Matt Hughes or Jake Shields? Who's had the better career?
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very interesting comparison, TS!
Most consider Hughes the #2 GOAT WW, and rightfully so, but Shields' win-list is more impressive IMHO (particularly considering that while Hughes stopped GSP and Penn, he also was stopped by both of them...twice). A few of Hughes' wins also came against smaller guys who mostly excelled at LW (Penn, Sherk, and Serra).
I would also narrowly favour prime Shields over prime Hughes, if we want to consider head-to-head. Neither guy was a prolific striker (relatively speaking) or possessed brilliant agility/movement...but while Hughes was no doubt 'black-belt calibre' submission game, Shields' BJJ is on another level.
I am a big fan of both guys. I would give the nod to Shields though, but not by *too* much. I think Hughes' legacy appears greater because of his lengthy title run in the UFC after bouncing around earlier (like most guys of his era), while Shields' career has consistently taken him to numerous orgs, preventing the continuity and name recognition that Hughes enjoyed.
Most consider Hughes the #2 GOAT WW, and rightfully so, but Shields' win-list is more impressive IMHO (particularly considering that while Hughes stopped GSP and Penn, he also was stopped by both of them...twice). A few of Hughes' wins also came against smaller guys who mostly excelled at LW (Penn, Sherk, and Serra).
I would also narrowly favour prime Shields over prime Hughes, if we want to consider head-to-head. Neither guy was a prolific striker (relatively speaking) or possessed brilliant agility/movement...but while Hughes was no doubt 'black-belt calibre' submission game, Shields' BJJ is on another level.
I am a big fan of both guys. I would give the nod to Shields though, but not by *too* much. I think Hughes' legacy appears greater because of his lengthy title run in the UFC after bouncing around earlier (like most guys of his era), while Shields' career has consistently taken him to numerous orgs, preventing the continuity and name recognition that Hughes enjoyed.
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Titles mean very little in terms of resume. I don't like the guy but Shields has one of the best lists of wins in the history of the sport at any weight. Hughes was considered the best welterweight in the world when the real best welterweight was still polishing his game up before overtaking him on top.
The fact is, Jake beats all or most of Matt's best wins while most of Jake's would beat a prime Hughes. Jake has better wins but in the grand scheme of things, Hughes will likely be viewed more fondly because he held the UFC title and fought on a bigger stage for longer
The fact is, Jake beats all or most of Matt's best wins while most of Jake's would beat a prime Hughes. Jake has better wins but in the grand scheme of things, Hughes will likely be viewed more fondly because he held the UFC title and fought on a bigger stage for longer
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Jake's resume is kinda similar to Hendo in the sense that it is filled with big wins in different weight classes and in various orgs. They both are champions but didn't get the UFC strap.
That said it's Hughes if we're talking about divisional success, Jake if it's overall resume.
That said it's Hughes if we're talking about divisional success, Jake if it's overall resume.
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So... nobody cares about the fact Shields tested positive for a banned diuretic? thought all of u would be parroting it around.
Anyway, If u'd told me a WW would have beaten TRT Hendo, I would have laughed at u.
Hendo was fresh off Dropping the H-bomb on The current champ, Count, when Jake beat him, then he goes on to KO Sobral, Rafael, and Fedor, and then the legenrady win over Rua.
No doubt one of the most impressive wins in MMA history.
Anyway, If u'd told me a WW would have beaten TRT Hendo, I would have laughed at u.
Hendo was fresh off Dropping the H-bomb on The current champ, Count, when Jake beat him, then he goes on to KO Sobral, Rafael, and Fedor, and then the legenrady win over Rua.
No doubt one of the most impressive wins in MMA history.
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shields was never ufc champ.
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Shields CLAIMS that it was "only" a diuretic because the Colorado Athletic Commission never said what he popped for. It was probably what his boy Melendez popped for later on.
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better CAREER? Jake Shields, no question.
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Matt Hughes has a win over the P4P GOAT, a finish no less, which puts him in a very special category. Also finished BJ in his prime. No amount of Woodley or Lawler wins can touch that.
Matt also would never get finished by Ellenberger or Palhares.
Matt also would never get finished by Ellenberger or Palhares.
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I think Shields has a better win list, but only if you don't consider context. Some of the names on Shields' list were guys that were very green at the time. Matt beat some of his opponents at the peak of their powers.
I'm not devaluing Shields, btw. I consider him #3 WW, and by some margin. But Hughes beat guys who were better when he fought them.
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Not taking anything away from Shields by he way, he's done some great things. He took out Hendo when he was still important. for example.
D
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How can you be such a top level pro fighter with such horrendous stand up? That shit amazes me.
A quick little story......
When Bully Beatdown was first starting up, a producer of theirs was friends with a friend of mine and he contacted my buddy and asked him if he knew anybody that might want to be on the show. I was a pretty good wrestler in HS, and I had decent jitz, so I'm guessing that's why my friend thought of me, so he sent them my way.
I get a phone call from the producer a few days later and he explains to me the premise of the show, and how it would work out with the rules for each round, and how I could win money. Later that night I watch Jake Shields vs Paul Daley and I'm like, wtf? This dude looks awkward on his feet. We'll, Jake looks pretty silly on his feet that night but he still gets the W via armbar (I think )
I go to the audition for the show a few weeks later with my gf, my two brothers and another friend of mine, and we all make up some bullshit stories that I was this douche bag who fucked with all of them. Now as I'm sitting there during the audition belligerently drunk, I convince myself that I would absolutely beat the fucking brakes off of Jake. So now whenever the two ladies interviewing me would ask me a question, my response was, while looking into the camera, "Jake Shields, come get you some, bitch boy! You fucking suck, you pussy!" Seriously, that was my answer to every single question they asked.
Needless to say, they never called me back. But I'm still convinced to this day that if I literally put no effort into the grappling round and didn't gas out, I would have won 5k against Jake during the kickboxing round with zero stand up training.
A quick little story......
When Bully Beatdown was first starting up, a producer of theirs was friends with a friend of mine and he contacted my buddy and asked him if he knew anybody that might want to be on the show. I was a pretty good wrestler in HS, and I had decent jitz, so I'm guessing that's why my friend thought of me, so he sent them my way.
I get a phone call from the producer a few days later and he explains to me the premise of the show, and how it would work out with the rules for each round, and how I could win money. Later that night I watch Jake Shields vs Paul Daley and I'm like, wtf? This dude looks awkward on his feet. We'll, Jake looks pretty silly on his feet that night but he still gets the W via armbar (I think )
I go to the audition for the show a few weeks later with my gf, my two brothers and another friend of mine, and we all make up some bullshit stories that I was this douche bag who fucked with all of them. Now as I'm sitting there during the audition belligerently drunk, I convince myself that I would absolutely beat the fucking brakes off of Jake. So now whenever the two ladies interviewing me would ask me a question, my response was, while looking into the camera, "Jake Shields, come get you some, bitch boy! You fucking suck, you pussy!" Seriously, that was my answer to every single question they asked.
Needless to say, they never called me back. But I'm still convinced to this day that if I literally put no effort into the grappling round and didn't gas out, I would have won 5k against Jake during the kickboxing round with zero stand up training.
jesus christ, Matt Hughes is the next Buffalo bill
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Shields and it's not even close.
