The biggest feud since Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock has to be the long storied feud between Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. With injuries seemingly now in the past, the two rivals will finally meet most likely on May 23 at UFC 98 in Las Vegas.
In a recent interview with TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com) Matt Serra talked to the guys about his upcoming fight with Matt Hughes, his stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” and his predictions for the upcoming fight between George St. Pierre and B.J. Penn.
Serra, who has been out due to injury since last April has been dying to get back in the cage but has been waiting for his shot at Hughes. “I would like to get a little more action than that, but uh ya know you just play with the cards you’re dealt ya know what I mean,” Serra said. “Ya know I’m getting the fight I wanted. He is getting the fight he wanted and his wife wanted. Ya don’t forget her ya know.”
Not only do Hughes and Serra not see eye to eye, but Hughes’ wife also doesn’t seem to care for the New York native. While Serra was supposed to fight Hughes at the conclusion of their stint on “The Ultimate Fighter”, injuries made it impossible. Although the fight was postponed, time has not cooled the animosity. “Ya know what I think it really does cause it’s genuine and cause it’s not like let’s build up some hype and sell a lot of tickets. I mean I think everything that comes out of our mouths is real. He doesn’t care for me, his wife doesn’t care for me, and I don’t care for him. It’s just, it is what it is,” Serra said.
Injuries have been bothersome over the past few years but a well rested Serra is ready to get back in the gym, “I feel good, knock on wood, I feel great. Now it’s all about just getting in good shape and working off all that holiday pasta.”
The question came up about contracts and whether or not Serra was still under the original one that he won from “The Ultimate Fighter”. “No man I got a new contract that I’m very happy with.”
In his longstanding career, Serra has had the opportunity to fight not only same of the best in the welterweight division but also some of the best in the UFC lightweight division. Serra has fought both fighters in the upcoming UFC 94 main event, St. Pierre vs. Penn. When asked his thoughts on who he thought would win the match, “I think uh, St. Pierre is gonna take it,” Serra said.
As a crafty UFC veteran, a former UFC champion, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the Gracie’s, Matt Serra has a long list of accomplishments throughout his career, but surely none of them would make him as happy as beating his long time rival and nemesis Matt Hughes when they meet on May 23 in Las Vegas.
To hear the full interview, download Thursday’s episode of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.
by: Tim Thompson