Matt Hughes is destined to be one of the best lightweight NHB fighters in the world. After impressive showing in both large and small events, Matt continued his winning ways in Future Brawl on April 15, 2000 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His opponent, Eric Davilla, seemed overwhelmed from start to finish. Davilla had some bright spots which including paying Hughes back with a nice lifting double leg takedown. This fight showed a very different Matt Hughes, a more relaxed, more technical fighter. Instead of a power oriented ground and pound game, Hughes seemed to expand his game and implement the techniques displayed by his training partners UFC Lightweight Champion Pat Miletich and Jeremy Horn. I caught up with Matt after his fight at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Full Contact Fighter: It looked like you controlled the fight. It looked as more of a workout rather than a fight.
Matt Hughes: No, I tried not to take him lightly. I knew that I had a lot more experience than he did, but he came out to fight. I was really looking for a submission to kind of establish myself in that area, but I knew he had real good standup and I think he did catch me with a punch one time. I don't know exactly where he caught me at, so a surprise there, but all in all, pretty good fight I'd say.

FCF: It seems like Pat Miletich is starting to rubbing off on by throwing those quick jabs. You seem to be utilizing your "wrestling" first step to throw your jab. Is that your game plan?
MH: Yeah, I'm a strong side lead so I lead with my strong hand so I got a real quick jab. Yeah, we've been working on that, lead with setting the jab up into a shot and not just taking a blind shot. You're right, Pat and Jeremy have been working with me. Jeremy [has been working] a lot with my ground [game]. It made me real patient, Jeremy makes me stop using my muscle, and using technique so between them two, it's the only people I see myself needing in this sport.

FCF: You look different from the last time I have seen you fight. You looked real power oriented. This fight you looked real smooth. Your passes [passing the guard] looks smoother and more technical, definitely more reminiscent of a Jeremy Horn type of style. Even though Pat seems to have more of a power oriented type of game, like how you first started, it looks like Jeremy is smoothing you out. It seems like you are even working your guard. [At one point in the fight, Matt was on the bottom with Davilla in his guard.]
MH: Yes, actually I love to be on my back. When I'm going in the practice room, I like to start there, start on my back. Yeah, it's all from Jeremy. I've got him to thank for everything. He's taught me a lot of little tricks here and there on top and bottom. I like to be on the ground. I like to move slow and kind of control things. It's all from Jeremy.

FCF: Are you being a little more selective with your fighting or just want to keep busy in order to stay sharp?
MH: Monte pretty much tells me when I got a fight coming up. I trust anything Monte says, so if he says take this fight, I know it's in my best interest. That's what he gets his percentage for, it's to take care of me and he does. When I go train, I stay at his house. Monte has all my faith. If he says, "yeah, you were off for the UFC, but it was against so and so and I turned it down," that's all he had to say. I ask no questions. What Monte says is what goes.

FCF: Is the fight game lucrative enough for you to be a professional fighter or do you still have to carry a regular job?
MH: I still carry a regular job. I coach at the college there so it's something I like to do, but I would like to go up and I plan on living up there in Miletich's and train there full time just so I can work on my standup, work on a few things here and there. Yeah, I still carry a regular job.

FCF: So, how often do you go up to Miletich's to train off-season and just before a fight?
MH: Before I fight, I'll go up there for two or three weekends in a row, try to. Of course, sometimes I can't do that, but wrestling season is done now and I'm going up there this weekend. Actually, I've been neglecting it and haven't been up there in a little while, but I'll be up there this weekend.

FCF: Anything else coming up, possibly fighting either Pele or Sakurai?
MH: You'll have to talk to Monte about that. I don't know anything about it. [Monte shouts in Sean Peters] Sean Peters, the weekend after the WEF. I think, I'm pretty sure I'll be in the UFC in June so that's the roads we're taking right now.

FCF: How long are you staying here [in Hawaii]?
MH: I leave tomorrow. So, unlucky me [laughs].

FCF: Thanks Matt.
MH: Thanks.