hughes’ age and athletic ability should be able to stay with it. He should be able to continue training, learning, evolving, and climbing his way back to the top. The question isn’t whether or not Hughes can come back, its whether or not he will.