Matt Hughes, born on October 13, 1973, in Hillsboro, Illinois, is a retired American mixed martial artist and collegiate wrestler. He has a twin brother named Mark and a sister. During their high school years, Matt and Mark both participated in football and wrestling. Hughes demonstrated exceptional talent on the wrestling mat, becoming a two-time state champion in the 145-pound weight class of the Illinois High School Association in 1991 and 1992. Over his final three years of high school competition, he achieved a remarkable record of 131 wins and only two losses.
After graduating from high school, Hughes continued his academic and athletic pursuits by attending Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. He later transferred to Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, and ultimately to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. His collegiate wrestling career further laid the foundation for his future success in mixed martial arts (MMA).
Matt Hughes began his professional MMA career on January 1, 1998, at Joe Goytia's JKD Challenge. He made an immediate impression by winning his debut match via knockout just fifteen seconds into the first round, executing a powerful slam that would eventually become his trademark maneuver in the sport.
Hughes debuted in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at "UFC 22: There Can Be Only One Champion" on September 24, 1999. He quickly rose through the ranks in the welterweight division and eventually secured his place as one of the sport’s elite fighters. He became a two-time UFC Welterweight Champion and was widely known for his dominance in the early 2000s.
| Birth Date: | 13 Oct, 1973 |
| Age: | 46 yrs |
| Occupations: | Mixed martial artist |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Hillsboro |
| Education: | Eastern Illinois University Lincoln College |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American mixed martial artist |
| Net Worth 2021: | 8 million |
