UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes believes competition in the UFC has decreased due to “money hungry” fighters.
Hughes discussed the current state of the UFC on a recent edition of The MMA Hour.
“I am so glad that I competed with the UFC when I did. It’s just not the same anymore. It was all about a family back then.
“When I won the title in 2001, the UFC had just been bought earlier that year by the Fertittas and Dana. So, they were just new to it and it was just a great deal for me, and now it’s just not that way.
“And I don’t mean to talk bad about the fighters and I’m not going to name anyone specifically, but it just seems like they are just in it for the money. And they are all kinds of money-hungry it seems like. Back then, me and the rest of the guys, we were just in there to compete. We just loved it and the money was second and now it seems that the money is first and competition second.”
Hughes has recently announced that he wants to make a return to the sport of MMA. The former UFC welterweight champion has not competed in the sport since 2011.
