UFC QUOTABLES: Matt Hughes - B.J. Penn loss at UFC 123 "was one big step closer to retirement"

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"A lot of people have been asking about the fight and how I am doing. Of course, the fight didn't go like I had planned it. I knew BJ was going to be in shape, but I didn't know he was going to come in with a game plan and really look for my tendencies. I think BJ knew I was going to come in throwing my jab and I think he had a game plan for that. He hit me with a hard right hand that I never saw coming. It's funny how styles make fights and I'm not at all like Frankie Edgar. So it just kind of stinks that BJ came off two losses and then ended up beating me in less than 30 seconds. I knew BJ was going to be tough that first round. I was trying to get him into the second and the third round where I could wear on him, slow him down and soften him up a little bit; but it just didn?t go that way.

I don?t know what I'll do now. I'm definitely going to take the winter off and some of the spring. I had three fights this year, so I've just got some other things I want to do; but I will say that this was one big step closer to retirement for me."

-Matt Hughes discusses his UFC 123 rubber match with B.J. Penn on his personal blog and says it was a step towards the end of his career.

Penick's Analysis: Matt Hughes is obviously one of the legends of the sport. His initial runs as Welterweight Champion will not be overlooked, and he's already earned his place in the UFC Hall of Fame. That said, this loss was really tough for him. It was clear to see in his post fight interview how much the fight meant to him, and to lose in such a convincing and devastating fashion had a negative effect on him. I hope it doesn't mean the end just yet, as I believe he's still got plenty of fight in him, but this is one he'll need to recover from mentally more than physically to move forward.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7713.shtml

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