Chat with Matt Hughes, UFC Champion
by on October 04, 2007
I just got off the phone with Matt Hughes, one of the greatest fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The UFC is a mixed martial art competition that is gaining international popularity. I’m doing an article for Black Belt Magazine on faith and fighting and wanted to talk with Matt about his commitment to God and the church.
Recently on the UFC reality show, Matt passed out copies of the Bible and asked some of the fighters to read the book of Esther. In my conversation with him, I discovered that he is sold out for the Savior and wants others to know the peace that comes from training not only the body, but also the soul. Spiritual conditioning, he mentioned, is just as important as physical conditioning.
I found Matt to be very likable. He’s the kind of guy you could just pull up a chair and start talking to. He’s got a book coming out this January called “Made in America” where he talks about his faith. He never thought God would lead him to the UFC, but he is trying to live out the Christian life and be a witness to others.
It’s so refreshing to see how God is raising up guys and girls who are committed to Christ. Matt is standing up for the truth in a secular and hostile environment. He’s not ashamed of the Gospel, as Paul once said, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).