Matt Hughes owns a UFC record 17 wins. Now, he’s looking for No. 18.
The 36-year old Hughes said this weekend he has no plans on retiring after recording back-to-back victories over Matt Serra and Renzo Gracie.
“I’ve got three more fights left on my contract,” Hughes said after defeating Gracie Saturday at UFC 112. “I don’t know how much longer I’m going to continue fighting. I’m 36 years old. I had a lot of changes over the last five years.”
Hughes is 44-7 overall in his MMA career and 17-5 in the UFC. He is not only one of the greatest welterweight fighters of all time but one of the top pound-for-pound fighters to ever compete in MMA.
Hughes feels recharged since joining the Illinois-based H.I.T. Squad gym, which features some of MMA’s top young, upcoming fighters.
“I still love to compete,” he said. “I’m a lucky guy. When I go to the gym every day, I’m super happy. I have a great crew with me wherever I go to train. As long I still love to compete inside the octagon and as long as I enjoy working out, then I’ll still be here.”
Dana White said Hughes still has a home in the UFC but who his next opponent will be is still uncertain. While Hughes has defeated two aging fighter he was destroyed by Thiago Alves at UFC 85 back in 2008.
It’s doubtful Hughes can compete with the division’s top younger fighters at this point in his career but he has shown enough in his last two bouts to allow his stellar career to continue in the UFC.
He may not be the Matt Hughes of old but the future UFC Hall of Famer isn’t ready to hang it up either. As long as Hughes remains competitive, White will surely find people for him to fight inside the Octagon.