MMAVu

In an interview with mmaweekly, Matt Serra talks about his next fight, likely with nemesis Matt Hughes. Here’s a snippet:

Hopefully by the end of the year. Hopefully by late fall. Like I said, I haven’t been able to do too much of anything since my fight so I’m getting back in shape now. I want two-and-a-half to three months to train for that guy. I’m not losing to him. I don’t give a rat’s ass, no way. Kill me first.

Serra injured a nerve in his elbow in his loss to Canadian Georges St. Pierre at UFC 83 in Montreal in April and has just received doctor’s clearance to train. Matt Hughes was also hurt in his last fight with Thiago Alves in London, England at UFC 85 so a late fall or possibly New Year’s weekend showdown would be possible. While lots of fighters talk smack to hype a fight, the two Matts genuinely don’t like eachother.

I’m not sure if Hughes has had a meteoric decline, but he has looked extremely average his last few fights. He was getting throttled by BJ Penn until Penn separated a rib, and he laid on Chris Lytle for three rounds in his last two wins. As for his last losses to Georges St. Pierre and Thiago Alves, yikes. And as sad as it is to say, if Hughes can’t take Serra down, Hughes is in for a long night!

Some highlights of Chuck Liddell’s interview with mmanews.

On him choosing to fight Rashad Evans over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua:

No, I was happy with the decision. I was offered Shogun but he wouldn’t be ready ‘til November or December. That was the main thing I didn’t want to wait that long for my next fight. Rashad’s a tough opponent it’ll be a great fight.

And another thought about fighting Evans:

After I beat Rashad I think I deserve the next title shot.

Liddell certainly has his swagger back. After suffering back to back losses to Rampage Jackson and Keith Jardine, Liddell out-pointed Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 and looks to get back into the title picture as soon as possible. There are other contenders out there, including Thiago Silva, Lyoto Machida, Shogun Rua, Wanderlei Silva and…Anderson Silva. Here’s Liddell’s thoughts on a potential super fight with the middleweight champion:

Sure, it could be a good fight but I think I’m too big for him. He’s a tough fighter and I have all the respect in the world for him but I think I’d be too much for him.

Liddell may be bigger, but both guys are strikers. It wouldn’t be like grappers or wrestlers tossing eachother around. I’d pay to see these guys throw down.