Hughes defeats veteran Gracie during UFC 60

Welterweight champion Matt Hughes dominated UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie to win a non-title mixed martial arts fight in short order Saturday night.

The bout was halted at 4:39 of the first round with Hughes on the back of a prone, face-down Gracie dealing more than 15 unanswered blows to the head of Gracie.

Hughes had earlier almost submitted Gracie, twisting the Brazilian's arm into a painful armbar hold. Gracie offered little offence during the bout and was on the defensive throughout.

"Of course I'm disappointed but he is the welterweight champion," Gracie said.

"I've got a couple more in me," he said when asked if he would keep fighting. "Let me go home and heal this up. I'll be back. I'll be back."

The main event of UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie at the Staples Center pitted one of mixed martial arts' legends against one of its most dominant champions.

Royce Gracie is a 39-year-old submission artist who won the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in 1993 and last fought in the Octagon ring in 1995. Gracie, who retired from active competition from 1995 to 2000, exited the 175-pound bout with a 13-3-3 record.

In recent years, Gracie has averaged one fight a year, mostly on the K-1 circuit in Japan. The Brazilian, who now calls California home, was out of active competition from 1995 to 2000 and since then has fought six times to 30 for Hughes.

posted by nscafuro @ 10:58 AM