Matt Hughes Former UFC World Welterweight Champion

Born on October 13, 1973, Matt Hughes is a professional mixed martial arts fighter. He is a former two-time UFC World Welterweight Champion. His birth name is Matthew Allen Hughes and was born in Hillsboro, Illinois. Some of his most wins have been over B.J. Penn, Georges St. Pierre, Frank Trigg and many more.

Matt Hughes started wrestling during his high school days. He competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, where he held a record of 2-2. He was also a 2-time 145 lbs. State Wrestling champion for IHSA class A in the year 1991 and 1992. He was also a 2-time division I All American Wrestler, where he finished at 8th and the 5th place.

In the year 2001, Matt Hughes won his first UFC World Welterweight title at UFC 34: High Voltage. He was able to defend his championship belt for many times till UFC 46. He regained his title in the UFC 50. His next fight took place at UFC 56 in which he defeated, Joe Riggs in the first round by Kimura. He successfully defended his title in 2006, defeating B.J. Penn.

Matt Hughes returned to the Octagon on March 3, 2007 at the UFC 68. Here he defeated Chris Lytle. On November 24, 2007, Matt took part in the UFC 79 as a replacement for the injured Matt Sieria. This match was postponed and scheduled to be held in the year 2008. During the mid 2007, Hughes left the Miletich camp along with fellow mates to form the Hughes Intensive Training Squad in Granite City, Illinois.

Matt Hughes has also appeared on several TV reality shows based on wrestling. He participated as a coach in 2005, in the second season of the Spike TV reality television series, The Ultimate Fighter. He again appeared in the year 2007, as a guest coach for the Ultimate Fighter 5 season. Matt has hinted about his possible retirement at the end of UFC 79.

Matt Hughes was born in Hillsboro, Illinois. Matt was born five minutes before his twin brother, Mark and they played football and wrestled in their high school days. They both have an elder sister, Beth Ulricy. Matt graduated from Southwestern Illinois College and the transferred to Lincoln College and then went to Eastern Illinois University. Hughes married to Audra and the couple has a son and a daughter. Matt Hughes