UFC Vet Tim Hague in ICU
This has certainly been a rough weekend for MMA. Following yesterday’s news that UFC legend Matt Hughes was injured in a car wreck, it was reported today that fellow UFC vet Tim Hague was severely injured in a boxing match last night.
Hague fought for the UFC on five occasions between 2009 and 2011, and also had a successful run with King of the Cage, posting an 11-0 career record there. More recently, Hague has fought mostly in his native Canada and in Russia on a pretty consistent basis. He also recently moved into boxing, and was competing in his fourth fight as a pro last night, when injury struck. Hague was fighting former Canadian football player and 7-1 pro Adam Braidwood when he was knocked out with a pretty hard shot and hit the ground with quite a bit of force.
From there it becomes hard to separate the facts from the fiction. What is clear is that Hague is in ICU with some sort of traumatic brain injury. Hague had been knocked out twice in the previous year leading into this fight, and at least nine times in his combat sports career altogether, and that’s not counting the KO loss from last night. Until more is known, it’s obviously hard to say what happened here, but it’s obviously a tragedy. While many fighters have been tweeting condolences, suggesting that Hague has passed, it appears nothing has been confirmed as of yet, and Hague’s own sister even denied the claims.
Henry’s Analysis: This is an unfortunate situation, obviously. Hague has an interesting background, and was actually a kindergarten teacher before his UFC debut. Hopefully “The Thrashing Machine” is able to make a recovery.
Artem Lobov turns down fight with Andre Fili, will help McGregor train
Artem Lobov is perhaps the luckiest man in all of MMA. Despite a salty record, Lobov has become a somewhat recognizable face in MMA largely due to his affiliation with UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor. He is a close friend of the Irishman and one of his main sparring partners. Lobov recently faced Cub Swanson in a fight that many feel he would not have been granted if not for his affiliation with McGregor. Despite losing, he was in the news just weeks after suggesting that he should be the next to face Jose Aldo, telling the Brazilian that fighting him is the closest that he will ever get to a rematch with McGregor.
Lobov was recently offered a fight, but Aldo wasn’t the opponent, and Lobov wasn’t interested. He spoke openly about recently turning down a fight with Andre Fili in favor of taking some time off to help Conor McGregor prepare for him upcoming bout with Floyd Mayweather.
Lobov says he feels obligated to help McGregor after all that the Irishman has done for him. “Conor got into the UFC,” he told MMAFighting. “We all helped him to get there, and then he pulled everybody up there with him. I owe it tom help him in any way I can.”
Lobov’s loyalty is clear, and if you want to see him fight Andre Fili, it looks like you will have to wait until after Aug. 26.
Update on Matt Hughes
A day after Matt Hughes was hit by a train, it appears things are improving for the former welterweight king pin. According to Hughes manager, Monte Cox, Hughes has been able to squeeze hands, but his eyes are still closed. This seems like a positive development in what could have been a much worse situation. A collision with a train is one hell of a thing to live through. Best wishes to Hughes in his continued recovery.
NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: FRIDAY NEWS DIGEST 6/16: Matt Hughes injured in car-train collision, Coker aiming to booker Page vs. Daley, Mayweather-McGregor undercard
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