Royce Gracie vs Matt Hughes in May

[bdk3clash]

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bdk,

That all assumes that the fight is under standard UFC rules. Royce would be foolish to do 5 5 minute rounds.

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I don't think you understand how UFC operates--all their events take place under rules established by the NSAC and are shared by other states UFC events take place in (mainly New Jersey and Florida recently.) NSAC MMA regulations include things like equipment, round structures, rules, and judging.

All fights are done with 5 minute rounds (3 rounds for non-title fights, 5 rounds for title fights, which this will presumably be) and scored with a 10 point must system.

UFC doesn't determine its own rules. They have to petition NSAC for all rule changes (such as allowing restarts on the ground, which was recently introduced.) Other than that they just have to do what NSAC tells them.

Gracie has made weird stipulations when fighting in Japan for Pride (including unlimited 10-minute rounds vs. Sakuraba , no strikes on the ground in the first fight against Yoshida, and no judges decisions in the second fight against Yoshida) but won't be able to make such demands to UFC directly. NSAC might change their rules but I doubt it.

[billygrippo]

i predict matt will win on the ground.

i really wana see GSP vs matt. gsp is like the next bruce lee imo.

[gusmahler]

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Does Royce get to wear a gi to choke his opponents with?


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He didn't wear a gi his fight with Akebono a year ago.

http://www.youtube.com/w/Royce-Gracie-vs...%20mma%20humour

[Dallara]

Royce dominated the Tokoro fight, it was a draw because he had the same "win only by submission or knockout" rule that was in place in the Yoshida fight. Royce doesn't want a decision loss on his record, so he asks for that rule. It will be interesting to see what the rules are in the Hughes fight.

Assuming it's standard UFC rules, I think this is a tough fight for Royce to win. Hughes has been vulnerable to submissions (Charuto should have tapped him, and Hallman did twice, also Newton was very close), but all those guys are slicker than Royce on the ground. Royce's strength is his ground defense not his submissions.

I'm excited to see it. Should be a good fight, although I'd rather see BJ smoke Hughes again.

[Phildo]

Matt Hughes is gonna pound Royce's skull in. I hope Royce is gettting well paid for this. He might have a slight chance in a ring but in the cage he's gonna get his [censored] ruined.

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Gracie hardly "dominated" Yoshida in their two matches in Pride. In their first matchup (a grappling-only match) Yoshida won, albeit with some controversey. Their second match was a full MMA match that Gracie dominated but didn't technically win (he actually had insisted on a no judges' decision stipulation!)

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If by "some controversy" you mean Yoshida won via complete BS, then I agree. He insisted on no judge's decision because he knew if it came down to JD he'd get hosed. I love PRIDE but those refs and judges are biased as [censored] to Japanese fighters, especially when it concerns national heroes like Yoshida.

I suppose you'd say Takada beat Coleman with "some controversy" as well?
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UFC follows NSAC regulations which won't allow him to wear a gi. Assuming this is a title fight it will have 5 5 minute rounds scored on a 10 point must system.

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Not a title fight.

[bdk3clash]

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Not a title fight.

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Then it'll be 3 5 minute rounds like every other non-title UFC fight.

[Big Business]

Just clearing up some thing for the thread.

-3 5 minute rounds
-the fight will be at 175, so no title fight
-Royce can not wear the gi

The more I talk about this fight the more I hate that match up. I think it is a stupid move to get Royce for one fight and have him go against somebody with a different and sometimes boring style...and Royce isn't exactly mr. excitement either. This could end up easily being a three round snooze fest with Hughes in the guard not moving.

I would love to see Royce vs. BJ Penn...now that would be a fight. Both are great BJJ guys and BJ does have some heat with the Gracie family. I think the only thing that can save it is that maybe Royce or Hughes gets hurt in training and they have to take another fight.

[Easy E]

This should be in Sporting Events, methinks