Matt Hughes on GSP: The guy has so much talent, just go out there and use it all

UFC Hall of Famer and former dominant Welterweight champion Matt Hughes has always been outspoken, and may not be the most well-liked fighter in MMA. He noticeably came off as brash and headstrong in his tenure as coach on The Ultimate Fighter. Many were excited to see him relinquish his long-held belt to Georges St. Pierre in a changing of the guard. Recently, Hughes came out on an episode of “The MMA Hour” and discussed his feelings about his former foe GSP:

“My one criticism with Georges is I wish the guy would finish more people because I know he has the ability to. He’s the best guy I’ve ever fought. I just wish he would go out there and do that to everybody else the way he made me feel. I’m not being mean, I’m, just being very honest. The guy has so much talent, just go out there and use it all. I think he’s just very careful. He doesn’t want to lose, which of course nobody does, but then the more effort you put into finishing a fight the more you open yourself up. Matt Serra is a great example, he was going out there striking with him and he got caught with a punch. I think he’s just a very careful person.”

Hughes is never one to mince words, and has always gone for the finish in many a UFC war such as his battles with Frank Trigg and Carlos Newton. Hughes is taking a bit of a nicer route here, not trying to talk trash on St. Pierre. Instead he notes the immense talents of GSP and simply wishes that he use it to his full potential. If there is a conversation of who is the best Welterweight in all of MMA, it would have to come down to these two combatants, with GSP most likely gaining the upper hand. Hughes knows this, and acknowledged that GSP beat him twice to his one victory over the current champ. Matt Hughes knows Georges St. Pierre is a great champion, but he is “not impressed by his performance” as of late.