So this is likely going to happen at UFC 112. Difficult to predict, mainly because its not easy to see where Hughes is in relation to his prime; was GSP just that special to outclass him like that, for example, or was he just getting older? I tend to go with Hughes on the grounds Renzo, while a great fighter, isn't the sort of fighter to give an aging wrestler nightmares (ie a striker with good TD defense). How does ESB's MMA forum see this going? p.s., a UFC event in Abu Dhabi :huh
Hughes should handle him easily, not unlike his victory over Royce. I will laugh because Renzo is such a cheeky *******. {Hope I used that correctly?}
Renzo is on a whole other level than Royce. I'm not trying to discredit Hughes' win over Royce. Royce was a great fighter, and he would be better than your normal blackbelt instructor. Royce is not the type to win the Mundials or Abu Dhabi. Renzo did win at Abu Dhabi. However, Renzo will be around 43 years old come fight time. Hughes will still only be around 36. Hughes may be past his peak, but he is not a shot fighter. Hughes' losses have been coming against some of the best fighters in the sport. I would have picked Renzo by submission several years ago, but now I don't know.
Seriously? Based on what? Hughes clearly can't handle GSP, but guys that are mediocre athletes whose best sub win is an ancient Pat Miletich? Come on. Hughes is going to take him down and beat him up. This is not going to be a very exciting fight and I don't think it ever really would have been.
He has been the personal jiu-jitsu teacher of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, since 1993.
That opinion is based on the fact that a 40 year old Renzo was controlling Frank Shamrock like a nobody, based on the fact that Renzo was better than Matt Serra, and based on the fact that nearly half of Hughes' losses are due to submission. Many felt that Hughes lost to Matt Serra, and he went 50/50 with the only other bjj fighter he faced that is on Renzo's level. If Renzo subs him now, at age 43, he would have smoked him in his prime.
Frank Shamrock doesn't have as good a Wrestling base as Hughes. Hughes would have done what Renzo was doing to Shamrock also. Renzo isn't a freak like GSP and Dennis Hallman caught a green Hughes. I really don't understand how people thought Hughes lost to Serra. Other than a headbunt that nearly knocked Hughes out and a throw towards the end of the fight, what did Serra really do? Hughes pretty dictated and controlled the pace the majority of that fight. Renzo's JJ is more top game, and he's not gonna put Hughes on his back. I repeat, Renzo isn't a freak like GSP, he's not gonna put Hughes on his back. It's not gonna happen. People that are saying Hughes is on the decline, have to notice something, the guys he's lost to as of late aren't chumps. They're top 3 fighters, plus the injury that's been bothering him for a few years hasn't helped either.
The same way Tito Ortiz did? Ortiz went on to defeat Wanderlei in his next fight. Hughes was "green" for the first Hallman fight. Renzo is not a freak like GSP, but he was freakishly good. Renzo could probably fight at lightweight, yet he was able to defeat Maurice Smith and Oleg Taktarov. Smith had previously defeated Coleman and Ruas. It's one thing for some of you guys to think Hughes could always defeat Renzo, but it shows a clear lack of knowledge to act as though it would be a certainty.
If the Renzo that showed up against Frank Shamrock shows up - then I will go with Renzo by submission or UD. He stays on the attack on the ground and will be looking for ways to sub Hughes.
Really don't know who to pick for this one. Hughes is on the decline big time and **** knows what condition Renzo is in.:huh
No not a certainty, but a high probability. I respect what Renzo has done in the past. Out of all the Gracie's he fights straight up. No specials rules etc, I've always admired him for that. The ending of his fight with Saku showed he had ALOT of courage and Renzo may even be the best fighter out of all the Gracie's. However matching up against Hughes is going to be a bad matchup.
The only part of this that I have a problem with is that this will be a bad match-up. I would love to have seen this prime for prime. I honestly think that Renzo would catch Hughes, but I am not unaware of the fun this fight could be. The Hughes vs Trigg fights were awesome, and this supposed match could have been that way as well. If Renzo can get into decent fighting shape at his age, this fight may be loads of fun.