The Future of Matt Hughes

Many thought he was done. The post fight statements of Matt Hughes after his devastating loss to Georges St.Pierre seemed to indicate that retirement was a very lucrative option. Apparently it wasn’t lucrative enough.

Yet, the reasons behind Hughes’ return are unknown. Why would the greatest welterweight champion in the history of the UFC continue? The answer may involve two names: Matt Serra and Anderson Silva.

Season six of The Ultimate Fighter didn’t go as planned. While Hughes was forced to endure the Nanny-like verbal assaults of then-champion Matt Serra, the crowd-pleasing match between the two never materialized. What better time than now?

So why wouldn’t Hughes just step in and fight Serra? For starters, who knows just how good Matt Highes is. Is he washed up? Or is he simply the second or third best welterweight in the world? A win over Alves would state the latter; a loss would push the future hall of famer into retirement.

If Hughes gets past Alves, the fight would serve as a perfect warm-up for Serra. Not only would the fight be a good way of gauging Hughes’ level of competition, but it would serve as a test run for the much larger fight.

Remember, Matt Serra fought just last month. If Hughes remained inactive, he would be facing the former welterweight champion after 8 months or more of inactivity. It is always better to be fully prepared.

The other possible reason for the return of Matt Hughes is a bit of a stretch. Hughes has always been intrigued with the possibility of fighting Anderson Silva. Before writing this fight off, think about it.

If Hughes were able to defeat Alves and Serra, would it really place him in line for shot at George St.Pierre again? Doubtful; Two consecutive loses to the Canadian have ensured that.

The middleweight division needs someone new. Silva has been so dominant that rumors have been circulating that welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre could be his next opponent. Why not Hughes?

If Hughes were to defeat Alves and Serra, his position of contender would be restored. Who better for Silva to fight than a living legend? If Hughes wins, he’s a god; if he loses, he’s (just) a welterweight. Win or lose, the fight would create intrigue, as well as set up a future fight with the welterweight champion. This is the definition of win = win.

Whatever the reason, Matt Hughes’ return at UFC 85 comes with many questions. The man has nothing to prove. But more importantly, the man has nothing to lose. Why wouldn’t Hughes pursue the fights he’s always wanted in a final run? It’s not as if he’s fallen of the cusp of competition (ala Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn). His last fight was for the welterweight title!

The truth is, unless Matt Hughes himself tells us why he’s returning, we’ll never know. Something tells me that if we save all of our questions until the end, Professor Hughes will show us his reasons soon enough.