UFC 60: Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie

15 May 2009 Posted by David 2,551 views 7 Comments

Last night after dinner I was flipping channels and stopped on Spike TV. I noticed they were re-airing UFC 60: Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie. This fight originally aired in May 2006, near the height of Mughes career. At the time he was arguably considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and definitely the top welterweight.

Royce on the other hand was a 40-year old legend, who came out of retirement for this fight. He was 11-0 at the time, but still no match for a much stronger and quicker fighter in Hughes. In round one, Hughes hyperextended Gracie’s arm in a kimura, but Gracie refused to tap and held on with a calm expression on his face. In a later interview, Hughes stated that he purposely let Gracie out of the arm lock because he knew that Gracie would not submit and would rather allow his arm to break. Hughes went on to win the fight by TKO due to strikes at 4:39 of the first round.

It’s always sad to see a legend come out of retirement only to get embarrassed or flame out (Brett Favre are you listening?). I’m not sure if Gracie just needed money or what, but there’s no way he could have thought he would win that fight. I admire his strength and courage though… not many people would let their arm get ripped out and not tap out.

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7 Comments »

Jon Nunez said:

10 years ago, Gracie would have won the fight. I also think the TKO was a little premature but who’s to say, Hughes was dominating the fight before then.

# 18 May 2009 at 12:28 pm

tamy said:

royce looses without a gi…he uses his gi as a weapon!

# 20 June 2009 at 5:53 pm

MMA4LIFE said:

Hey, Nice post fight summary but “who forged y’ar transcript bub?” When Matt took Royce to ground he used a Straight Arm Bar not a Shoulder Kimura!!! Second to the wanger who said his gi was his weapon. Annnnt!!! Wrong again!!! The only time a gi is at an advantage is when grappling with another gi. You can perform collar chokes and use it as pulling leverage. Other than that BJJ Gi’s are heavy, resrict movement and give your oppenent something to grab. Furthermore, it makes submissions easier for the other guy!!! This fight was about who had the better ground game! In the end Matt took his back like the Brokeback farmboy that he is of course and punched his way to a TKO stoppage. No less than what I would expect from a Militech queer anyway. Tim Sylvia is a fat ass who needs to have a meet and greet with a treadmill and Pat Militech is dumber than a toilet seat handle so who cares!!! There would be no modern day UFC without the Gracies!!! You would have, and I respect the Hall of Famer, Dan Severn like Greco-Roman based wrestlers in the UFC. Not submission kings like Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock!!! Matt said after the fight that it was American Wrestling that won the fight and he is right. No skill, I borrowed Steroids from fellow Militech loser Sylvia, brought my opponent to ground, tried Gracie Ju Jutsu and failed, took his back to pin like wrestling and punched him because I wrestle not grapple. Tito’ness: The Militech Camp today is what the Lion’s Den was to Tito Ortiz back then(the big boys that need a hurtin’). Shamrock’ness: Its time for me to work my way to the scene, show a no respect punk like Hughes that you don’t shit on the people that paved the way for you, grave dig, flip off the Militech camp and beat Pat down 3 times over!!!

# 6 July 2009 at 12:57 am

Rear Axle Boy said:

Hey MMA4LIFE, don’t dishonor the Gracie name by calling it Ju Jutsu, that is Japanese!!! Helio Gracie dominated those douche bags back in the early days by pioneering the ground game of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that Japanese based Ju Jutsu lacked. As for the Miletich boys, they’re losers and are on a nose first dive into nothingness. I know who you are, we’ve sparred before. You should give pro MMA a shot. Those high kicks of yours and your ground scramble get you out of a lot of submissions!!! I don’t think that you would stand a chance against Matt Hughes on the ground though Bro!!! You need to work on your takedown defense and BJJ Defense!!! If Hughes had you on the ground it would be over so quick. Standing, its your fight all day long. That Bas Rutten style shin kick will knock anyone out! Shin kicks from you are like right hooks from the ICEMAN Chuck Lidell. UFC 100 This Saturday Man!!! MT sleeping on the couch, Machida knocking out Evans…YEAAAAAH!!! Oh, oh, yeah, yea, yea, yeah!!! UFC 98 good times, to the memories man!!!

# 9 July 2009 at 7:32 pm

Zein said:

I dont care what anyone says. It was simple mistake in the match that Royce Gracie. He allowed Matt Hughes to get an early side mount which resulted in Hughes getting Gracie on his stomach and ending the fight. If the fight went into the second round or if they were to fight again, Gracie will mess Matt Hughes up. But Matt Hughes is clearly scared to accept Gracie’s rematch. Royce Gracie is the best MMA Fighter in History. And he will always be the best. He made the MMA what it is today.

# 4 October 2009 at 3:33 am

Bad news folks said:

The better fighter won… every fighter puts it all on the line in the cage. Royce got beat… shoulda woulda and coulda ain’t got nothin to do with. You all disrespect the sport with your whining.

# 7 November 2009 at 5:21 am