Does the UFC owe Royce one more chance at Hughes?

Kevin Haggerty on Aug 23, 2011 10:43 AM EDT in UFC News

He's the Godfather of mixed martial arts (MMA). There's a good chance that Royce Gracie has a good deal to do with why you started watching Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the first place.

I remember the first time I saw him fight. It was 1994 and I was just then finding out about the UFC. I didn't totally understand it at the time, but I was curious.

Like many new fans and inquisitive onlookers, I was taken aback by the sight of this tiny guy in a karate gi who somehow managed to win fights against much larger opponents ... while lying on his back. It was amazing. I wanted to see more.

I've never stopped watching since. And it's all because of Gracie. In my opinion, the UFC may not even exist today if it were not for him.
Royce is 44 years old. His last win was in 2007 against an older, slower and far less dangerous version of Kazushi Sakuraba. In his last UFC fight, Gracie was battered and bruised by family-nemesis Matt Hughes.

In a recent interview, Gracie said that he doesn't feel like he's done yet. If it's up to him, he'll get one more shot at Matt Hughes.
Should he?

I'd love to see this fight again.... I just don't know if Royce could do any better the next time. Anti GJJ techniques have developed while GJJ has stood still.

I think it would be a good way to send off a legend and at the same time get ton$ of the Brazilian$ Buck$ at the event. But I guess they thought he was asking way too much... what can you do I guess...

Elite American wrestling truly is the great equalizer to high-level jiu-jitsu. I hate to admit that because a lot of fighters use wrestling to stall or whatever, but it's the truth.

This fight goes no differently the 2nd time around.

With that said.....why not? If Royce wants it, I say give it to him. Hughes is at the point in his career where title shots are out and "interesting" match-ups are in, so go for it!

I have no interest.
I thought the fight was silly the first time.

War Gracie.....if it happens ofcourse

I say no, just because I don't think he stands a chance and I don't want to see him go out like that again.

I voted no.

Triggerman99 wrote:

With that said.....why not? If Royce wants it, I say give it to him. Hughes is at the point in his career where title shots are out and "interesting" match-ups are in, so go for it!

Uhm, okay... I'm sure they would find a great way to hype it up!
But it would still be a repeat of their last match.

Yeah, absolutely. Just like I said in the first part of my post that you didn't quote.

Eh, I doubt many people would be too interested. Hughes bullied him last time, and he'd bully him a 2nd time around too. If Gracie wants another go give him someone like Shamrock who he has history with but is more of an equal fight.

I'm a big Hughes fan...he just doesn't have it anymore...I don't want to see him go out like that. Just doesn't seem fair to make the matchup when Matt was in his prime and then to re-do it just because everyone knows he's no longer there in most aspects of the game just to give Royce the edge knowing he'd more than likely win this time.

Remember Royce is ageing just as fast as Hughes. I'd be a fair fight but the loser would have a tough time living with the loss. Cause there would sure be no best of three if needed.

I thin k Royce will and can take hueghs this time. hueghs is way out of his hey day and i think royce could tap'em.

As far removed from his prime Hughes is, Royce is even further out. Plus, Matty's been training and fighting, Royce hasn't. If they rematch it'll go down exactly like the last time.

1 more thing...

Yeah, BKN's vid is the real point.

Let's not forget that Hughes IS the "Gracie Killa"

Well, the "over-the-hill Gracie killer". He was in deep shit in the Renzo fight until Renzo turned 73 right before our very eyes.

Yeah Renzo looked really good in that one.... right up to when he lost.