Tanner Rhoden
11-01-2003, 07:49 PM
http://news.adcombat.com/article.html?id=5285
Catching Up With MATT HUGHES!
Submitted by: Keith Mills
Posted On 11/01/2003
On November 21st the UFC returns to Mohegan Sun where Matt Hughes will defend his title for the second time this year. Word backstage is the UFC are having trouble finding champion opponents for Hughes, the #1 ranked Welterweight in the world. Out on the front lines there are plenty of Welterweights that talk about going after Hughes that are clawing their way up the rankings but the top contenders don’t seem to want anything to do with Hughes.
No wonder, Hughes has shown unstoppable takedowns and strength and speed only matched by other wrestlers like Sean Sherk. That is why it is no surprise that Frank Trigg is Matt’s next opponent. Trigg was last seen defending his WFA belt in Las Vegas last November against Dennis Hallman, one of two fighters to have ever beaten Hughes. Although Trigg beat Hallman it was a fight many have tried to forget. While exchanging blows standing Trigg fired off a kick, which Hallman claimed struck his groin while others present had varying degrees of belief. The fight was halted for Hallman to get time to recover but when he failed to answer the bell for the continuation of the fight he was deemed the loser. Regardless of the details this defeat of a man who has beaten the UFC champion not once but twice made his name golden despite the apparent death of the WFA and a year away from the spotlights.
Matt is usually very patient with the press and very responsive to the fans. It should be noted that while getting on a bus he took time to answer a few questions before the group he was with had to leave. With some of the group repeatedly calling for Matt to hurry up Matt still gave us some words to pass to the fans, a move not all the champions even of the feeder shows would consider doing. Although this particular update is rather short Hughes is one of the most approachable and modest champions, making him a particularly good if overlooked spokesperson for the sport.
KM: Your next fight is in UFC defending your title. MH: Yes. Frank Trigg.
KM: What do you think of Trigg? MH: Decent wrestler, limited striking, limited submissions. I think his wrestling is really a question mark; he is somewhat overrated.
KM: He hasn’t fought in a year but in that time you have defended your belt twice. Nobody’s really seen him since Hallman in WFA and that fight ended quickly. Did you see that one? MH: Yes. I was there live. I don’t know how long it lasted, a minute or something. I told myself I’d rather fight Trigg than Hallman. Trigg was winning in my mind. I don’t know what the judges had it or anything. He was winning the fight standing. Unless he’s really worked his ass off the last year I see myself winning. I’m not trying to act like I’m better than him or this and that but I really think if it comes right down to it I’m the best person.
KM: To you why does Trigg earn this fight? MH: He’s ranked #5 in the world right now. I don’t know if that is because they need him to be #5, I don’t know why. His mouth has got him some of that. He’s a talker and he’s got some fights because of his mouth.
KM: Word is not many people want to face you. Fighters will get in the UFC and then want a couple fights before facing you. Not many people are willing to step up against you. How do you feel about that? MH: I think that is terrible because I’m the champion and everybody should want to fight the champion.
At this point Matt had to get on a bus. Extra thanks go out to Matt for taking the time he was allowed to update the fans.
Get tickets at www.tickets.com Tickets also may be ordered by telephone by calling 1-800-477-6849 or 860-862-8499
Catching Up With MATT HUGHES!
Submitted by: Keith Mills
Posted On 11/01/2003
On November 21st the UFC returns to Mohegan Sun where Matt Hughes will defend his title for the second time this year. Word backstage is the UFC are having trouble finding champion opponents for Hughes, the #1 ranked Welterweight in the world. Out on the front lines there are plenty of Welterweights that talk about going after Hughes that are clawing their way up the rankings but the top contenders don’t seem to want anything to do with Hughes.
No wonder, Hughes has shown unstoppable takedowns and strength and speed only matched by other wrestlers like Sean Sherk. That is why it is no surprise that Frank Trigg is Matt’s next opponent. Trigg was last seen defending his WFA belt in Las Vegas last November against Dennis Hallman, one of two fighters to have ever beaten Hughes. Although Trigg beat Hallman it was a fight many have tried to forget. While exchanging blows standing Trigg fired off a kick, which Hallman claimed struck his groin while others present had varying degrees of belief. The fight was halted for Hallman to get time to recover but when he failed to answer the bell for the continuation of the fight he was deemed the loser. Regardless of the details this defeat of a man who has beaten the UFC champion not once but twice made his name golden despite the apparent death of the WFA and a year away from the spotlights.
Matt is usually very patient with the press and very responsive to the fans. It should be noted that while getting on a bus he took time to answer a few questions before the group he was with had to leave. With some of the group repeatedly calling for Matt to hurry up Matt still gave us some words to pass to the fans, a move not all the champions even of the feeder shows would consider doing. Although this particular update is rather short Hughes is one of the most approachable and modest champions, making him a particularly good if overlooked spokesperson for the sport.
KM: Your next fight is in UFC defending your title. MH: Yes. Frank Trigg.
KM: What do you think of Trigg? MH: Decent wrestler, limited striking, limited submissions. I think his wrestling is really a question mark; he is somewhat overrated.
KM: He hasn’t fought in a year but in that time you have defended your belt twice. Nobody’s really seen him since Hallman in WFA and that fight ended quickly. Did you see that one? MH: Yes. I was there live. I don’t know how long it lasted, a minute or something. I told myself I’d rather fight Trigg than Hallman. Trigg was winning in my mind. I don’t know what the judges had it or anything. He was winning the fight standing. Unless he’s really worked his ass off the last year I see myself winning. I’m not trying to act like I’m better than him or this and that but I really think if it comes right down to it I’m the best person.
KM: To you why does Trigg earn this fight? MH: He’s ranked #5 in the world right now. I don’t know if that is because they need him to be #5, I don’t know why. His mouth has got him some of that. He’s a talker and he’s got some fights because of his mouth.
KM: Word is not many people want to face you. Fighters will get in the UFC and then want a couple fights before facing you. Not many people are willing to step up against you. How do you feel about that? MH: I think that is terrible because I’m the champion and everybody should want to fight the champion.
At this point Matt had to get on a bus. Extra thanks go out to Matt for taking the time he was allowed to update the fans.
Get tickets at www.tickets.com Tickets also may be ordered by telephone by calling 1-800-477-6849 or 860-862-8499