Georges St.-Pierre Beats Matt Hughes

by Michael David Smith

Round 1: This fight is underway, and they touch gloves to get it started. Hughes tried a takedown, GSP tried a high kick, neither was effective. GSP misses with another kick, and then they go to the ground briefly, but GSP gets out of it and gets back on his feet. Then GSP takes Hughes down and has him on his back. GSP is landing strikes with Hughes on his back, and GSP is in total control early. GSP has landed some hard right hands. GSP absolutely controls the first round from the ground. The first round goes to St.-Pierre, 10-9.

Round 2: GSP gets the early takedown, and Hughes is on his back again. For GSP to take Hughes down so easily spells trouble. Hughes is trying to land some punches from the bottom, but St.-Pierre is in control. Hughes is trying to get out, but St.-Pierre is still in control and they're on the ground against the cage. Finally Hughes does something, grabbing GSP's legs. They stand back up, and then it's an absolutely beautiful takedown by GSP. GSP is going for the submission. And it's over! Hughes taps out! Georges St.-Pierre beats Matt Hughes by verbal submission with an arm bar.

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At UFC 79 tonight, Georges St.-Pierre dominated Matt Hughes from the start, punishing him for all of the first round and most of the second before Hughes finally tapped out.

The win makes St.-Pierre the interim UFC welterweight title holder, and guarantees that he'll fight former champion Matt Serra, who had been scheduled to take on Hughes tonight until an injury canceled that fight. Serra has been guaranteed a title shot. After the fight, St.-Pierre took off his title belt and said, "The real champion is Matt Serra," and that he will only consider himself the real champ when and if he beats Serra.

The win is a bit of an embarrassment for Hughes, who was totally outclassed throughout and looked somewhat unprepared, even though Hughes is the one who had more time to prepare for the fight. But Hughes, who verbally tapped out in the second round when St.-Pierre got him in an arm bar, said it best afterward: "Georges is just the better fighter."

(Source: AOL Sports)