Watching Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes(42-7) TKO’d at 1:02 of the second round by younger, stronger, faster, and more complete (currently) sixth-ranked “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) last night at UFC 85 in London, I couldn’t help but recall the country boy whoopin’ Hughes put on the original Ultimate Fighter Royce Gracie (14-3-3) two-years ago.
Hughes stalked Alves for a takedown at the first bell, settling for bottom position by pulling guard, but never finding the submission opportunity he thought he could force.
Again, Hughes took the Brazilian to the mat mid-way through the first and smothered the kickboxer; but, Alves utilized butterfly guard to neutralize Hughes’s offense.
The only damage done on the mat in round one was after the confident “Pitbull” bulldogged the veteran to the mat and hammered a crevice in Hughes’s nose with an elbow strike.
Hughes, like Gracie at UFC 60, was impotent. Alves wasn’t falling for the tried and true tricks, wasn’t physically overwhelmed by the stocky farm boy from rural Illinois, and wasn’t intimidated by the future Hall of Famer’s legacy.
The second round was short; the end poignant.
Hughes ducked for the takedown that’s served as a sure-shot for ten years; and, Alves flew the distance between him and Hughes, colliding into Hughes’s right jaw with his left knee.
One punch later and referee Herb Dean waved off the fight, and, officially, the Matt Hughes era.
Alves never doubted the outcome, but remained humble while pleading from the Octagon, “Mr. Dana White, I’ve been a good boy, please give me a title shot!”
“He got me, no doubt,” Hughes admitted.
For Hughes, there remains a grudge match with fourth-ranked “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5), then a lot of prayer and consultation with his family for the proudly Christian husband and father of two.
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