MATT HUGHES releases his sensational new book revealing all about his life story. In this excerpt, Hughes recalls the welterweight championship bout between St. Pierre and Matt Serra at UFC 69...
On April 7, 2007, I was in Houston, Texas for UFC 69. I was sitting in the front row by the production people. I wondered what it would be like to watch Georges St. Pierre become the first person other than Pat and me to defend the welterweight title.
The result of the match was a given, because the accomplished fighter was taking on the winner of a reality show. My buddy Steven was at my side, and we were talking about upcoming events.
I didn't expect the fight to be very exciting at all. Suddenly, I heard the crowd go nuts and then I looked into the cage.
Matt Serra threw a mean punch, and Georges started running around a little bit. 'He's hurt!' I thought immediately.
'Wait a minute. He can't be hurt. He's fighting Matt Serra. What happened in the last twenty seconds when I wasn't watching? He's hurt. He's hurt.'
Matt Serra hit him again and knocked Georges down. This wasn't supposed to happen. As soon as Matt clipped him, I got up out of my seat and ran five feet. I grabbed Dana on the shoulder and pulled him back.
He looked up at me, jaw wide open, completely dumbfounded at what was going on. It was like he had just come out of a lobotomy or something.
'That's my fight!' I said, calling dibs and pointing at Serra. 'That's my fight!' Dana didn’t know what was happening.
I went back to my seat and stood there and watched the rest of the match. Sean Sherk slapped me on the back and I turned around.
We looked at each other in complete shock. The fight was over. Matt Serra had beaten GSP. We couldn't stop laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation, that Serra got that one lucky punch in and tagged Georges with it.
Georges had beaten both Sean and me; I would have bet the house on him (as would have 90 per cent of the audience), and if they fought again, I would still bet the house on Georges.
I was ecstatic. GSP wasn't going anywhere, and our rematch would happen no matter what. But Matt Serra had been running his mouth about me for months. If he hadn't beaten Georges, I would never have a chance to take him on.
I thought Georges would crush him, and then the next person Serra fought would beat him, and he'd continue losing - or winning just enough to keep his career afloat.
source: thesun.co.uk
