Matt Hughes has had a life full of trials and tribulations, and that trend has continued for the hardened veteran after being hospitalized with a partial finger amputation.
Now 52 years old, fans remember the heights of Hughes’ career inside the cage, who competed professionally for 13 years. Throughout his 54-fight career, 25 of those came within the UFC, where he is considered one of the greatest welterweights ever to grace the octagon. Wins over Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn, and Royce Gracie, among many others, made for a successful tenure in the sport, which met its end with retirement in 2011.
However, after spending over a decade enduring the grueling work inside the gym to become the best fighter he possibly could and subsequently performing against the best in the world, spectated by millions, Matt Hughes’ hardest battles would come after his fighting career.
Adding to a long list of troubles, Hughes has presented some unsettling news on social media. While in good spirits, the UFC legend shared a picture of himself lying in a hospital bed with the tip of his middle finger missing. Further details are yet to be released regarding the incident that required Hughes to have part of his finger amputated, but the Illinois native did lighten the mood with an amusing message to his fans.
“Luckily, God’s been real good to me,” Hughes said in a post on Instagram. “He left me nine more to work with.”
A partially amputated finger pales in comparison to what Matt Hughes has suffered.
On June 16, 2017, almost six years after he retired from combat sports, Hughes was severely injured when a train hit his pickup truck at a country crossing in his home state. The crash left Hughes in a 19-day coma with a severe traumatic brain injury.
As can be expected, the road to recovery was excruciating and has been described by Hughes as the toughest battle of his life. Since the near-fatal events, the UFC Hall of Famer has been regularly attending therapy, focusing on balance, coordination, and cognitive function, and in the aftermath of his most recent injury, more recuperating will be required.