Matt Hughes: Nothing to Gain from fighting Team AKA

Welterweight legend Matt Hughes is looking for bigger game than the American Kickboxing Academy trio of Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, and Josh Koscheck.  The three fighters have all recently challenged Hughes, but he made it clear to Heavy.com's Jeremy Botter that those fights don't interest him.

There are plenty of older guys out there with big names who can fight, too. I like to take fights where I've got something to win. If I take a fight against Mike Swick or Josh Kosheck, I've really got nothing to gain from that fight besides a paycheck and beating somebody up. They've got more to win than I do. Those aren't the kinds of fights that interest me.

Hughes is the best fighter the UFC has ever produced.  He sees the end of the line and has just a few fights left before he hangs up his gloves.  I think he's right not to be interested in a step back like this.  Matt has a hard time getting motivated to leave the house every day to go train.  It will take a special fight to bring him back, fully engaged, and ready to rumble.

Royce Gracie was a big fight, you know? It was a huge name, a guy that had won the old tournaments in the beginning. Those are the fights I like, the ones I can really get revved up for and get motivated. Those are the kinds of fights that gets me into the gym ready to train and work.

Read the entire interview at Heavy.com