Video: Matt Hughes makes first UFC appearance since accident, walks to Octagon in touching tribute

In June of the past year, UFC legend and Hall-of-Famer Matt Hughes met a terrible vehicular accident. The truck that he was driving was hit by a train near his home in Montgomery County in Illinois, leaving him in a coma for a short while.

After surviving the crash with no broken bones or internal bleeding, the former long-time welterweight champion made a slow but progressive recovery. In just two months, he was back in action doing some light grappling drills.

The 44-year-old Hughes hasn’t really been seen much by the MMA community since his accident, until Sunday night during the main card of the UFC’s event in St. Louis, Missouri. Hughes came out to his trademark song “A Country Boy Can Survive”, and was met by a huge ovation from the crowd in attendance.

Hughes retired in 2013 after a 15-year professional career with a record of 45-9 (35 wins by stoppage). He then worked as the UFC’s Vice President of Athlete Development and Government Relations for the next three years.