Matt Hughes made an appearance in St. Louis after serious train accident last June, many feared the worst for the former UFC Welterweight champion of the world.
UFC Fight Night 124 event, which took place at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on January 14, had a special guest: UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, who emerged at a UFC event for the first time since a car-train accident this past summer.
After an exceptional recovery from the life-threatening accident, Hughes got a large applause as he walked to cageside with his traditional “A Country Boy Can Survive” walkout music.
It was as touching a moment as we get in the wild world of fighting.
Welcome home, Matt Hughes.#UFCSTL pic.twitter.com/2CH5mB3DGH
— UFC (@ufc) January 15, 2018
UFC brass Dana White was there to meet him: (via MMA Junkie)
“It was super emotional for me,” White said. “Matt Hughes is a guy, much like Chuck Liddell, who’s been to my house on holidays, and my kids hang with his kids. We kind of grew up together in this sport, and tonight was a big night for me.
“And Dan Lambert – people in MMA know who Dan Lambert is – but he’s very close to Matt Hughes. So we’ve kind of been keeping each other in the loop while this whole horrible tragedy happened with him. And for the three of us to be together tonight, with Matt’s wife, it was awesome. Very cool.”
That’s how the MMA community reacted to it:
Great to see #matthughes tonight and glad that his recovery is going well!! #godblesshim
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) January 15, 2018
@Ufc once again respect, class and appreciation for our greats. Seeing Matt walking to the octagon was amazing. Awesome job @danawhite and entire Ufc staff. Happy you’re doing well Matty!!!!!!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 15, 2018
I’m in tears @ufc. What a true fighter…. wow
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 15, 2018
I'm not crying… You're crying…
Wow. What an emotional moment 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #UFCSTL https://t.co/sWCwZfW0jC
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) January 15, 2018
what a beautiful moment Welcome back Matt @ufc 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) January 15, 2018
Wow just watched Matt Hughes walkout. That was outstanding! Huge respect to one of the greats!
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) January 15, 2018
WOW!!!!!!! THIS IS AMAZING….. GOT ME TEARY EYED AND MY WIFE CRYING. BEAUTIFUL. GOD BLESS YOU MATT HUGHES. #Godisgood
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) January 15, 2018
Beautiful thing seeing Matt Hughes at the @ufc in St Louis. He has gone through so much and has stayed strong. Love ya brother
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) January 15, 2018
What do you think of former Matt Hughes’ emotional UFC return?
