UFC President Says it’s Time for Matt Hughes and Forrest Griffin to Walk Away

It’s been nearly a year since Matt Hughes lest set foot in the Octagon, and if it’s up to UFC president Dana White, the time that it has been will only get longer and longer.

In short, he wants the former UFC welterweight champion to retire. Period.

It is something Hughes has contemplated, but has yet to pull the trigger on. White, however, has his own mind made up.

“Hughes is one of these guys that I absolutely positively want Matt Hughes to retire. I mean, what else is there to accomplish. The guy has done everything,” said White after Thursday’s UFC on Fox 4 press conference.

“There’s nothing left to prove, but it’s so hard for these guys to say, ‘I’m retired.’ It was the same thing with Chuck (Liddell); going through it with Matt.”

Perhaps more surprising than saying he wanted Hughes to retire, however, was White’s steadfast belief that Forrest Griffin should hang up the gloves as well.

“I would like Forrest to retire. Nothing left for Forrest to prove either,” White declared.

“He won The Ultimate Fighter; had an amazing career. He won the title when people thought he couldn’t. He became a huge star. He made (expletive) of money. He’s got a beautiful wife; he’s got a baby.

“If you don’t want to be a world champion, why? What’s the point? I get it. It’s hard to walk away from walking into the arena with big crowds and all the (expletive).

“There comes a point man. You’ve had an amazing career; you’ve done great things. There’s nothing left to prove.”

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Forrest tried to walk away, but Dana came after him.



Dana shouldn't have any say in fighters future, he's not fighting. These guys bust their asses off, not him. They fight b/c they like to do it. Some guys know they won't ever be champions, so they should just stop fighting?

Sounds like he's trying to pressure griffin into retiring because he doesn't want to cut him. Hughes too

Hughes heart isn't 100% in this anymore and he shows that to me after every fight when he says "well Joe, i'll go back to the farm and talk to the family and figure out what my next move is". He has a hard time keeping up with these younger guys and i hate seeing him get beat down left and right. I wish he would go out gracefully but with each loss that hope fades.

Griffin on the other hand has just taken too much damn punishment in his fights. I love his heart but for the love of god STOP being a punching bag.

he already said he would never cut forrest or bonner in the past. as for hughes, he does need to retire. matt seems like a smart guy, if he does fight again and loses, i think he will retire. remember that the ufc doesnt have to give fighters fights even if they are on the payroll still.

I agree with Hughes but not with Forrest....although I do not like him the guy is still competitive in the LHW division. Hughes amazingly is still a good fighter but unfortunately is one of those old veteran gatekeepers like BJ Penn, Rampage and Franklin is.....I don't see any of them ever holding a belt again.

Yeah he did say that.

I was implying Dana was pleading with griffin and Hughes to retire because he doesnt want to cut them


Hughes was a big time champion more so then tim sylvia. That is what is keeping him around

Wish Hughes wasn't on up there in age. He's improved his standup by leaps and bounds these past few years. Imagine if he would've made these improvements while he had the title.

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Posted by FastKnockout

Wish Hughes wasn't on up there in age. He's improved his standup by leaps and bounds these past few years. Imagine if he would've made these improvements while he had the title.

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This times a million! I started wondering recently what BJ and Matt's careers would have been like if they had trained together earlier... not that they aren't both legends and rightful Hall of Famers, but it seems to me like they both learned from each other and ended up developing a relationship based on mutual respect.

Wooooo Uncle Dana - - - take a deep breath and relax big fella!

You say it's time for Forrest to WALK away......surely, you mean RUN away.

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Posted by Chael_Sonnen

Wooooo Uncle Dana - - - take a deep breath and relax big fella!

You say it's time for Forrest to WALK away......surely, you mean RUN away.

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In Forrest's defense this is what happens when he runs at someone:

Dana shouldn't decide these guys futures, if they want to fight let them fight. If they lose 2 or 3 in a row then cut them...perhaps then they will retire...but if they keep winning, then why would you want them to retire? Not everyone can be a champion, but if you can still win matches in the UFC then that is where you belong!

So Forrest should retire cause he's 3-1 in recent fights and Vera is 1-2-1 and he's one away from a title shot. I'm a fan of Dana but I mean this is one of the stupidest things I've heard.

A win over Franklin is better than a win over Elliot Marshal, and a loss to Anderson Silva is as good as a loss to Jon Jones.

I'm not saying Forrest should get a title shot but I mean he's been on a rant recently about saying stupid things about the 205 division and this is just another.

Dana is afraid to cut guys that helped build the UFC and the sport. Let them fight out until they are like Chuck and get finished 5 of 6 fights and can no longer take punches. Give Hughes one more against who he wants (realistic fight clearly). And Forrest has won 3 of 4, let him keep fighting.

Everyone gives Dana crap for statements like these, but I think they come from a place of compassion. at a certain point it becomes a question of quality of life after fighting. If he was the evil overlord that so many people like to paint him as he would try to make as much money as possible without regard for the damage that these guys take. When he was urging Chuck to retire he was still a big draw, The UFC doesn't stand to make anything from big names retiring. I think he genuinely cares for these guys and their health post UFC and from a business stand point they don't want a bunch of cases like Gary Goodrich. It just gives ammo to the argument that the sport is too brutal and inhumane.

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Posted by machodog76

Everyone gives Dana crap for statements like these, but I think they come from a place of compassion. at a certain point it becomes a question of quality of life after fighting. If he was the evil overlord that so many people like to paint him as he would try to make as much money as possible without regard for the damage that these guys take. When he was urging Chuck to retire he was still a big draw, The UFC doesn't stand to make anything from big names retiring. I think he genuinely cares for these guys and their health post UFC and from a business stand point they don't want a bunch of cases like Gary Goodrich. It just gives ammo to the argument that the sport is too brutal and inhumane.

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(As far as Dana wanting guys to retire)^^^THIS.

IMO Hughes should hang them up, as said before, I don't think he is 100% in it and he just does it because he loves it so much, he knows he'll never win the title again. And there aren't many names out there at WW that even should take a fight with him, nothing to gain, too much to lose. Maybe set up a 2nd Matt Serra fight, that would be entertaining for both to officially ride off into the sunset on.

As far as Forrest....I can only see 4 fights right now that either haven't already happened and/or would be entertaining. Machida/Davis/T. Silva/Gustaffson......I would personally love to see Forrest against any of these guys, even though I know his chances against a couple of them are pretty good to be gettin KO'd. Even though I know Forrest won't get close to the title shot(which might be BS the way Jones is thinning out the division right now), I wouldn't like wo watch the beating Jones would put on him. I feel like it would be a combo of the Evans/Shogun Forrest flailing beatings.

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Posted by machodog76

Everyone gives Dana crap for statements like these, but I think they come from a place of compassion. at a certain point it becomes a question of quality of life after fighting. If he was the evil overlord that so many people like to paint him as he would try to make as much money as possible without regard for the damage that these guys take. When he was urging Chuck to retire he was still a big draw, The UFC doesn't stand to make anything from big names retiring. I think he genuinely cares for these guys and their health post UFC and from a business stand point they don't want a bunch of cases like Gary Goodrich. It just gives ammo to the argument that the sport is too brutal and inhumane.

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Then why is he putting Vera in against Shogun? As I said Vera is 1-2-1. Forrest is 3-1. Surely he'd be more concerned over Vera's safety than Forrests!

Especially by telling Shogun, you beat this guy decisively you'll get the next shot... That's like writing Vera a death sentence

Yes Dana is a compassionate guy...I like Dana...so he curses, and speaks his mind...so what...if you were in a car accidnet on the side of the road chances are 95% of the cars would pass you buy (and the one with James McSweeny in it would slow down to laugh at you) but the one with dana White in it would stop to help you.

However, sometimes you need to check your emmotions. Its stupid to claim guys shoudl retire just because they have Zero chance of ever winning a title in the UFC (which is an opinion and never a fact BTW)...if thats the case then everyone in the MW division should retire except Sonnen and Weidman.

If a man can win fights in the UFC, and avoid back to back losses (or avoid frequent back to back losses) then he is UFC calibur despite being past their prime...they stay.

Look at Alessio Sakara...he's been with the UFC since 2004...he wins 1 losses 1, wins 1 losses 1, wins 2 loses 2, wins 1 loses 2, wins 4, loses 3, wins one, loses 1, wins 3, loses 2, sins 2, loses 3, wins 2, loses 1...ect.

The guy will never be champ, but he is also never deserving of a cut,,,let him stay until he is.

I'd say it's because Vera isn't at the end of his career. Most people agree that he won the Couture fight and got screwed by the judges, he's younger than Griffin and Hughes and he hasn't had near the amount of wars or devastating losses (aside from Jones, but he destroys everyone) that both other men have. That being said I agree he is being fed to the Lion and this is basically a tune-up fight for Shogun but there is a difference between endangering a guys career and his long term health.