From his iconic “A Country Boy Can Survive” entrance to his no-nonsense, blue collar approach, Matt Hughes was an agent of change in mixed martial arts. The two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder was the sport’s premier welterweight for the better part of five years and did not relinquish his mantle until a prime Georges St. Pierre arrived on the scene.
Hughes was a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Eastern Illinois University before shifting gears to MMA. He made his debut in 1998 and went on to a historically successful career at 170 pounds, serving as a lynchpin for the Miletich Fighting System camp in Iowa, where he linked arms with future UFC champions Tim Sylvia, Jens Pulver and Robbie Lawler.