Matt Hughes: w/ brother Mark and Pat MiletichThose Close to the UFC Legend Say “Win or Lose, This is His Last Fight.”

As the one of the most successful and accomplished champions in our sport’s short history, it’s succinct that every time he steps into an octagon, despite that he no longer holds his belt, the world is watching welterweight Matt Hughes (43-7).

On Saturday, the world may very well be watching him step in for his last time.

Speculation has swelled in the weeks leading up to Matt Hughes’ long-awaited fight with Matt Serra (11-5), a battle that’s seen numerous postponements despite the two fighters’ outward lament for one another.

Serra’s gone on record as stating that he “just doesn’t like” Hughes, while Hughes looks forward to teaching Serra some notion of respect in his performance against him.

Hughes has been mauled in two of his last three outings, seeing brutal TKO losses at the hands of both Georges St. Pierre and Thiago Alves, and losing two of his last three fights.

Yesterday on ESPN.com’s “MMA Live”, Stephan Bonnar made an appearance, and talked briefly of a conversation he had with Hughes, regarding his future in the sport.

"I have heard it from Matt Hughes' mouth that this will be his last fight win or lose," Bonnar professed.

Despite not having fought since he was pounded out by Thiago Alves at UFC 85, he appeared at the UFC 98 press conference, and fielded questions regarding what time he has left in the sport. Admittedly, it sounded like a segue into a farewell, more than anything.

"I got in this sport for one reason, and it was to compete," Hughes said to those attending the conference. "I just love to compete. I never thought I'd be world champion... never thought I'd make enough money to support my family, so that's it.

“That competition is still keeping me where I'm at. When I lose that desire to compete, that's when I'll be looking for the door and Dana [White] and I will be talking about going down some other avenue, but right now I still love getting in there and mixing it up with one of the guys."

Hughes has also maintained throughout the course of his career that he’d consider retirement as soon as he became someone else’s highlight reel, as he’s said on a couple of occasions.

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