Matt Hughes started his final UFC bout on a positive note. He landed some early shots on Josh Koscheck and was in control of the fight for a short period. However, Koscheck took control and knocked out the veteran with one second left in the first round, sending Hughes into retirement on a sour note.
It was Hughes' second consecutive loss after losing to B.J. Penn last November. Losses to Koscheck and Penn are nothing to worry about, they are good losses, but nobody can outlast Father Time and he has finally caught up with Hughes.
The 37-year-old American said after the fight that he's doesn't want to look at it like a retirement, but instead like UFC is putting him on a shelf. If his career is officially over, he'll finish with a fantastic 45-9 record.
He won the UFC Welterweight Championship twice and is already a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He defending the Welterweight Championship a record seven times and was named the 2006 NHB Fighter of the Year.
Also on his résumé is a successful amateur wrestling career. It's just been an incredible run for the man from Illinois.
Hughes had a lot of natural talent, which is something you need to make it to the heights he did, but he was also a tireless worker. That combination of talent and work ethic is rare and when one man possess it, that's a special athlete.
While Hughes' career could very well be over, he won't soon be forgotten. He was only of the most important fighters in helping UFC gain momentum and now he'll pass the torch to a younger group of fighters, to hopefully keep that momentum going.
Matt Hughes was one of a kind and that's why he was so successful.
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