I don't even think that this will be a competitive fight. Hughes is an absolute monster, and I don't think Royce could be any of the current 170lb or 185lb UFC fighters.
I hope this doesn't go down the way I think it will (brutal beatdown).
Very interesting. I have had many talks with my amigos, some hardcore fans and some casual newbies. Many people have only seen Royces older fights and Matts recent bouts and determine that Royce will get killed. Myself, I have to go with Gracie. I have (as most you have) seen every fight from both guys and I honestly think that BJJ will reign supreme. Gracie has faced some huge monsters and prevailed...not to mention Yoshida, Shamrock, Severn (in his prime),and has been fairly active and has definately maintained hist raining. Although Matt has had tremendous success, he has shown some holes in his game and they all fall into Royce plans. Matt has shown his dificulty with solid grapplers/BJJ guys (BJ Penn, Hallman twice, GSP before getting that slick sub on at the bell) and I personally feel that Gracie has more to offer on the mat that those athletes (no disrespect intended but Gracie was born ith a Gi on). I see a choke sunk in early round 2
But like always anything can happen in MMA and I will be rooting for a great performance from both.
Personally, I do not see Royce doing much in this fight. I can see Matt going for the KO standing up, I can see Matt picking him up and KO'ing him into the mat, I can see Matt beating the living tar out of Royce against the cage. I just do not see Royce bringing anything into this fight that could possibly hurt Hughes.
Now, with all that being said, I had an amazing conversation with Arnold Lim last Saturday at the MMA EXPO. The 'meat' of the conversation was simple: WHAT IF ROYCE EMBARASSES HUGHES in some form or another. I mean, taps him out via arm bar, breaks the arm, or chokes him to sleep...something BJJ orientated where the hardcore BJJ'er will be bragging for years.
If Royce pulls this off, the question is if he 'will he recognized as one of the greatest fighters of all time?'.
I do not believe Royce can be KO'd, not to question his intelligence but years of being the Gracie families man on the front lines have left him battered and unable to string together full sentences (within a reasonable time limit). This has left him much like an aligator, deadly but not requiring much in the brains department. Instinct can be just as deadly. He is also not young anymore, and has never been the poster boy of athleticism. I wonder if he can keep up with Hughes and his awesome conditioning.
This leads me to draw the conclusion that if Royce cannot be knocked out, never quits (unless a white towel gets thrown in by a lesser of the family), I feel Matt Hughes will win by decision and the final result will be blamed on the format of the fight (those damn rules). That being said, I want Royce to choke him out .
I don't know if you are serious, joking, or are sipping Sarcasm Kool Aid, but man, that is one of the best thoughts posted on this forum in awhile. Very wombatish...I luv it.
Royce can definetly take a beating...just watch the Severn fight (still one of my favs of all time). It was a younger Royce versus a monster of a man whose submission escapes were not at an all time high.
Royce has aged more than a decade since that fight and is fighting a guy who is in his prime, a monster of a welterweight hell bent on carving his legacy using Royce's blood as his ink.
The last time I saw Matt this determined was in the first Trigg fight...and that wasn't pretty. Everytime I break this fight down, I just don't think Royce can pull it off.
Whether you think Matt will dominate or Royce will prove everyone wrong, this fight will definetly be one for the ages.