UFC 98 a Turning Point for MMA
Hughes, Evans and Serra Face Suddenly Branching Career Paths
May 26, 2009
In the course of three hours, fans around the world watching on pay-per-view witnessed the usual mix of hit-or-miss MMA match-ups, some delivering fierce competition, supreme technical skill or simply falling flat. But UFC 98 featured two bouts promoted as main events, one delivering on that promise and the other leaving questions for both fighters involved.
The Hughes-Serra Grudge
In the culmination of a verbal feud dating back to 2005, legendary welterweight Matt Hughes fought outspoken rival Matt Serra in a highly touted, long awaited "grudge match". The fight seemed destined for brutality (and possibly a quick finish) as both fighters made it clear their issue was a personal one.
The fight was a bit of a dud, featuring little stand up striking (boxing or brawling) and next to no intensity in the ground game from either fighter. The unanimous decision for Hughes could only have been blurred by a first round knockdown by Serra, caused by an incidental head butt. Hughes regained his composure and continued to impose his will on Serra throughout.
Evans Can't Solve Machida
The night's main event pitted undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans against undefeated challenger Lyoto Machida for Evans' title. This bout marked the first time in UFC history that a title match featured two undefeated fighters, and it did not disappoint.
In a poll taken during the event, fans were invited to vote for which fighter they thought would be victorious, with Machida being a decided 64% favorite. The fighters' styles did not mesh well for Evans on paper, his aggressive style usually leading to his liberal use of knockout power to gain decisive victories while Machida is elusive and accurate in his striking.
These differences held up in the ring, as Evans had no choice but to lay his body and chin out into the middle of the ring for the deadly accurate Machida to hit. And hit it he did, as an almost defenseless Evans took blow after blow to the face before crumbling to the mat in a bloody heap, unconscious, at 3:57 of the second round.
Where Do Hughes, Serra and Evans Go From Here?
Matt Hughes is on record as saying that he is at the end of his career and needs stronger motivation than simply competing to get to the gym and prepare for a fight. He has also publicly stated that he'd like the chance to end his career avenging his two recent losses to Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Thiago Alves and current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Both fights could easily be booked and lead to huge paydays for all involved, as the legend ends his career with great interest and flare.
For Matt Serra, a move down in weight class might be on tap, with his strength and mat skills perhaps making him a contender in that division for years to come. Serra has often appeared to be out-sized and over-matched at welterweight and this move could give him a sizable advantage over opponents that are as "small" as he is. Any hopes Serra has of becoming a champion again do not appear to reside in the stacked welterweight division.
In the case of Rashad Evans, one has to wonder whether the fighter has also hit his ceiling in terms of title aspirations. UFC seemed fully prepared to promote Evans as the new charismatic face of the organization, even staging a WWE-esque "confrontation" at UFC 96 in March 2009 between him and potential challenger Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. But Evans must now determine whether he will become a true mixed martial artist or be stagnated by a failure to broaden his skills in hopes of defeating opponents such as new champion Lyoto Machida. It is obvious that a champion fighter must have more ability than simply stopping a fight with one punch or kick to compete consistently at the top.
One thing is certain; UFC 98 changed the complexion of two divisions and the direction of one organization forever.
