If Shooto Champion Anderson Silva had taken Sakurai's place at UFC 136 Would Hughes have out wrestled Silva? Would Anderson have kodded Matt? How would UFC history have changed if Anderson had taken the strap? Please consider we are not talking prime for prime here, but where both were at in 2002
I knew before I clicked on this thread what the subject would be. Would've been an amazing match up, even back then. And I can't help but think that any answers we get are going to be tainted by both fighters subsequent performances and current state. Either way, I could see Silva pulling out a win by early kod
Nice one Primate It's one of those questions that's always intrigued me Anderson's Jits was relatively poor back in the day and Hughes was a very successful pioneer of wrestlers who actually passed guard and trained submissions. Hughes was doing very well against Pele, who is basically Anderson mark 1, but caught Hughes with a sloppy shoot For me it's 60/40 Hughes, but it's all just a question of timing. Just like to hear others views on this, as obviously there would be no definitive answers as who would win, but would the UFC have been different today if one of these guys had lost.
No doubt Anderson is the greater fighter but back then I think Hughes would of took it either sub'd him or dominating ud don't think he would be daft enough to try to stand with him!
