Who in PRIDE would be a good fight for Matt Hughes?

Question

a-p-ribafish pease answer

forgeting weight class Matt could easly fight at 185-200 he cuts weight to fight at 170. he walks around at 190lbs.

Answer 1

Well if you disregard weight class there would probably be several options for Hughes in PRIDE FC.

Many people seem to think that Takanori Gomi would be the best candidate to take him on. To be honest I'm not too sure about this. Gomi is an excellent, very well rounded fighter, no question about that but in a match with Hughes I think that he would find him self just so incredibly overpowered and against someone of Matt's ability and specially ground skills that would be decisive in my opinion. Gomi would be overwhelmed in this match and I really don't think that he could do much here.
And of all other PRIDE's lightweights I honestly don't see who could take him on, maybe Joachim Hansen but I really doubt that.

I think that best opponents for Hughes here would probably be one of these three PRIDE's middleweights - Dan Henderson, Paolo Filho or Denis Kang.
Hughes against Henderson would really be the match of all matches, clash of two such incredible fighters. Both are very powerfull, very well rounded, excellent technicians with superior wrestling skills and this would just be a tremendous fight to watch. I think that Dan would probably have a little advantage if he kept the action standing here but it would be an extremely close fight non the less.
Hughes vs Filho would also be a great fight. Paolo is a BJJ expert undefeated in his MMA career, also very strong, technical and explosive fighter and it would be very interesting to see how Matt would do with him.
And Denis Kang is a great fighter too, undefeated in his last 18 fights. In a match against him I think that the imperative for Hughes would be to get the takedown, bring the action to the floor and deal with him there because he really wouldn't do very good standing up here.
If Hughes and Baroni were to have a match I think it would go all Matt's way. He is a lot better and far more complete fighter then Baroni will ever be and he would take him down and finish him on the ground easily in my opinion.
Kazushi Sakuraba is no longer a PRIDE fighter but regardless of that I think that he's no match for Hughes today. 5 or 6 years ago maybe, but now I don't think that he would have much chance against Matt.

And as good as Hughes is I don't think that he would want to take on some of PRIDE's top light heavyweights because against fighters like Silva, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira... he really wouldn't do too well in my opinion.

Answer 2

The problem with this is the weight classes are different
Takanori Gomi would be best canidate , both Gomi and Hughes claim to be the best pound for pound fighter, that must be a good match. They have unique styles and have a great reputation in their countrys, it is almost like liddel vs wanderlei.

Mitsuhiro Ishida Would be also a good canidate, but his style is similiar to matt, and matt is stronger, so this would not be as exciting, but still would be a great match.

Paulo Filho undefeated in pride, this would be great match i dont even know if matt could beat this guy. Paulo is very well rounded and matt might get caught by something because this guy has alot of weapons.

sakuraba kazushi, he gives exciting fights, all of them. Matt and him duking it out i would pay $40 to watch that, wouldnt u?

Realisticly, Phil Baroni he can stand up with matt but thats pretty much it, he is a strong guy so it would be hard for matt to work on him.

Dan Henderson, is what people say but, i agree but... he weighs like a light heavyweight. So if the change was that extreme then it's fine with me. I would like to see this fight, i would like to see matt fight any of these people. matt weighs in at 169lbs and dan weigh's in at like 201lbs. It seams kinda unfair. Matt could make weight but it would be mostly useless weight. But it would be a great fight dont get me wrong. Henderson would win, and make ufc mad.

i read ribafish's answer and i agree with that matt cannot take the light heavyweights. Matt is the best in his weight division as welterweight but stands no chance in middle or lightheavyweight. He would loose to Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei, and Chuck.

The belt gap is the problem, because they are the best in that weight and if any fighter needs to change it gives a unfair advantage. Forgetting this i would pick the fighters above if i wanted to sell thousands of tickets.
here u go, i hope this satifies u lol

Answer 3

After watching Pride and UFC for many years I would say most of the fighters in Matt Hughes weight class in Pride would not have any problem beating Hughes , Pride fighters are a big step up from UFC , they are tougher and are better trained and they take more PRIDE in what they do .

Answer 4

Gomi or Henderson, or Baroni.

Matt pretty much owns all fighters in his weight division.

Answer 5

Baroni

Answer 6

I'd love to see him fight Vanderlai Silva.

Answer 7

henderson