In 2000, Matt Hughes made quite a splash at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club’s Submission Wrestling World Championships. Competing in the 99 kilogram division (a full two weight classes above his fighting weight), Hughes was in a group that included mammoth heavyweights and lightheavyweights like Tito Ortiz and Jeff Monsen. It was the first time many realized just how good the Eastern Illinois All American was on the mat, as he held his own with both wrestlers known for their ground and pound technique.
Most people remember him giving Ortiz a run for his money in the Bronze Medal match. Other recall his worked suplex and subsequent submission win over teammate Jeremy Horn, netting the pair almost $3000 in cash. Forgotten to the history was his opening round match with Renzo Gracie student Ricardo Almeida.
Hughes slammed Almeida to the mat after an armbar attempt, knocking the Brazilian for a loop and winning the match on points. Ten years later, the two are set to go head to head once again. Heavy.com’s Jon Lane caught up with Almeida to see if it was true the emotional jiu jitsu champion had requested this match specifically:
The dots were connected at UFC 112 in April. The venue was an outdoor facility in Abu Dhabi. Almeida was there to see Hughes stop Gracie in Round 3 of their bout and immediately went to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to request a fight with arguably the greatest welterweight to compete in MMA. Silva moved quickly to sign the match for UFC 117, Almeida’s second since moving down from middleweight to 170 and one that could have been an obsessive countdown. Big Dog didn’t wallpaper his home with photos and clippings of his opponent infatuated with avenging Renzo’s honor and Hughes’ first-round submission of Royce Gracie in 2006. The carrot that dangles before him is enough of a stimulus. A victory over the newly-inducted UFC Hall of Famer will rocket Almeida up the welterweight rankings and provide cachet he’ll be able to boast for a long time.
“I did ask for the fight and was getting emotional about wanting that win back for the team, but it’s not like I had a picture of Matt Hughes up on my wall and looked at him for motivation,” Almeida told Heavy.com “My motivation is to be a better fighter each time. That’s all I want to be. I’m preparing for his leg kicks. I’m preparing for his right hand. I’m preparing for his double leg. I like to fight more precise and toned rather than with my heart and my fists.”
Almeida has a tough test in front of him. Hughes is the sport’s all time greatest welterweight, and although he’s slowing down, he still seems to have plenty of fight left for the extended Gracie family. He’s already worked over Almeida’s mentor Renzo and his contemporary, the “American Almeida” Matt Serra. Ricardo would give Hughes a Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu hat trick. something the proud fighter is desperate to avoid. Almeida isn’t just fighting for his team, he’s fighting for his livlihood, for a last chance to push for the world title that has eluded him:
“Here’s a guy who’s done it all in the Octagon and I having a chance to go in there and test myself against him,” Almeida said. “I’m definitely in the best shape of my life and I’m healthy. I don’t think as a competitor it gets much better than that. The reality is I just want to compete. I just want to be the best I can be. Fighting a guy like Matt Hughes is a huge chance for me to prove I belong among the top guys.”
After the jump, two videos of Matt Hughes in “action” at ADCC. The insomniac’s best friend.
matt hughes vs jeremy horn (via oyzterslush)
Tito Ortiz vs. Matt Hughes – ADCC (via Hohenheim)