fighter born october american retired mixed martial artist time champion hall_of_fame hughes separate fight winning streaks defeated available opposition division defended belt record seven times hughes inducted hall fame conjunction reign hughes widely considered pound pound mixed martial artist world hughes regarded analysts media outlets greatest fighters time greatest pound pound fighters sport history long time member hughes left camp late start hughes published autobiography america new_york_times bestseller list hughes host hughes nickname success practitioners people refer nickname mastery brazilian having trained black belt holders reasons thinks deserved black belt probably won wear early life hughes born illinois hughes siblings sister twin brother mark high school played football wrestling hughes went belleville illinois transferring lincoln illinois charleston illinois wrestling hughes time class state wrestling champion won attending illinois junior senior years matt went undefeated won state championships class final years high school totaled wins losses sophomore year sophomore junior senior college career started hughes placed fifth nation southwestern dropped wrestling program hughes transferred placed nation record graduation matt continued wrestling time ncaa division american placing eighth fifth finished record hughes competed prestigious held record beating losing early career hughes mixed martial arts debut january slammed opponent ground seconds winning slam signature won fight submission strikes hughes fought times october defeating future champion unanimous decision fight night lost undefeated technical submission choke round result announced process handed hughes professional defeat ultimate fighting championship promotional debut champion september defeating unanimous decision rounds returned promotion defeated throwing cut forced doctor end match came round hughes faced rematch defense belts point careers man defeated hughes competition hughes lost fight seconds bout started hughes lifted brutally slammed mat caught submission landing control championship hughes won world title high voltage november come fight hughes caught triangle choke champion lifted newton air slammed mat causing newton hit head lose consciousness hughes verge choke match stated felt reason hughes fell mat rendered unconscious triangle choke confirmed hughes reviewing tape match hughes heard telling corner fight result officially announced second round slam considered greatest history successfully defended championship belt defeating champion strikes fourth round round fight hughes spent time fence feet round landed right hand sent hughes mat despite matt won round spending minutes hitting position start round hughes quickly slammed ground staying minutes looked strong hughes finished bout 4th round taking transitioning mount minute ground pound onslaught contest answer champion hughes faced subsequent rematch main event brawl hall promotion debut united_kingdom won fight technical knockout successfully trapped newton modified position allowed rain unanswered blows newton face referee stopped contest round title defense hughes fought defeating contender hughes started match big slam began attack guard punches hughes easily avoided submission attempts looked far stronger passed half guard bleeding left eye challenger offense weak triangle choke went round ended hughes ground pounding opponent rounds doctors ruled resulting cut severe continue hughes declared winner sudden impact hughes faced future lightweight champion sean winning unanimous decision hughes started action taking immediately passing half guard able stand seconds hughes took round started trade punches eventually hughes took like round stood moment beginning round took hughes hughes attempted late stand led second round saw hughes strength control challenger ground took hughes fifth round champion controlled rest time finished victory man defeat hughes faced main event revolution event marked 10th anniversary tactical match early fell victim standing rear naked choke round choke earned hughes night submission award loss penn regaining title kept title supernatural submitted hawaiian brazilian specialist rear naked choke round fight heavily favored win title vacated contract dispute penn promptly stripped title claiming penn breached contract signing constituted refusing defend title penn filed suit publicized conflict claiming contract expired penn filed motion stop awarding new title motion denied hughes faced penn training partner winning unanimous decision caught tight triangle choke round winning second rounds awarded victory hughes regained vacant title submitting canadian contender final second round war fight competitive hughes took twice landed huge slam hughes trouble beginning bout spinning kick ribs submission earned hughes second night obviously disappointed time admitted afterward lost stepped regarded hughes idol beat hughes successfully retained title historical rematch accidentally hit groin early round hughes looked referee assistance referee seen strike capitalized hughes distraction barrage punches fight quickly went ground ground pounding hughes attempting rear naked choke nearly minutes struggling hughes broke free picked carried slammed ground hughes ground securing victory rear naked choke considered greatest fights history fight president favorite match combat sport history awarded night time career hughes fight took place force scheduled fight suffered injury fight took place match originally scheduled title bout meet pound weight limit non title fight marked time title fight called reason hughes defeated round submission half guard earned hughes night award hughes hughes defeated brazilian legend non title catch weight bout strikes round caught mount position hughes appeared submission place tap hughes stated felt arm pop realized tap instead breaking arm opted seek different position event drew buys best selling pay view history break million mark gross sales hughes scheduled fight rematch sustained severe groin injury announced replace title fight point careers penn mixed martial artist beat hughes march fact hughes loss fights bout penn controlled rounds sustained rib injury scramble hughes round visibly different round appearing exhausted missing punches landing earlier hughes able penn mat control position punches penn head referee big stopped fight round process hughes man stop penn fight fighters awarded fight night bonus interview penn personal website penn stated round hardly breathe mobility core despite injury penn congratulated hughes calling great fighter saying deserved victory stepped ring promote upcoming title fight hughes stating glad hughes won fight impressed hughes performance according commentator hughes autobiography hughes unhappy statement hughes said words camera shortly apologized saying misunderstood hughes said microphone mean loss november defeated hughes strikes round ending hughes title reign round hughes sustained kicks near groin hughes went second kick given warning referee big hughes stated post fight interview second kick mainly affected legs groin nearing end round landed superman punch hughes followed strikes stunned opponent appeared fight stopped bell signaling end round second round ended fight head kick stunned hughes knocked mat followed punches forced mccarthy stop contest left round return march hughes returned uprising defeating unanimous decision winning judges hughes secured end round saved bell hughes opened second round quick moving control landed elbow cut finally hughes mounted opponent swept able reverse position round hughes unsuccessfully tried horn sounded late hughes left camp longtime boxing coach wrestling conditioning teacher form training squad illinois ultimate fighter hughes participated coach opposite second season spike reality television series ultimate fighter season coaches fight conclusion franklin hughes champions different weight divisions hughes participated guest coach long time friend training partner ultimate fighter season hughes agreed head coach ultimate fighter alongside champion despite fact preliminary round record team hughes finals hughes appeared guest coach ultimate fighter season friend heavyweight champion interim championship bout following championship win president announced hughes fight world title november fight later changed december las_vegas nemesis november sustained disc lower informed able compete time replacement title match quickly signed rubber match hughes despite best efforts hughes unable mount offense easily avoided hughes attempts taking hughes hughes ground pound style near end second round attempted hughes right arm escaped reversal fight able twist straight seconds remaining round hughes fought extension left hand trapped mat legs forced verbally submit second round post fight interview hughes praised better fighter hughes hughes fought june hughes lost second round receiving powerful flying knee dropped ground left knee pinned ultimately leaving torn partially torn hughes took fight short notice favor failed weight match hughes elected fight catch weight stated blog hughes future immediately fight hughes stated fight left wanted fight rivalry stemmed time contestant hughes guest coach like way hughes criticized contestants disgusted hughes constantly picked lunch break submission victory january hughes confirmed blog likely day met confirmed fight hughes won match evans unanimous decision round fighters collided heads hughes got worst despite finish fight hughes recovered rapidly second stanza hughes controlled opponent ground wrestling skills final round saw champions taking exchanging punches forth action rewarded competitors fight night honors fight hughes embraced ended feud hughes posted blog fight pretty confident going hand raised people asked raised hand end actually didn raised told matter decision rivalry fight hughes said think fights left hughes hughes signed multi fight deal hughes defeated 1st cousin removed opponent round invincible setting record wins comfortable fighting feet early going landing cleaner effective punches landing couple kicks hughes started second round powerful leg kicks returned punching style hughes got double managed briefly final round hughes connected right hook chin connected leg kick punch minutes knocked leg kick took time hughes helped dropped second leg kick stalled finally stood hughes punch let attacked hughes knocked fourth punch referee ended hall_of_fame hughes hughes inducted hall fame fighting student 3rd degree brazilian black belt hughes rendered unconscious round august hughes landed huge left hook knocked sinking deep choke earned submission night honors requested fight watching mentor lose hughes april hughes wins mixed martial artists ties including pioneer prior mentioned hughes penn iii hughes faced penn november rubber match previous fights penn came strong seconds opening round catching hughes kicks knocking balance counter hook penn connected right dropped hughes following clean shots jaw bout ended seconds round hughes trilogy penn ending fight marked time hughes knocked previously lost technical knockout post fight hughes hinted loss moved step closer retirement hughes hughes expected face september jones missed bout injury replaced hughes suffered loss round hughes showed improved striking ultimately succumbed power punches retirement announced january retired fighting named vice president theme music hughes frequently song country boy survive entrance live broadcast said favorite walk song country boy survive autobiography hughes released autobiography america dominant champion history written january book debuted new_york_times bestseller list television series january host hunting program airs outdoor channel times week closely related july host airs saturdays criticisms criticized animal advocates including fighter trophy hunting response outrage trophy hunting pictures posted twitter account hughes called told stop following page personal life born christian regularly posts bible verses website hughes wife daughters son previous relationship couple second daughter born january matt twin brother born father birthday hughes close friend professional wrestler best known ring undertaker championships achievements mixed martial arts mixed martial arts record filmography video games
Matt Hughes (fighter)