• UFC Nottingham

Maguire: Matt Hughes would be scary

ESPN staff
September 25, 2012
Matt Hughes is a UFC Hall-of-Famer © UFC
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England's John Maguire is a lifelong fan of UFC legend Matt Hughes, but admits he would have to think twice before ever accepting a fight with the former welterweight champion.

Hughes, along with Tito Ortiz, is one of two men Maguire holds in the highest of regard, having dominated the 170lb scene for several years. He won the welterweight belt on two separate occasions, making seven further defences to own the tag of "nine-time champion".

Maguire is now looking to stamp his own mark on the division and heads into the biggest fight of his career this weekend against John Hathaway in Nottingham. The all-British bout has already caught the attention of MMA followers in the States, with the winner set to take a giant leap forward in the weight class.

ESPN put the possibility to Maguire that, should he emerge victorious this weekend, the UFC might make a future bout between he and Hughes. And the Brit confessed that, despite his "fighters should fight" mentality, he would find Hughes a difficult man to face.

"That would be a tough one!" Maguire told ESPN. "If that's what the UFC wanted, then maybe, but I would hate to be stood across from Matt Hughes, looking at him.

"I know he might not be the same anymore but the guy won nine UFC title bouts. It would be an honour, but it'd be a scary one!

"His fight against Frank Trigg at UFC 52 was one of my all-time favourite fights. He gets kicked in the nuts, he's in trouble, but then he picks him up, slams him and chokes him out. Awesome."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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