Third Fight with Penn
December 2nd, 2010
|
First of all, I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving. I’m sure everybody else did the same, but once again I ate too much on this Thanksgiving. At noon, I went to my mom’s house and had a great meal and then at 5 o’clock I went to my in-laws and had another meal. I ate so much at my mom’s that I wasn’t that hungry to eat at my in-laws, so I didn’t fix much food for my evening meal; but it just seems like I ate desserts the whole time. So I had a great Thanksgiving and I hope everybody else did as well. This week’s been kind of busy for me as Robbie fights Matt Lindland on Saturday night for Strikeforce. Strikeforce is televised on Showtime, so if you’ve got time Saturday, tune in and wish Robbie some luck. I actually think it’s a pretty good match up for Robbie and was surprised that Matt took the fight. So, let’s hope Robbie gets his hand raised after his competition. A lot of people have been asking about the fight and how I am doing. Of course, the fight didn’t go like I had planned it. I knew BJ was going to be in shape, but I didn’t know he was going to come in with a game plan and really look for my tendencies. I think BJ knew I was going to come in throwing my jab and I think he had a game plan for that. He hit me with a hard right hand that I never saw coming. It’s funny how styles make fights and I’m not at all like Frankie Edgar. So it just kind of stinks that BJ came off two losses and then ended up beating me in less than 30 seconds. I knew BJ was going to be tough that first round. I was trying to get him into the second and the third round where I could wear on him, slow him down and soften him up a little bit; but it just didn’t go that way. I don’t know what I’ll do now. I’m definitely going to take the winter off and some of the spring. I had three fights this year, so I’ve just got some other things I want to do; but I will say that this was one big step closer to retirement for me. A lot of times I don’t have the gift of gab, but lucky for you guys my buddy Boomer does. Boomer was with me the whole week leading up to the BJ fight, and here is his story on what happened: I will have to thank Papa Vino’s for the post weigh in meal and also The Post Bar for hosting the afterparty and providing us with a place to get together after the fight. My son, Brandon, was out there at the fights this time, so here are a few photos of him:    Here is the Bible verse for this week:
-matt |
41 Responses to “Third Fight with Penn”
Leave a Reply
December 2nd, 2010 at 5:24 pm
You have been a great fighter and champion for a long time! By far the best welterweight ever, enjoy your time off, as long as you’re still fighting you will be my favorite fighter!
December 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
thanks for all the grat fights over the years, i would love to se u and alves again if he wins his next fight, but that up to u. family man and a fighter is not easy i would think:) take care and u are a true class act and a champion. gretings Fannar
December 2nd, 2010 at 5:49 pm
[...] via his recent blog, Hughes [...]
December 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Matt,
I always look forward to your blogs…its very cool to hear from a fighter about how he thinks things went. As far as how things went in the fight with BJ, my family was rooting for you and still is! Enjoy your time off and come out to Oregon sometime. We’ve got great huntint and fishing around this area! Psalm 105:4; Psalm 27:8
December 2nd, 2010 at 6:14 pm
apparently I need to go huntint for a “g.” :)
December 2nd, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I was very excited to go to my first UFC and see my favorite fighter. I nearly broke into tears. As a high school and college wrestler during Matt’s era, I was really pulling for him. You will always be the greatest welterweight of all time, I just ask you give us one more and go out on top.
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Hi, Matt:
Your last fight doesn’t change anything for me. You are still my favorite UFC fighter! Thank you for all you do, and all you have done!
God’s Blessings to you and all yours!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Matt,
I was at 123 and had a great time. I don’t think that I’ve been in a state of shock like that in a while like I was after the loss. We all know it was a well timed, random punch that had a prayer on it, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. I had hoped for a win, as did you, but things don’t work out like we want them to all the time. You just have to evaluate, adapt, and overcome. From what I have read it sounded like you put a lot more effort into this fight and even left your family for a while to train, which I’m sure was very hard to do. I know that makes this outcome much harder to deal with but I hope you take some more time to think about your future in fighting. My wife and I love to watch a great Matt Hughes fight and hope we get to see one more title run before its over. I know it’s funny hearing it from someone you have never met, but keep your spirits up and hope to see you fighting again after your time off.
BTW, did you finally get to hunt after the fight?
December 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Matt the first fight I ever saw was Hughes Penn 2 and I was hooked on MMA since then. Ive seen every one of your fights and I was there at UFC 123. It was my first live UFC. I really wanted you to win that one but it didnt go that way. No matter who beats you, you will always be the greatest welterweight of all time and my favorite fighter. Thank you for proving time and time again that a country boy can survive. Hope you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
December 3rd, 2010 at 10:42 am
[...] Matt-Hughes.com This entry was written by Joe Rocha, posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:42 am, filed under [...]
December 3rd, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Although I know that retirement will come eventually, I still have to say NOOOOOOOOO!!! LOL, when that day does come, you will be missed!!!
December 3rd, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Matt please one more fight!!!!!!!!!! dan hardy or serra or jake shields go out with a bang! and then say goodbye, I began MMA because of you it broke my heart when you lost and yes bj probably knew you were coming in with the jab at first every fight ive seen you in you use it mostly standing, please one more fight PLEASE! youll always be my favorite fighter and I dont know who Ill root for besides sean sherk . God Speed Matt it just wasnt your night I am going to be rooting for Robbie this weekend I cant wait to see him KO matt lindland. I believe you have ONE more fight left in you at the very least! please blog back about all your fans concerns, because serra condit hardy and jake shields are PERFECT matchups for you they cant wrestle like you, they arent as strong, and if you get one of them down you will have a GNP clinic on any of them!!! CLINCH TAKEDOWN! SLAM!! IN YOUR LAST FIGHT BELIEVE IN GOD THAT YOU CAN SLAM AND GNP OR SUBMISSION FOR VICTORY!!!
December 3rd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Matt please dont retire there are plenty of people you can take, dan hardy, matt serra, jake shields, and martin kampman go out with a bang matt! your the rreason i began MMA i know retirement is close but please one more fight! God Speed and have a merry christmas!
December 3rd, 2010 at 6:15 pm
PS GO ROBBIE LAWLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Hey Matt thanks alot for writing your blog for us… I hope all is well and that youa re doing ok. Im sure your going to enjoy your time off. Hope you can knock somthing big down on one of your hunts!
Your my favorite fights and always will be. Your my HERO Matt!
December 3rd, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Not what I was expecting or hoping for, but I do have a lot of respect for Penn’s talents. One more fight! Go out on a win! :)
December 3rd, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Matt- Whatever you decide to do…thank you for all the memories!
December 4th, 2010 at 3:10 am
OMR—– One More Round …. IDol Matt. I Know How You Feel. I Understand you.
I Proud To You… You Are My No.1 Idol in UFC and MMA….
God Bless You And Your Family…. Advance Hapi X MAs and Happy New Year…
December 4th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
[...] to retirement for me.” -Matt Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his career. Penick’s Analysis: Matt Hughes is [...]
December 4th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 5th, 2010 at 4:39 am
Thanks for all the great fights over the years. You will always be one the greatest ufc champions of all time and a steller example for future fighters.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:20 am
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 5th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Dang Matt. Your buddy Robbie Knocked Linland out in stunnen fashion. You gotta be happy about that.
December 6th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Matt,
I was sitting on the couch, channel surfing, a few years ago, when I came across a cage fight on spike tv. It was the first fight I ever saw…
I watched a guy getting the heck knocked out of himself in the first few seconds of the round and as the commentator is saying words like “He’s got his back” “Matt’s face is turning red” “He may have to tap out” I watched a guy turn on his opponent, pick him up from a kneeling position, run across the ring with the guy, slam him to the ground and within seconds the guy that had appeared to be losing won. It was Hughes vs Trigg II…
To my wife’s amazement I have been a Matt Hughes fan ever since and love to watch as many fight events as I can.
Now. It may no longer be in the cage, but I know you are going to get up from your knees and slam life to the ground going forward. Best Wishes and God Bless!!
December 6th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Matt, I just can’t thank you enough for being so open and honest with us fans. I’ve been lucky enough to meet you twice and you really was more down to earth in person than I ever would have imagined. All your people at your gym was amazing and what matters to me most is you impacted my kids in a positive way. No matter what you decide and honestly win or lose you will always be the champ for me. I hope to make it out to your gym again or to a signing. We love to hunt if you ever need a partner. God Bless and great pictures as well.
December 6th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Well I figured the “R” word would be coming out after that fight. I for one don’t want to see you go but don’t let pride be the reason you stay. There have been to many greats stay around for pride sake and end up being some up and comers stepping stone. Matt we all know you were a great champion and always will be, belt or no belt. And I don’t want you to end up being like Ken Shamrock and just fighting for a paycheck. You have too much of a legacy for that. But remember whatever you do the true fans will support you and thatnks for the memorys.
December 7th, 2010 at 8:12 am
[...] From the post Third Fight with Penn: [...]
December 7th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Matt- say it ain’t so. BJ caught you with a punch and that has happened to the best of them – doesn’t mean you have to retire anytime soon from fighting. You can retire the bible verses for a while though. I would love to see another fight against Serra though as he still thinks he had the best of you. I must say you are always a great man in defeat – not everyone can say that! Stay strong and hope to see you in the ring soon!
December 8th, 2010 at 2:23 am
You are my all time favorite fighter and the only fighter to get me cheering against BJ Penn. Grats on the Lawler fight he did great. I really hope you don’t retire I know you have another title run in you after all you just came off a three fight win streak, and I know if you got settled in you would have beaten BJ in the later rounds. Plus with fighters like Fitch, GSP and Shields who just sleep on fighters for 3 to five rounds we need you out there. Would love to see you fight Shields, Alves, Carlos, or Dan Hardy but at the very least would love to see you come back after your long and much disserved time off.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Matt,
We here at DEAF Inc are all huge UFC fans and were lucky enough to have Matt Hamill Join us here in St. Louis last year. We would like to invite you this year to an awesome event. Please email us and we can set it up :)
December 9th, 2010 at 3:54 am
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 9th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
[...] to retirement for me.” -Matt Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his career. Penick’s Analysis: Matt Hughes is [...]
December 10th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
[...] һіѕ UFC 123 rubber match wіtһ B.J. Penn οח һіѕ personal blog аחԁ ѕауѕ іt wаѕ a step towards tһе [...]
December 11th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 11th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 11th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 12th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Matt
Haven’t seen you in some time , I hope this finds you well and your Holiday is a good one. I know you still got some fire in ya Boy Get er done.
Judo Charlie
Elko Nevada
December 13th, 2010 at 1:15 am
[...] Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his [...]
December 14th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
What about becoming a commentator? It’s amazing how much better Strikeforce’s commentary is. The UFC could use you.
December 28th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Matt,
It was a tough fight for me to watch, as you and Penn are two of the three fighters I enjoy the most. I was torn as you were coming in with a streak of wins and he with losses. Either way, I’d be happy, but unhappy. But, I’m just a fan…
No excuses, it was all timing and it went the way it went. It hasn’t diminished my pride for you or elevate him.
I’m sure you’ve been given all the advice you could possibly absorb, but I don’t think this is the end of your game and don’t think you should let it be. I’d still like to see you rock a few more fights and retire with a smile.
I’m not a big commenter, so this is likely my one and only. Skill and show aside, I appreciate your enthusiasm and sportsmanship in this sport. Thank you.
-A
January 17th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
matt, i hope to see u on the octagon again, ur are my favorite and the best fighter ! but im gonna support u with any decision