Matthew Allen Hughes, an American retired mixed martial artist known for his wrestling background, was born in Hillsboro, Illinois. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA.

Matt Hughes made his mixed martial arts debut at Joe Goytia's JKD Challenge on January 1, 1998. He quickly defeated his opponent via KO with a signature slam move.

At Extreme Challenge 21 on October 17, 1998, Matt Hughes fought and won two matches against Victor Hunsaker and Dave Menne. However, he suffered his first professional defeat against Dennis Hallman.

Matt Hughes made his UFC debut at UFC 22 on September 24, 1999, defeating Valeri Ignatov via unanimous decision. This marked his entry into the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In September 2000, Matt Hughes faced Dennis Hallman in a fight where Hughes secured a victory over Hallman.

At UFC 34 on November 2, 2001, Matt Hughes won his first UFC World Welterweight title in a dramatic fight against Carlos Newton. Hughes slammed Newton to the mat, causing him to lose consciousness and securing the championship.

Matt Hughes successfully defended his championship belt at UFC 36 by defeating former Shooto Middleweight Champion Hayato Sakurai via TKO due to strikes in the fourth round. Hughes dominated the fight by clinching Sakurai against the fence and landing strikes.

On July 13, 2002, Matt Hughes achieved victory in a fight by knockout or technical knockout using punches.

At UFC 40, Matt Hughes fought Gil Castillo, winning via TKO. Hughes dominated the match with a big slam, ground-and-pound attacks, and strong defense against submission attempts.

Matt Hughes faced Sean Sherk at UFC 42, winning via unanimous decision. Hughes controlled the fight with takedowns, ground control, and effective striking, becoming the first man to defeat Sherk.

In the main event of UFC 45, Matt Hughes faced Frank Trigg in a tactical grappling match-up, finishing Trigg with a standing rear naked choke in the first round.

Matt Hughes lost his welterweight title to B.J. Penn via rear naked choke in the first round, despite being heavily favored to win. The title was vacated due to a contract dispute between Penn and the UFC.

Matt Hughes defeated Renato Verissimo via unanimous decision after being caught in a tight triangle choke in the first round. He won the second and third rounds to secure the victory.

Matt Hughes defeated Renato Verissimo at UFC 48 with a Decision (Unanimous) in 2004.

Matt Hughes regained the vacant welterweight title by submitting Georges St-Pierre via armbar in the final second of the first round. The fight was competitive with Hughes showing dominance.

In April 2005, Matt Hughes defended his championship against Frank Trigg in a highly anticipated rematch. After a tough start, Hughes displayed incredible resilience by reversing Trigg's position, slamming him down, and securing a rear naked choke for the win.

Matt Hughes retained his title against Trigg in a historic rematch. After a challenging start where Hughes was staggered, he managed to secure a victory with a rear naked choke, considered one of UFC's greatest fights.

Matt Hughes was scheduled to fight Karo Parisyan but ended up facing Joe Riggs due to Parisyan's injury. The match became a non-title fight as Riggs could not meet the weight limit, marking a unique situation in UFC history.

Matt Hughes defeated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend and UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie in a non-title, catch-weight bout by TKO (strikes) at 4:39 of the first round. Hughes had Gracie caught in an armlock from the side mount position, but Gracie refused to tap out.

On September 23, 2006, Matt Hughes achieved victory by knockout or technical knockout in a match where he landed punches. The fight lasted 3 rounds and ended at 3 minutes and 53 seconds.

Georges St-Pierre defeated Matt Hughes at UFC 65: Bad Intentions by TKO via strikes in round two, ending Hughes's title reign. St-Pierre landed a Superman punch in the first round and a head kick in the second round to secure the victory.

Matt Hughes returned to the Octagon for UFC 68: Uprising, defeating Chris Lytle by unanimous decision. Hughes showcased his skills with takedowns, ground control, and submission attempts throughout the fight.

On December 29, 2007, Matt Hughes secured a victory over Chris Lytle with an armbar submission in the 2nd round at 4 minutes and 54 seconds. The win showcased Hughes' grappling skills and dominance in the fight.

Matt Hughes released his autobiography 'Made in America: The Most Dominant Champion in UFC History' on January 1, 2008, which became a New York Times bestseller.

Matt Hughes was defeated by Georges St. Pierre at UFC 85 through TKO (Flying Knee and Punches) in 2008.

In 2008, Matt Hughes was inducted into the EIU Hall of Fame, as reported on matt-hughes.com.

Matt Hughes confirmed on his blog that he would be facing Matt Serra at UFC 98, where he won via unanimous decision in a grudge match. The fight was intense with both fighters showcasing their skills, ultimately earning Fight of the Night honors.

On January 2, 2010, Matt Hughes and his wife welcomed their second daughter. The couple also has two other children, including a son from his wife's previous relationship.

On April 10, 2010, Matt Hughes defeated Matt Serra by KO/TKO with punches in the third round at 4:40, securing a victory.

On May 28, 2010, Matt Hughes was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, acknowledging his contributions to the sport and his remarkable career achievements.

Matt Hughes defeated Ricardo Almeida with a front headlock submission in round 1 at UFC 117. Hughes landed a left hook, followed by a deep choke, earning him Submission of the Night honors.

Matt Hughes faced B.J. Penn in a rubber match at UFC 123. Penn knocked out Hughes in the first round, marking Hughes' first knockout loss and hinting at retirement.

Matt Hughes faced Josh Koscheck at UFC 135 after Diego Sanchez's injury. Hughes lost via KO in the first round despite showing improved striking.

Matt Hughes was honored with induction into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2012, according to matt-hughes.com.

Matt Hughes was added to the Champions Database, as reported on nwhof.org in 2012.

On January 24, 2013, Matt Hughes retired from fighting and was appointed as Vice President of Athlete Development and Government Relations at the UFC.

On July 4, 2013, Matt Hughes became the host of Uncaged with Matt Hughes, a show that aired on Saturdays on the Sportsman Channel.

On October 7, 2014, Matt Hughes partnered with producer Joe David Garza to host The Takedown with Matt Hughes, a series that aired on Sundays on the Sportsman Channel. The show was nominated for 'Best New Series' in 2015 at the Sportsman's Choice Awards.

On June 16, 2017, Matt Hughes was hospitalized with a serious head injury following a train accident near his home in Montgomery County, Illinois.

UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes was seriously injured in a truck vs. train accident on June 17, 2017.

On September 19, 2019, Matt Hughes sued Norfolk Southern Railway and its employees for the 2017 train crash that resulted in his serious head injury.

A documentary segment by Century Martial Arts explores the early days of Matt Hughes in mixed martial arts.