UFC 60 Hughes vs Gracie Picks & Preview

[edouble]

UFC 60 Hughes vs. Gracie Preview
by Matt Friezo , Team IronLife.com Staff Writer



May 27 2006 at the Staples Center , Los Angeles, California, USA

- Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie

Legend takes on the best welterweight fighter in UFC and most likely MMA history. Royce an MMA legend been here since the first UFC with a record of 13-2-3.. Both loses with his family "Camp" throwing in the towel. Hughes sporting a 38-4 record, right there we see who is more active. Perfect example is this; Gracie's last fight's show as follow.. 1 fight in 2003, 1 fight in 2004, and 1 fight in 2005.. only 5 fights..from 2000 till 2005.. Not very active………………

To read this entire review and picks, please click here.


No cats were Harmed in the making of this Review (big laugh)

[beefcake]

Royce is gonna lose this one.

[Tinfish]

Hughes will smoke him.

Here are the current vegas odds:


Sat 5/27 Matt Hughes vs Royce Gracie
51 Matt Hughes -270
52 Royce Gracie +250

[Tinfish]

I just watched Hughes recent stuff and Gracie's recent stuff.

Gracie's style is so antiquated. I just watched him beat a "striker" into submission and lose to what looked like an average Japanese MMA (you can get these on YouTube.com). Royce earned his reputation by beating a bunch of strikers and pure wrestlers (Dan Severn) with no submission knowledge. He was certainly a pioneer, but his best days are long gone and he does match up favorably with the "new guard."

I then watched Hughes win the title against Carlos Newton. Hughes is a bulldog. Newton has a similiar style to Gracie's. However, Newton is built like a brick building and Gracie looks very old and slow from what I have seen. And, while Hughes had a few careless moments on the ground, his overall power and tenacity made for an impressive KO win. Again, this is against opposition that is younger and appears much stronger (and balanced) than Gracie.

This falls into my "fading legend v. rising star" category. I totally agree that not being able to wear his Gi will hurt Gracie, both strategically and psychologically. No way he wins a decision. His style is awful for anything other than a submission win. He literally just flops on his back, goes into the guard and looks for an elbow, wrist or ankle. This is not a successful style for modern MMA.

If Hughes his smart, he will engage Gracie on his feet, and try to land a big strike. No need to tie up with Gracie, which gives Gracie his only chance at a win. If Gracie flops on his back, Hughes should simply step back and let the ref order Gracie to stand. Again, you guys are right that the new UFC rules will greatly hurt Gracie. Prolonged clinches, without advantage, get put back on the feet, where Gracie is extremely ineffective.

Gracie has no striking ability and no ground offense. His only chance is a careless move by Hughes that can lead to a submission. -270 is a steal and, based on what I have seen, Gracie should be about a 10-1 dog based on pure skill and style (and not considering past accomplishments).

Hughes for easy money

[beefcake]

I just watched Hughes recent stuff and Gracie's recent stuff.

Gracie's style is so antiquated. I just watched him beat a "striker" into submission and lose to what looked like an average Japanese MMA (you can get these on YouTube.com). Royce earned his reputation by beating a bunch of strikers and pure wrestlers (Dan Severn) with no submission knowledge. He was certainly a pioneer, but his best days are long gone and he does match up favorably with the "new guard."

I then watched Hughes win the title against Carlos Newton. Hughes is a bulldog. Newton has a similiar style to Gracie's. However, Newton is built like a brick building and Gracie looks very old and slow from what I have seen. And, while Hughes had a few careless moments on the ground, his overall power and tenacity made for an impressive KO win. Again, this is against opposition that is younger and appears much stronger (and balanced) than Gracie.

This falls into my "fading legend v. rising star" category. I totally agree that not being able to wear his Gi will hurt Gracie, both strategically and psychologically. No way he wins a decision. His style is awful for anything other than a submission win. He literally just flops on his back, goes into the guard and looks for an elbow, wrist or ankle. This is not a successful style for modern MMA.

If Hughes his smart, he will engage Gracie on his feet, and try to land a big strike. No need to tie up with Gracie, which gives Gracie his only chance at a win. If Gracie flops on his back, Hughes should simply step back and let the ref order Gracie to stand. Again, you guys are right that the new UFC rules will greatly hurt Gracie. Prolonged clinches, without advantage, get put back on the feet, where Gracie is extremely ineffective.

Gracie has no striking ability and no ground offense. His only chance is a careless move by Hughes that can lead to a submission. -270 is a steal and, based on what I have seen, Gracie should be about a 10-1 dog based on pure skill and style (and not considering past accomplishments).

Hughes for easy money

I agree. Royce's style of jiu jitsu is old and too orthodox. The sport has changed and so has jiu jitsu. Not to metion that hughes has practiced his submission defense a lot since his loss to penn. Not to mention that one of the best submission fighters of today, jeremy horn, was in the miletich camp and taught of lot of stuff to hughes. Hughes is almost too much of a complete fighter. Not exceptional at the submissions, but great everywhere else, not to mention is phreakishly strong in his weight class.

[edouble]

cant beleive no one has made a comment about the photo with the cat above

~ed~

[Tinfish]

cant beleive no one has made a comment about the photo with the cat above

~ed~

Yeah, wtf is that? Didnt even notice it the first time. :bravonew:

[Mr I]

I seem to remember Hughes loosing to BJ Penn (spell), a lighter fighter.

Hughes sometimes gets complacent and gives his back away and stuff like in that fight, because usually he's such a warrior he can come back. If he does that with gracie, he'll get beat, period.

But seriousely, I can't see gracie getting chance if hughes is on form, gracie looks older too.


UFC just hasn't been the same since RC announced retirement, I wish he'd reconsider, drop another weight class or something.........

[beefcake]

I seem to remember Hughes loosing to BJ Penn (spell), a lighter fighter.

Hughes sometimes gets complacent and gives his back away and stuff like in that fight, because usually he's such a warrior he can come back. If he does that with gracie, he'll get beat, period.

But seriousely, I can't see gracie getting chance if hughes is on form, gracie looks older too.


UFC just hasn't been the same since RC announced retirement, I wish he'd reconsider, drop another weight class or something.........

That was a long time ago. Hughes has come a long way as far as take down and submission defense. Not to mention good training with jeremy horn when horn was with the militech camp. Hughes is an all around fighter now. Royce is gonna get manhandled. I think hughes will take it a little careful as far as grappling, but I think royce is gonna get dipped on his head.

[Tinfish]

Not to mention good training with jeremy horn when horn was with the militech camp.

Yeah I have been to a few of Horn's workouts. His gym is not far from my house. I saw Wiuff there not too long ago.

[Lmg2701]

What's the odds on this fight? (The only way I know how to view odds is 10-1 or 6-5, things of that sort, kind of goes with my thoroughbred racing background)


I hope it's a good fight, I really think it will be.

[Lmg2701]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU0AR...=matt%20hughes

[Tinfish]

What's the odds on this fight? (The only way I know how to view odds is 10-1 or 6-5, things of that sort, kind of goes with my thoroughbred racing background)


I hope it's a good fight, I really think it will be.

As of Thurs evening it is:

Matt Hughes -312
Royce Gracie +282

meaning, you lay $312 bucks on Hughes and he wins, you win $100 (plus your 312)

if you lay $100 on Gracie and he wins, you collect $282 (plus your original 100)

[Lmg2701]

I guess more people are starting to lay their $$ down on Hughes.....

After watching that video I really don't think it's going to be as easy a fight for Hughes as everyone thinks. Gracie just has this ease with putting people in submission moves. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

[cuz]

I guess more people are starting to lay their $$ down on Hughes.....

After watching that video I really don't think it's going to be as easy a fight for Hughes as everyone thinks. Gracie just has this ease with putting people in submission moves. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

I agree. I like them both but don't count Royce out. I'm not making a prediction, but when a guy fights men 100lbs heavier and takes them down and submits them, its gotta count for something.