Report: Matt Hughes involved in collision with moving train, airlifted to hospital

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto is reporting that former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes has been airlifted to a hospital after the vehicle he was in collided with a moving train earlier today. The report came directly from UFC president Dana White, who had spoken with Hughes’ family.

“Apparently he has head trauma,” White said. “His family is traveling to him now.”

White said he didn’t know the exact location of the accident, only that Hughes, an Illinois resident, had been helping a friend at the time. No further details are available currently.

Matt Hughes retired in 2011 with a 45-9 record. He held the welterweight belt multiple times, and is considered one of the greatest welterweights ever. His last fight was a knockout loss to Josh Koscheck. Hughes had been reportedly considering a return to MMA action over the last few months.

BloodyElbow.com will keep our readers updated on Hughes’ condition as more information becomes available.

Update: MMA Fighting has more details on the crash.

Per the release, Hughes approached a “railroad grade crossing marked with crossbucks” in a pickup truck. The truck crossed the tracks “directly in front of a train and the train struck the passenger side of the truck.”

The Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating the crash.