look at the way prime hughes finishes people with choke holds and leg locks etc they are text book! beautiful! alves rarely finishes people in such a manner,i think prime hughes out smarts alves weathers the initial onslaught and subs him.
I think prime Hughes most definitely beats Alves (and Fitch). Hughes is far more skilled and well-rounded than someone like Alves, he would find a way to defeat Alves much like the way Fedor finds ways to defeat guys who physically outgun him (not that I'm comparing Matt to Fedor of course, I'm just making a point that a proven skilled mma practitioner usually beats a more fearsome but more one-dimensional opponent). Kos vs Hughes would be an excellent fight, though I'd still give the edge to Hughes.
How does Hughes beat Kos ? Hughes has no striking ability if he stands with Kos hes getting knocked out or losing a clear decision. Hughes might get him down once but he isnt keeping Kos down. Koscheck is a better wrestling and a better striker. Hughes will just attempt shots from 10 feet out only to have Koscheck hit easy sprawls then a few right hands then a switch kick to the head then puts Hughes on his ass throw in 5 more punches and its waved off.
You seriously think Hughes has no advantages and no chance in a fight with Kos??? I think you're either underrating prime Hughes or overrating Kos a bit mate. I think it would be a very close fight as I intimated in my last post, and you're right that Kos could win via standup, but Hughes's wrestling skills and ground game are very solid, I can envisage him gradually outgunning Kos in that sort of fight, Hughes is the better fighter overall IMO. Why do you not see this one as being close?
Because stylistically I think for Hughes it goes down like the 2nd GSP fight. Hughes has no advantages as a striker his whole game has always been based on getting the takedown and inflicting some GNP and/or submitting his opponets. Not saying he cant but I dont think hes taking down Koscheck. Koscheck is a more decorated wrestler the only guy to get Kos down is GSP who lets face it is a more powerful wrestler then Hughes regardless of their backgrounds. GSP even had a difficult time passing his guard or doing any damage with GNP and IMO GSP has better BJJ and GNP then Hughes from say 02-06 when he was usually Champion. Hughes needs a takedown to win this which I dont see happening and I dont see him wearing Kos down Kos is always in great condition this isnt a smaller guy like BJ or Royce or Sakurai.
:good As usual Socrates mate, your talking sense! It may be that I have concentrated too much on the striking aspect of a potential "Prime" Hughes-Alves fight. All your comments regarding Matt and his abilities are spot-on, but imo (And it is only that) I do believe that Thiago would have been a truly dangerous opponent for "Prime" Hughes and I do give Alves a slight edge! Of course, had this fight occurred and Matt had pounded Thiago through the canvas, I would not have died of shock. What will be interesting is how (in years to come) we mma fans will view a "Prime" Hughes-vs-"Prime" Alves fight!! Thiago is imo 2-3 years away from "Prime". It will be an even more interesting topic then, wont it?
Always hated Hughes. Seeing Penn make him tap and then kissing him on the cheek was classic classic stuff.
Koscheck is a better wrestler than Hughes ever was and its not even close. While definitely a legitametely great fighter, I too feel if he was in his prime now he would might struggle with all the top wrestlers at 170.
though i still disagree with you on a hypothetical prime for prime match up i respect your opinion dublyn my man,personally i think alves is hitting prime right now and in 3 years time will no doubt be campaigning at 185lb! good stuff.
:good Thiago at 185 makes a lot of sense Socrates mate. I guess that in a Matt-Thiago "Prime for prime" match-up, Silva fighting at 185 could (Possibly) tip the scales in Thiago's favour? lol: Just just having fun now Socrates my man).
The man has a win over BJ Penn and GSP. That alone speaks for itself... then when you add in all of his other accomplishments as an MMA fighter, you really start to see the entire picture of what a great career Matt Hughes has had. Including his epic domination of another ATG fighter in Royce Gracie. Toss in other wins over guys like Sherk, Trigg, Newton, Lytle, Sakurai, ect....
