He was the prototype, a forerunner to great welterweights who would follow in his footsteps, from Georges St. Pierre and Tyron Woodley to Rory MacDonald, Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit.
Matt Hughes retired on Jan. 24, 2013, leaving behind a legacy that was as full as any in mixed martial arts history. A two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder at 170 pounds, the Hillsboro, Illinois, native finished with a 45-9 record that included an 18-7 mark inside the Octagon. A longtime protégé and confidant of fellow UFC hall of famer Pat Miletich, Hughes made what would be his final appearance at UFC 135 in September 2011, when he was knocked out by Josh Koscheck before 16,344 fans at the Pepsi Center in Denver.