Matt Hughes: 5 Reasons He Needs to Retire Now

Matt Hughes is one of the greatest fighters who has ever competed in MMA.

The only problem with that statement is that is still said in the present tense. Hughes is technically still competing after two back-to-back losses in the octagon.

And yet it has to be hard for Hughes. The man has been one of the most dominant welterweights ever. He has been fighting for 13 years and competed in wrestling before then.

In a sense, fighting is all he has done with his life.

And yet it is time to hang the gloves up.

Starting with...

Matt Hughes Is 38

The easiest statement to make is his age.

Almost no fighter alive can do what Randy Couture did and fight well into their 40's.

Matt Hughes is one of those many fighters. As he has aged, he has succumbed to his body getting older and weaker.

Everyone has to deal with this, but it is tougher on athletes. They are used to being the best.

Unfortunately for Hughes that time is now up.

He has been beaten decisively in his last two fights, and with Father Time against him, it seems unlikely that he is going to get on a winning streak.

He Has Been Knocked out Violently in His Past Two Fights

Some fighters lose their chin when they get knocked out.

Chuck Liddell is a great example. At one point he had an iron chin, and then in just a few fights, he was getting KO'ed like clockwork.

One theory is that once a fighter gets knocked out and gets a concussion they become more susceptible to them.

It happened to Chuck Liddell and now it looks like it's happening to Matt Hughes.

At 38, Hughes may be old for a fighter, but he still has half a lifetime left as a human.

Hopefully he uses his brain to step out of the octagon before it gets scrambled.

His Legs Were Gone in the Koscheck Fight

Fans watching closely in his last fight could see Hughes legs react to Koshceck's punches. At one point, both of his legs scrambled to either side and he had to re-balance them.

One at a time.

In boxing, most fans can tell when a fighter is "shot."

That is because the first things that go are the legs. That is because the equilibrium to the brain is easier to disrupt.

A fighter essentially breaks down their equilibrium with every punch they take. After so many fights, it doesn't come back to what it once was.

Matt Hughes has finally felt the effects of all the fights he has been in. They have come to collect, and as usual in combat sports, they did it overnight.

He Can't Compete at the Highest Level

Hughes has lost his last two fights in the first round by one-sided KO's. Considering that his opponents were Josh Koscheck and B.J. Penn it isn't that embarrassing.

However, if Hughes keeps fighting he will start getting matched with lesser opponents.

If he keeps fighting sooner or later he will start losing those fights as well.

I have never bought into the idea that if a fighter loses fights in the twilight of their career that they have "tarnished their legacy."

But watching fighters who once were the best of the best fight on and lose fights that at one time would have been easy for them is disheartening. 

Hopefully Hughes will leave on a loss at the highest level instead of trying to make one last run at the top.

He Has Nothing Left to Prove

Hughes has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

He is literally a living legend.

He has held the title twice and is the most dominant fighter in UFC history.

There isn't anything left for him to do or prove. He has been to the top of the mountain and staked his claim.

At this point, its time for Hughes to move on with his life.

Hopefully he knows how to.