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View Full Version : Serra pulls out of Hughes fight - scared probably

PikeKing
23-11-2007, 20:28
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=10087

Friday, November 23, 2007
by Sherdog.com Staff

The UFC welterweight championship will be contested for just once in 2007.

Matt Serra (Pictures), who claimed the belt with a shocking win over Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) this April, suffered herniated discs in his lower back Monday, forcing him to withdraw from his anticipated Dec. 29 title defense against former two-time 170-pound champion Matt Hughes (Pictures), the UFC announced Thursday.

Serra and Hughes, who share a healthy rivalry, are coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 6" and would have fought in the co-main event of UFC 79 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

According to UFC.com, Serra, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie (Pictures), was injured while demonstrating a move following one of his training sessions. A subsequent MRI revealed the severity of the injury.

"This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Serra said in a statement on UFC.com. "I've never had a back injury before; I could hardly get off of the MRI table. There is no way I can train through this, and I'm devastated, especially because this was such an important fight. I was looking forward to fighting Matt Hughes (Pictures). All my training was going phenomenally until Monday. All I can do now is to get better and to fight again as soon as possible."

The UFC neither named an replacement for Serra, nor announce whether Hughes would remain on the card.
steve
23-11-2007, 21:16
**** :mad:
the block
24-11-2007, 12:45
was looking forward to this (although partly due to the hype)
PikeKing
25-11-2007, 08:05
Sunday, November 25, 2007
by Sherdog.com Staff

One day following the news that UFC 170-pound champion Matt Serra (Pictures) had withdrawn from his Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures) because of injury, the UFC announced Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) would fight Hughes for an interim title.

St. Pierre and Hughes have fought twice, splitting the bouts. Hughes recaptured the welterweight belt after it was vacated by B.J. Penn (Pictures) in the first fight, while St. Pierre stopped Hughes in the rematch to capture the UFC belt.

"I'm so excited to get this fight," said St. Pierre in a statement on UFC.com. "I'm fighting Matt Hughes (Pictures) for the interim title right now, and then after that I'm going to go after Serra. I've wanted that rematch against Serra, and this is the best scenario that can happen."

"Rush" lost the title to Serra in February of this year. The division championship, due mainly to the UFC promoting a Serra-Hughes title fight via the sixth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which concludes in December, has been in hiatus, having only been up for grabs once in 2007. St. Pierre-Hughes is slated for five five-minute rounds.

The current champion, desperately wanting to fight Hughes, is now relegated to cheering for the former two-time UFC king.

"I can't believe the position this puts me in," Serra said on UFC.com. "I'm actually rooting for Matt Hughes (Pictures) so I can beat his ass."
steve
25-11-2007, 10:22
Excitement is back on now, but as block said, I was more excited for Serra vs Hughes due to the hype from Tuf6, but If I would have had to choose another opponent for Hughes, GSP is the one I would have chosen as well. Although(imo) this will probably result in Serra not getting his wish to fight Hughes, but instead get a re-match with gsp.
PikeKing
25-11-2007, 10:38
yeah i think Matt Hughes has much less chance of victory with GSP than he would have with Serra
Tone C
25-11-2007, 10:48
Yea,GSP has improved in his game now by bringing in a specific MMA coach in Greg Jackson rather than trying to pool and blend stuff from his different arts as he was doing.Matt Hughes was great in his day using his wrestling to good advantage but GSPs stand up is far superior to Matts and his BJJ is probably better and GSPs wrestling is probably on a par with Hughes' now.
PikeKing
25-11-2007, 11:06
just the way GSP took it to Koschek on the ground says that Hughes is going to have a bad day.

if Kos couldnt take him down with those huge drive through the cage shots, Hughes wont get anywhere with his trips in the clinch.

I know he should stand with him!



http://www.iron-city.net/coolstuff/6to4mdw.gif
Tone C
25-11-2007, 11:25
you git you knew that would start me laughing!!!!!
CheeseOnToast
30-11-2007, 17:09
haha that picture is classic.

It's funny just last night I was watching the GSP/Koshcheck re-run on UFC74.. I was also gutted about this fight being off (due to the hype lol) but this should be a good match up anyway..

Big shame though