Matt Hughes No Longer in Coma, Former Trainer Expects Him to Fully Recover

Pat Miletich provided a health update on former UFC star Matt Hughes, revealing the two-time welterweight champion is out of the coma resulting from his being hit by a train.

"He is surprising the doctors," Miletich said on The MMA Hour (via MMA Fighting's Dave Doyle). "He's making great leaps and he’s no longer in a coma, and he's improving. It's going to be a long road. Any type of head trauma at that level, there's going to be some rehab."

The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois, reported June 16 that Hughes was driving a truck that was struck by a train. He was flown to a hospital shortly after.

Hughes' manager, Monte Cox, told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani on June 17 that Hughes was "awake, but eyes closed" and that he was capable of squeezing people's hands.

Hughes' sister, Beth Ulrici, posted a statement to Facebook on June 18 saying the 43-year-old was in stable condition and didn't break any bones or suffer internal injuries from the crash. However, he remained on a ventilator.

According to the State Journal-Register, Illinois State Police reported Hughes attempted to cross a set of railroad tracks as a train was approaching the crossing, which was only marked with a sign to alert drivers. The train hit the passenger side of Hughes' truck.