Matt’s TUF6 Journal - Episode 9
November 14th, 2007
 First off, some questions about last week’s show:
My answer to that would be that that ref definitely had the best view during the fight, so he would have stopped it if there had been any tap. If anyone saw it, it would have been him and he never said a word.
Tommy’s definitely a very strong guy; but with my technique and my knowledge, I could definitely cut that strength and get in a better position. Tommy is strong, but I’m not saying that he’s stronger than me or I’m stronger than him. If you pay close attention you’ll see my brother at the weigh ins. Mark was there training with the guys at the time. So, that was him if you were wondering. The reason why I wanted Hightower and Troy on my team was because I felt that Serra threw them to the wolves. I knew that Matt wasn’t going to help them with a game plan, because he wanted Arroyo and George to move up. I wanted to come up with my own gameplan, so they could possibly knock them out. Serra’s comments about his guys not wanting to train with me didn’t bother me, either. He’s going to say anything to get under my skin. I was going to corner one of them, so it was definitely in their best interest to come talk to me ahead of time so they weren’t just going in there blind. I was annoyed when Hightower and Arroyo took me and my coaches aside to talk to us. I guess I understood where they were coming from, but seriously I’m above and beyond that. Mac is definitely his own person. Mac’s just different, but who’s not different? He likes nature and that’s his thing and that’s just great. He’s standing up for what he believes in and I like that. His fight went exactly like I thought it would. I thought Mac would win any and all situations. Next episode with the coaches’ challenge is very interesting, so make sure not to miss it. -Matt |
November 15th, 2007 at 12:26 am
Matt,
If you had had to pick the semi-finale fights with the same pool of fighters, what would have been your picks?
November 15th, 2007 at 3:27 am
great episode matt. i’m really enjoying this season, thanks for doing it.
November 15th, 2007 at 4:58 am
Hey Matt! I found it odd that Serra didnt see it coming that he would lose fighters to your team. Its been like that since TUF 1. So I have to ask you. Did you remember that and if you did when? At the end of the prelims? After he got the majority of wins? Anyway I cant wait to see you take it Serra! My wife and I already have are tickets. Take care brother! God Bless!
November 15th, 2007 at 8:41 am
That was a great episode last night and I like the thought that by next week Serra and you will be 3-2 guys. Mac did wondrously in the fight.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Matt-you when this is all over you will have to let us know if you think your presence on The Ultimate Fighter was a good or bad decision in your life. You seem bored and unenthusiastic at times on the show.
Great fight for Mac. He is one tough guy. I like his personality. I think he acts tough but is truely a good guy.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I noticed that Robbie is giving instructions for Team Hughes during the fights. He is yelling but no one at home can hear what he is saying. Did production edit his voice on purpose?
November 15th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Hey Matt,
Think about it for a sec - yeah Hightower and Arroyo took you guys aside because they were worried that you wouldn’t treat them fairly. After all the crap that gasbag Serra had been feeding them, who could blame them? Obviously they do not know who you are, your true character and integrety, because they have been subjected to the innane nonsense coming from that Long Island Blowhard.
BTW - Mac wins it all - that’s my prediction. If he stays healthy, he has the best brains and the best skills out of all of them.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Matt,
Great episode. The editing made you look kind of cavalier when the boys asked for a meeting with you.
Question: I was at Bible study last night and we spoke about forgiveness and reconciliation. Is there a time that you would consider becoming friends with Serra? Maybe after your fight?
God Bless,
WalterBailey
November 15th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Great win Matt as a Coach and Great win for Mac!
I really starting to like Mac for who he is and a no nonsense guy like you Matt. The reasons the others don’t like Mac is that they are all either immature or jealous of the fact that Mac is all business and goofy or bullish like others. I see you now Matt as a true person and as a true fighter. I also see Mac as a nature loving, intelligent, mature person. I see both of you as good people and great fighters because mainly of your heart. So many guys on the shows are phonies, bullies and act like bunch of kids. Just look at the way they have tatoos, the way they wear their hats and the way they try to intimidate others.
I see all that as weaknesses and lack of intelligent. I totally see why you were sort of surprised by Aroyo and Hightower taking you aside to talk to you about being their coach. You’re absolutely right about them being IMMATURE! They are bunch of immature grown up KIDS. I’m glad you didn’t bother shaking their hands. I see why you don’t act all sweet and all peachy toward other fighthers other than your students. You can’t be all sweet and peachy in this business because you’ll run into guys like Serra who wants you to be sweet and soft and that’s why he’s pissed at you cause you’re not like that. Anyway, I don’t think Serra is a bad guy either but you guys are just 2 different personalities. I hope Serra will come around someday and understand you and respect you. Anyway, please tell Mac that he’s a good guy and that I’ll be supporting him all the way. You too Matt. God Bless.
November 15th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Hey Matt, glad to see Mac get the win last night. I’m guessing the only reason that Serra picked John to fight Mac was because John asked for it. I don’t think Tommy will have a whole lot of trouble with Ben either. I wasn’t impressed with Ben’s striking in his fight with Dan, and Tommy brings a lot of toughness and composure. I think it would’ve been interesting to see Ben fight George. I have a more favorable opinion of Mac after that episode. His humility is admirable. Also, Dana was pretty steadfast in his defense of your coaching abilities when Serra was throwing his hissy fit. It really irks me that Serra is the champ right now, but it’s good to know that you’ll be taking care of that in a month.
November 15th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
the guys from serras team need to remember when you and rashad evans had a disagreement and later you cornered rashad and he won, they must be new to the sport and never watched tuf before and serra is an idiot not to think you would train and corner a couple of his guys, and he has been on the show before, you calling him a meathead was just too nice, because we all know what he really is.
serra keeps saying he can’t wait to fight you, please do us all a favor and beat him take your belt back and shut him UP.
george
November 15th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
matt why is it they always show serras team in the house acting like fools and never really show your guys messing around that much and why does the ufc put up with the guys getting drunk and trashing the house,the they show that on tv, is that reallywhat the ufc wants representing them? i would hope not.
george
November 15th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Ok, so the semi’s started last night. SO that means that whatever the record was before hand is now null and void. As it stands, its Team Hughes 1, and Team Serra-Gasbag 0…sweet! Suck on that Serra, you whiny-voiced, thick-necked, skinny little legs baby that you are.
Matt, great job! Mac, awesome work! As I see it, THE fight of TUF will be George and Mac…..one of those two will be the winner.
November 15th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Hey Matt,
In your “week 9″ blog on the UFC website you refer to Serra: “He’s just some guy out there trying to get revenge for something, and I still haven’t figured out what he’s so mad about.” Well, hyping a fight is one thing, but this (with Serra) has really gone overboard.
You may recall that leading up to your GSP rematch, George took a different tact (from the first match), by saying something to the effect of: “You don’t scare me Matt; I can beat you”. He did this to help bolster his self-confidence in competing against you, one of UFC’s most dominate champions (ever!).
I believe Serra’s braggadocios remarks probably began in a similar vein, but that’s where any and all similarities to GSP’s remarks end (after all, GSP is a class act). At this stage of Serra’s ever escalating, non-stop, barrage of personal insults, there can be only one driving force at work here; RAW FEAR.
As a huge fan of both UFC and Matt Hughes, I only hope you don’t finish Serra too quickly; because, although Serra has some good points as a coach, his large, constantly flapping, mouth has become a severe annoyance that begs to be shut, and shut hard! It’s been too long since I’ve seen the patented “Hughes full-body-slam”, and would love to see it applied once again!
Gee
PS Cheers to Mac for a great victory! He has proven himself to be UFC material.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
MAC OVER GEORGE in the final!!!
Matt,
I am a new fan to MMA and the UFC, I used to be a big boxing fan - buying all the pay per views and everything - but the last few years I have been really turned off on the sport - then along comes the Ultimate Fighter and the UFC and I am hooked. Boxing can not even compare to the excitement of MMA. The UF is a great show to get fans introduce to the sport and have your and Matt Serra as coaches prior to your fight in December is brilliant. It gives a great insight to the personalities prior to a fight. You can’t help but get emotionally tied to one guy or the other. I laugh when I hear Serra talk about how you think it is all about you, he is the one who is pumping “TEAM SERRA” before his own fighters. He calls himself a good coach? Come on good coaches plan for the unexpected, how did he not see losing 2 fighters to you in the quarters…read the rules Serra it is you job as a coach…he thinks he is such a leader for his team but when he had to make a hard decision he took the easy road and walked away from it and let a coin toss decide. I would never challenge courage as I would never be brave enough to step into the Octagon as he does, however next time he is chirping you ask him were his &*^s were when he had the hard decision to make? What a cop out. Not sure if it is just the editing but you really seam to have him talking about you a lot, I don’t think a guy like him would be scared of you but it sure does look like he has a lot of worries about your fight…
Good luck with your fight against him and keep being the classy of the 2 coaches!!!
November 17th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
George, you said everything I was yelling at the TV while watching this episode! Have these guys never watched TUF before? Of course some of them would be sent to the other team, that’s just how it works! And for Serra to fuel the ridiculousness, he’s not a coach, he’s just there to mock Matt!
I, too, remember the disagreement with Rashad Evans (showboating, if I recall, was the cause) but Matt did step up and get him to the championship. So for Hightower and Arroyo to question this is just stupidity, fueled by the big mouth of Matt Serra. I still can’t believe that he said that this only happened so Matt Hughes could gain more camera time! Talk about a drama queen!
I am just waiting until Matt knocks that smug look off of his face! Matt is right, this is obviously not about the team, but about Serra’s desire to beat Matt. Even after the fights, he doesn’t care about the individuals, he keeps pointing out the numbers. I can’t wait until he goes away. He’s a flash in a pan he never even should have been a part of.
Matt Hughes is obviously above all of that. Of course he is, though, because he can back up whatever it is that he says. Go Matt!
November 17th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Matt:
Highyower and Aroyo were way out of line by having that meeting with you. You are the greatest weletweight in the history of the UFC, and those idiots should have jumped at the chance to train with you.
The bottom line is that Serra is terrified of you, man. He knows in his heart that he cannot beat you, so he is trying to psyche himself up, but it is not working.
You are a great fighter, and a great role model, and I can’t waitfor you to get your belt back.
May G-d almighty continue to bless you.
November 18th, 2007 at 2:19 am
Matt,
I think it was awsome that Dana White stepped up and said point blank to Mr. Serra that you are one of the greatest welter-weights ever. Serra’s facial expression was classic. It reminded me somewhat of when my kids get caught with their hand in the cookie jar (dejected yet guilty).
Is there any possibility that Robbie will ever return to the UFC? I think he could dismantle Anderson Silva and take the 185 belt.
I was also wondering about your new school, and I hope I don’t seem too ignorant for asking this but… Can anyone come in and train there? Or is it simply for people who are in MMA?
Thanks for taking the time and God bless.
~Ken
November 18th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Hey Matt good job this season, your team has not performed the way they should and you have had to deal with matt serra’s crap. But my question is Serra seems to have taken your team hughes shirts and made fun of them. Does that upset you beacuse I own one and I feel it is totally disrespecful. Kudos to you for keeping your cool you are a true ambassador for the sport.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:47 am
What I don’t understand about Serra is what did he think his other options were about cornering his fighters?! He wouldn’t be able to corner both and even if he had one of his other trainers do the cornering, he’d still have to make a choice and pull for one fighter over the other.
Also, could Serra have picked worse pairings for his team and better one’s for team Hughes? We already got one, and Tommy’s not losing his fight either! Team Hughes all the way!
November 19th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Hey Matt,
I thought Tommy had tapped at first too but then it just seemed like he was trying to position his hand. Glad the ref saw it correctly.
I am right there with all the others who have posted: PLEASE PLEASE shut Matt Serra up next month! I am so glad the show is on after my kids go to bed because they love UFC but I am getting tired of explaining to them why there are so many bleeps when he talks. Thank you for being a positive role model that my oldest son can look up to as he starts training in this sport.
I will be praying extra hard for a positive outcome in your fight and praying for forgiveness because I really really want you to hurt Serra. This season of TUF has been more interesting for my family because my husband trains where Dan trains. We never laughed so hard after seeing his bathroom breaks!
Good luck and God Bless!
November 20th, 2007 at 11:38 am
staci, it goes to show that great minds do think alike.another point i’de like to point out is hightower next fight is his last fight thanks to stupid serra, he is just feedind him to george for a george win, how wonderful it would be for matt hughes to come up with a game plan for hightower win that fight.
george