Matt Serra to Face Matt Hughes in First Title Defense

Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra (8-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) will face former champ Matt Hughes (41-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in his first title defense, according to UFC president Dana White in Saturday’s post-event press conference.
Serra, who scored a stunning upset of Georges St. Pierre in the main event at Houston’s UFC 69, became the first fighter ever to knockout the former champ. Prior to Saturday’s fight at the Toyota Center, St. Pierre’s only other loss was to Matt Hughes via submission armbar at UFC 50.
The Serra-Hughes title fight is expected to take place in August, possibly at a UFC 74 event.
Hughes, who lost his belt to St. Pierre at November’s UFC 65 event, had defended the UFC’s welterweight title seven times in his career (with two additional wins in non-title fights). The surefire UFC Hall of Famer most recently defeated Chris Lytle with a unanimous decision at UFC 68 last month.
During Saturday’s pay-per-view broadcast, cameras caught Hughes looking especially happy and cheering wildly after Serra’s win. It had been assumed that Hughes would next St. Pierre had he won Saturday’s fight.
“Georges looked a little smaller than usual and he didn’t look sharp when he was out there,” Hughes stated on his Web site, matt-hughes.com. “So, I don’t know if pressure had something to do with it or what, but he just didn’t look like himself out there and Matt was able to land that big punch.”
Serra earned his title shot by winning the welterweight division of a special “comeback” season of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC’s reality series that airs on Spike TV.
It can be logically reasoned that Hughes will have an easier road back to the title with Serra, even with the Long Islander’s upset win on Saturday.
However, with his latest victory, Serra has won four of his past five UFC fights.

I underested Matt Serra and ended up eating my words. so im not making a prediction for his next fight

in my eyes....he matches up BETTER with hughes.

i like hughes in this fight!

lol....we knew that! i think he will win 2....but i think its gonna b a tough match.

oh yeah Serra is no push over! he will not be easy for Hughes i think it will go alot like the Lytle fight did!

JoeDaddy wrote:

oh yeah Serra is no push over! he will not be easy for Hughes i think it will go alot like the Lytle fight did!

subliminal ceL says:
my hate 4 hughes as a PERSON (i dont hate him as a fighter) will allow me 2 totally pull 4 serra (therefore sealing a hughes victory). i also pick silva over franklin (because the comeback kid stories bore me....rocky ruined it 4 everyone). last, but not least...i pick rampage over chuck (just because no one else can beat him) because i like his style. chuck is a warrior i just hate any dynasty (im the only unc fan that hates jordan). i will always pull 4 the underdog (because im a loser if u ask anyone EXCEPT my kids in real life).

can't wait for this fight! it's going to be great. you all know my prediction! nothing but respect for serra but, it's on now!

true indeed! hughes just hits me wrong. hes a great fighter even when he doesnt TELL me he is everytime a mic is in his face

CeLnVA wrote:

true indeed! hughes just hits me wrong. hes a great fighter even when he doesnt TELL me he is everytime a mic is in his face

lmao!

country breakfast eatin john deer drivin' haybailin' bullethead!

CeLnVA wrote:

country breakfast eatin john deer drivin' haybailin' bullethead!

this may be true but, he is the next ww champ! hahaha

I wanna talk to sampson wrote:

CeLnVA wrote:

country breakfast eatin john deer drivin' haybailin' bullethead!

this may be true but, he is the next ww champ! hahaha

good! the fights are better when i cant stand the champ!

WAR SERRA !!!!!!! After he destroys Hughes we can see Serra vs GSP 2