Modern fights without rules are one of the fastest growing sports, as evidenced by the increase in the number of engaged highlight fighters. Matt Hughes became interested in mixed martial arts at school, and is currently the UFC American Welterweight Champion. He has 45 wins and 9 losses.
Matt Hughes Biography
Athlete's childhood
Matt Hughes, full name Matthew Allen Hughes, was born on October 13, 1973 in the small town of Hillsboro (USA). Matt has a twin brother, Mark. His father was engaged in farming and the boys from childhood helped him in their work. While studying at school, the brothers actively played football and even then there was an interest in wrestling, taking part in in-school tournaments. As a child, Mark won more often than Matt.
Matt's sports career
In high school, Matt Hughes was selected to the state wrestling team and for 4 years he was invincible, winning one after another all state championships in weight up to 145 pounds. His brother was the second state fighter. Having been educated in high school, the brothers enrolled in Belleville College. But after the first year of the sport - wrestling was excluded from university sports, so they continued to engage in wrestling at Lincoln College. Matt earned All American junior league fighter status for both colleges. In weight up to 158 pounds, Matt took 5th place, and a year later - 3rd place. All four years of training, the athlete fought for colleges, receiving all-American league fighter awards.
In 1996, after graduating, Matt was offered to become a wrestling assistant at East University. In the same year, the wrestler earned his 100 US dollars in the battle of the Madonna High School. In 1997, the second battle took place. It ended with a victory too. So there were 6 fights, Matt gained fame in the United States, he was invited to fight in Japan, Britain and other countries.
First belt and first championship race
On March 22, 2002, Matt defeated Japanese MMA fighter Hayato Sakurai, who has been fighting since 1996. Had victories - thirty-eight, and losses - twelve. He participated in tournaments of such promotions as Pride FC, UFC, Shooto.
On July 13, 2002, a sports organization based in Las Vegas, USA, which conducts mixed martial arts fights around the world, UFC 38 awarded the first time welterweight champion Matt Hughes when he defeated world champion Carlos Newton. Matt Hughes defended his welterweight title against Carlos Newton in the UFC's first raid in London, Royal Albert Hall of England.
On November 22, 2002, Matt won a straight fight with U.S. fighter Jill Castillo, who fought for the UFC welterweight championship. Castillo lost through a doctor’s stop due to a cut in the first round by technical knockout (dissection).
On January 31, 2004, a title confrontation between Matt Hughes and BJ Penn, an American professional MMA light and welterweight fighter, took place. Penn simply strangled Matt Hughes in the first round and interrupted his winning streak, which lasted 13 battles.
Hughes was a welterweight champion, his memorable champion race lasted 820 days (November 2, 2001 - January 31, 2004), for which he spent five defenses.
Thanks to the memorable slam knockout of Carlos Newton in 2001, Hughes' career could be determined by one highlight. However, unlike many other highlight fighters, Matt has secured enough awards to make that slam something memorable in his career. After conquering the belt, Hughes defended his title five times and four of them ahead of schedule.
The second championship race
Hughes also had a second championship run, during which he beat Georges Saint-Pierre, Frank Trig, BJ Penn and Royce Gracie in a non-title superboy, but his first possession of the title was objectively better. And these merits cement him the status of one of the best fighters of his era.
In 2013, Matt ended his career with 45 victories and 9 defeats.
