Matt Hughes "I just Went to See My Buddy Brock Lesnar"

On the Bleacher Report many writers have pointed out Matt Hughes' wrestling prowess and how he parlayed his skills into a legendary career in the UFC as being the most formidable Welterweight in the sport's history.

Matt lives practically in our backyard in Hillsboro, Illinois. This is a slight exaggeration, as we cannot run back and forth borrowing a cup or sugar or a hay-hook. We both have acreage, put up hay, and raise horses. We can't keep our 4 wheeler running, but when we can the kids have lots of fun going through creeks, jumping ditches and running up and down horse or deer trails. We can fish and get surprisingly large fish and huge snapping turtles out of our creek.  It is a wonderful environment for raising children. Plus, although we do not hunt, we have an abundance of wildlife which we all find fascinating.

Further similarities are that the Willis men from my 67 year old husband, our two sons, oldest grandson and 4 year old grandson all wrestle. Trevor just was treated to his very first pair of Ascic wrestling shoes, size 12 children's, I believe. The Hughes twins Matt and Mark both wrestled in high school and college and now are signed with the UFC.

We have not actually visited the Hughes farm, although my grandson and his father are both very proud of their hay skills and would gladly assist the Hughes' family bale and put up hay; not an easy job for a city slicker to master; a good strength building and conditioning skill for wrestlers.

We understand farming, wrestling, friendship and supporting buddies in the same sport.

So I can truly believe that Matt Hughes did go to UFC 87 to see and support his frend Brock Lesnar who is struggling to improve his other MMA skills while having a solid wrestling background.

Remembering Hughes celebrating, clapping wildly and smiling ecstatically when Matt Serra beat GSP at their initial meeting as opponents in the octagons, I am familiar with his farm boy sense of humor.

Serra had put Hughes in his place regarding his frequent jibes at Georges during the filming of TUF 4: "The Comeback" and seemed to be very fond of Georges before they were forced to be antagonists after Serra won the contest entitling him to a shot at the WW title. Had Georges not beaten Hughes, thus putting him in Serra's path, Serra and Hughes would have been facing each other. As it stands now, Hughes will face Serra sometime in 2009. I cannot wait to see that one!

So with Matt's history of showing bursts of spontaneous elation, I am sure he found nothing in Bock Lesnar's behavior during or after the fight to be inappropriate or offensive.

Up till this point, I can understand Matt's behavior, it was very typical of him.

Leaving before the end of the championship fight may not have been an intentional snub directed at Georges. Matt has been on the other end of Georges' gloves and has endured beat downs just as Fitch did, however he did not go the distance in any of their fights. He should have been more curious about how long Fitch could continue or if he would be submitted.

I wonder what his reaction was to BJ calling Georges out seconds after his win. Since it doesn't affect his status, he might have been completely noncommittal about the whole thing.

Wrestlers are usually very curious and gossip about past opponents, and standings in their weight division even if they are not going to face them again. Watching past opponents who have beaten them and seeing another wrestler beaten can give a sense of validation that they were not "pussies" for having been likewise beaten by a superior foe.

My best guess is that Hughes left because of his injury which required surgical intervention after not responding to his faith that it would heal on its own in time. The event must have worn on his stamina and out of respect to his worthy future opponent Matt Serra, I am sure he begrudgingly called it a night so he will be in top shape for his fight with Serra in early 2009. Why take a chance with your health at his age?

Georges being respectful of his elders and still one of Hughes' fans would be the first to understand and since Matt Serra had his own issues with herniated discs in his back may also give his rival the benefit of the doubt.

The Willis can, however, would have stuck it out to the end. But we are on our third generation of wrestlers, and we did come from "real western cowboy stock," and you can't get much tougher than that. Just ask a professional cowboy.