UFC 98′s Bad Blood – Matt Serra vs. Matt Hughes

There have been plenty of manufactured feuds in the history of the UFC, but from all accounts, the mutual disdain between Matt Serra and Matt Hughes is 100% real.

The two hard-headed, some might say stubborn, welterweight contenders butted skulls as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter TV show and figure to put on a memorable battle at UFC 98 in Las Vegas.

Hughes is currently a -275 to +190 favorite in the BetOnline Sportsbook in a fight that should be fairly even.

While Hughes is often seen as the elder statesman and docked some respect these days due to his age at 35, Serra is no spring chicken in his own right at age 34 with his 35th birthday coming early next month.

Hughes has had the much more consistent career with a 43-7 overall record and wins over many legendary fighters such as Royce Gracie, BJ Penn, and Georges St. Pierre.

But Serra has the recent win that sticks in fans’ heads as he toppled the seemingly unbeatable Georges St. Pierre in April 2007. Serra’s next fight was against St. Pierre again but St. Pierre dominated him.

Both fighters have advantages in this fight, but Hughes’ stand out a little more. Hughes is a much better wrestler with the ability to pick up and powerbomb opponents when he gets in trouble, although he has lost some of his explosion over the years.

He also has 3-inch height advantage on the diminutive Serra, the latter fighter standing just 5-foot-6, and he has the advantage in strength as well. In the heated scraps and clinches that could define the fight at UFC 98, Hughes should have a decided advantage.

Serra counters with an impressive jiu-jitsu game and the ability to pull submissions at just about any time. He’s also perhaps a little more explosive on his feet, if the St. Pierre fight was any indication, that is.

Serra has looked a bit more energetic than Hughes in recent fights, however, and his best hope is that the wear and tear of Hughes’ 49 fights will render him a shadow of his former self in the Octagon.

In the end, expect Hughes to take control of the fight using his wrestling and his strength to pound out a decision win over Serra. The Terror has been a little bit overvalued thanks to his surprising “perfect storm” win over St. Pierre but Hughes should have just enough left to send him back down to Earth again in this fight.

The Pick: Matt Hughes -275