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Matt Serra Off UFC 79 Fight Card

Matt Serra has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 79 in December due to a back injury suffered during training.

Serra, the current UFC welterweight champion, apparently suffered a herniated disc in his back this past week while training for his fight.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” said Serra. “I’ve never had a back injury before; I could hardly get off of the MRI table. There is no way I can train through this, and I’m devastated, especially because this was such an important fight. I was looking forward to fighting Matt Hughes. All my training was going phenomenally until Monday – All I can do now is to get better and to fight again as soon as possible.”

What was scheduled to be a blockbuster fight card, just took a small hit. In my opinion, the Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva fight scheduled for UFC 79 will be moved to the main event. UFC 79 will also feature the UFC debut of Rameau Sokoudjou as he fights Lyoto Machida in a light heavyweight battle. No word yet on a replacement opponent for Hughes or if the fight will just be cancelled completely.

67 Comments
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  1. PATRICK says:

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOO HORSE ****!!!!

  2. Amir says:

    Wow, this is pretty devastating. The UFC is in a bind, if osmeone steps in a beats Hughes, that will cause some problems like in the LHW. However, I still really want to see another big fight that night.

  3. PATRICK says:

    LOLHOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS WANNA BET THAT MATT HUGHES RIGHT NOW IS DROPPIN EVERY WORD IN THE BOOK LOL…I BET HES SO FIRED UP NOW…

  4. Amir says:

    LOL…I agree Patrick. This whole new fiasco brings in a new question to be raised here…ARE FIGHTERS WAITING TOO DAMN LONG IN BETWEEN FIGHTS TO FIGHT?
    do you all realize that now, with this delay which may take who knows how long…it will be about at least 1 year and a half before we even see GSP fight again? what I am asking is…is a fighter who is “sitting on the sidelines” for 7+ months, going to put as much effort into training for that entire layoff? personally, I don’t think so, and by the time he actually gets a fight…he will have to work that much harder to regain those skills. I say, unless a guy suffers a devastating injury…he should be able to fight every 3 or so months. Titty Ortiz has no business bitching about how he is always fighting injured, look how much time he has off in between fights.

  5. PATRICK says:

    I AGREE AMIR….. WTF… FUKKS UP THE WHOLE DIVISION…. ID SAY MAYBE GSP TAKES ON JOHN FITCH… IF GSP FIGHTS HUGHES AND BEATS HIM THEN THAT DESTROYS THE BUILD UP THE UFC HAS BEEN DOIN.. WASTE…. SO ID SAY THEY NEED TO GIVE GSP ANOTHER GUY TO TAKE ON WHILE WE WAIT ON SERRAS GRANDPA ***

  6. R.J. St.Croix says:

    well it looks like the UFC title picture is in rough shape right now. there is no heavy weight champ, no light weight champ, and the welter weight champ cant fight. i dont know about any of you but i have a hard time getting behind a pay per view without a title fight unless theres a very good main event (Liddell vs. Silva will do for this one) or at least a bunch of good fights.

  7. Amir says:

    I just don’t get it, a guy like Houston Alexander can fight every 3 months while 98% of the rest have to sit and watch. This a perfect example of hyping and marketing fighters and fights blowing up in Dana White’s face, or should I say all of our faces.

  8. Amir says:

    [quote comment="11750"] ID SAY MAYBE GSP TAKES ON JOHN FITCH…

    btw…GSP vs. Fitch, or anyone else for that matter, is an impossibility right now because Dana demands that GSP fights for the title next. It’s a double-edged sword because if GSP doesn’t fight for another year or more, he’s out of the “marketable limelight” but if he fights again before then, and loses…it will only get worse. So, either GSP sits and waits his turn, or fights someone “easy”.

    Also another scenario I would suggest is that GSP keeps fighting whoever they put in front of him, because I think when Serra comes back, champion or not, they will always be able to market a GSP vs. Serra rematch (especially if GSP continues a winning streak) and Serra stays as the “last man to beat him”.

  9. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11752"]I just don’t get it, a guy like Houston Alexander can fight every 3 months while 98% of the rest have to sit and watch. This a perfect example of hyping and marketing fighters and fights blowing up in Dana White’s face, or should I say all of our faces.[/quote]
    i think you see guys like Houston fighting all the time and not others is because hes on his way up and he needs to stay fresh in our minds as opposed to someone like Liddell who could go like a year without fighting and still sell out an arena in a main event. just think if you worked at your job for so long and done so well that your boss tells you that you only have to come in when you feel like it, would you still show up everyday?

  10. y says:

    yeah an interim title bout should be made….it will take a long time before serra fight again…a lot in the WW div. deserves a title not just GSP……i think those guys that fight longer are guys that they pay a lot

  11. Amir says:

    They basically put all of their eggs into one basket and banked on the reality show to build up for this huge fight, now they look pretty foolish, and I agree with “Y” in that I think there are several other top-notch guys in the division who deserve a title shot. I would have liked to see:

    Karo and Hughes mix it up, until he broke his hand

    Kos vs. Hughes would be a terrible wrestling “borefest”

    Fitch SHOULD definitely be fighting again in a month or two.

  12. MMAKansas says:

    Well… we still have the REAL main event with Liddell and Silva so whatever.. lol.. hope something good happens in the welterweight division but if not I don’t really care, I mean it would have been a cake night, but I knew something like this would happen, I think we were all sitting in the back of our heads thinking it was going to happen, but Serra was the last guy I was thinking it would happen to… well good luck to Dana and Joe Silva..

  13. MMAKansas says:

    Man this is questionable though.. I mean it happens weeks before the fight.. WHY NOT 3 MONTHS AGO!!???

  14. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11745"]BOOOOOOOOOOOOO HORSE ****!!!![/quote]

    So eloquent, so well put… lol BOOOOOOO!

    PATRICK YOU NEED TO DO THIS WITH AN AUDIO COMMENT A LEAST ONCE!

  15. R.J. St.Croix says:

    maybe this is a blessing in disguise, it saves us from having to sit through a man hump main event.

  16. y says:

    Hughes vs GSP3

    it has to happen…UFC 79 is Nemesis right
    Hughes vs GSP First fight was amazing, second fight was oustanding
    Third fight would be a classic!
    It just fits the title…I just hope this happens!
    Dana has got to make this happen

  17. y says:

    rumors is its going to be Hughes vs Fitch

    I think this is a great matchup
    If GSP vs Hughes 3 doesn’t materialize….this would be the best matchup

  18. bvrasp says:

    NOOOOO!!!! this just cost me a shirt! Patrick you lucky Bstard!!!! lol

    I think Serra gonna wait till Hughes retires so he doesnt have to fight him.. I wouldnt wanna fight Hughes after talking all that sht about him on TUF lol. I guess injuries happen, but this sucks man, so much anticipation for nothing.. Maybe its a good thing Serra got injured before the fight, that way he doesnt get injured IN the fight by Hughes.. and im sure Hughes wants to hurt him, not just win. FCK!!!!

    Oh well, we still got Wandy and Chuck.. NO INJURY CAN STOP THAT FIGHT!! i dont care if they fight in wheelchairs!! that fights going down!! its go time baby!!!

  19. bvrasp says:

    The best thing would be Hughes vs GSP 3, better than Hughes Serra anyways, except for getting to see Hughes unleash his fury on Matt hehe.

  20. y says:

    on the Silva vs Liddell fight
    Im hoping Liddell wins that fight, so much hype around this fight and I sure do hope this becomes a classic fight…anyway I’ve never seen a boring Wand fight same as well for Chuck…im ruling for chuck because its been a while since wand been in a fight, he hasn’t fought since Feb. he might get tired just like Rua in the Griffin fight…unless he knockouts chuck in the 1st round but if it goes the distance its gotta be a win for chuck

  21. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11767"]on the Silva vs Liddell fight
    Im hoping Liddell wins that fight, so much hype around this fight and I sure do hope this becomes a classic fight…anyway I’ve never seen a boring Wand fight same as well for Chuck…im ruling for chuck because its been a while since wand been in a fight, he hasn’t fought since Feb. he might get tired just like Rua in the Griffin fight…unless he knockouts chuck in the 1st round but if it goes the distance its gotta be a win for chuck[/quote]
    oh “Y” you know not what you have just done…

  22. y says:

    I think I know….most of you guys are for wand anyway

  23. bvrasp says:

    [quote comment="11769"]I think I know….most of you guys are for wand anyway[/quote]

    haha i think RJ was thinking Kansas would get pissed or something, i dont think so, its a good point, he hasnt fought in a while and coming back to the octagon after a long time. Also if it does go the distance, i definately think the judges will be leaning more towards chuck..

    Kansas would get pissed if you said, wand sucksm chucks gonna crush him etc, but not for making a point. Opinions based on facts are always welcome man.

  24. y says:

    ahh ok, thanks bro

    as long as Rampages the champ Wand should get his title shot…Wand beat him twice….both were very impressive wins
    But for Chuck, Rampage already beat him twice…both by TKO

    Im not sure but I think after this fight Chuck has to go at the back of the line again in the LHW div. coz other fighters like wand and rua sure think they can beat the current LHW champ, coz they’ve beaten him before……thats why I think chuck should really win this fight against Wand

  25. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11771"]ahh ok, thanks bro

    as long as Rampages the champ Wand should get his title shot…Wand beat him twice….both were very impressive wins
    But for Chuck, Rampage already beat him twice…both by TKO

    Im not sure but I think after this fight Chuck has to go at the back of the line again in the LHW div. coz other fighters like wand and rua sure think they can beat the current LHW champ, coz they’ve beaten him before……thats why I think chuck should really win this fight against Wand[/quote]

    Well.. I see… problem is that point you just made doesn’t make sense.. if your banking your pick on Wand being out of action for a while, and thats ALL your banking it on…. lol Wand is gonna eat Chucks lunch… Wanderlei and most of chuteboxe in general train like they are in the read deal right then… they fight until the brink of injuries constantly … Wand will win the fight because his losses are almost a year out of reach so much farther out of his mind… he is fresher since taking a break, he will NOT be fighting injured because he is finally healing up after fighting injured for almost two years consecutive due to greedy pride promoters, and last he has the same gas tank as Liddell and twice the ferocious tenacity, my point, Wand will melt the snowman like a pit bull with a chew toy…

  26. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11767"]on the Silva vs Liddell fight
    Im hoping Liddell wins that fight, so much hype around this fight and I sure do hope this becomes a classic fight…anyway I’ve never seen a boring Wand fight same as well for Chuck…im ruling for chuck because its been a while since wand been in a fight, he hasn’t fought since Feb. he might get tired just like Rua in the Griffin fight…unless he knockouts chuck in the 1st round but if it goes the distance its gotta be a win for chuck[/quote]

    The only sane point you made in this post is the reference to Wand knocking Chuck out in the 1st round, which would have been a wiser pick… because thats what is GOING to happen..

  27. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11770"][quote comment="11769"]I think I know….most of you guys are for wand anyway[/quote]

    haha i think RJ was thinking Kansas would get pissed or something, i dont think so, its a good point, he hasnt fought in a while and coming back to the octagon after a long time. Also if it does go the distance, i definately think the judges will be leaning more towards chuck..

    Kansas would get pissed if you said, wand sucksm chucks gonna crush him etc, but not for making a point. Opinions based on facts are always welcome man.[/quote]

    Opinions are always welcome, dumb bs like what some people put out isnt… for instance

    BOOOOOO Wandi sucks ! Is NOT welcome…its IGNORANCE.. lol patrick just messing with you… hehe

  28. R.J. St.Croix says:

    @Y
    i was just playin with ya. i was saying that because i figured it would get the debate fired up again. you do have a good point, and like BV said good points are always welcome around even if they are few and far between lol. at this point im worried Chuck is already ready to hang it up and hes just doing this for the sake of finishing the debate and get a pay cheque. at this point Liddell has nothing left to prove (except the Silva fight) and Silva has a whole new fan base to win over.

  29. MMAKansas says:

    Hey Richard, you aren’t pulling a Dennis are you??? Haven’t seen you online in a while…

  30. R.J. St.Croix says:

    the legend of Denis will never die! LOL

  31. R.J. St.Croix says:

    sh*t Dennis is still top 3 poster for f*ck sake lol

  32. bvrasp says:

    [quote comment="11778"]sh*t Dennis is still top 3 poster for f*ck sake lol[/quote]

    LOL imagine Dennis was still around and posting as much as he was up to this point? he would be at like 3-4 thousand posts by now..

  33. MMAKansas says:

    Yeah,,,, funny how he just dropped off and never came back …. I would love to be online with this audio comment feature with Chuck Wandi coming up .. lol you guys would be hearing sparks fly!lol!

  34. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11779"][quote comment="11778"]sh*t Dennis is still top 3 poster for f*ck sake lol[/quote]

    LOL imagine Dennis was still around and posting as much as he was up to this point? he would be at like 3-4 thousand posts by now..[/quote]
    no doubt. the only reason anyone cough up is cuz he quit posting lol.

  35. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11777"]the legend of Denis will never die! LOL[/quote]

    Actually it will soon enough.. between you and BV, you guys are coming up faster than I am keeping up, BV has posted TWICE as much as me in the past month and RJ you are keeping up pretty good, so I foresee his number dying within 4 months.. at least to the bottom…

  36. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11782"][quote comment="11777"]the legend of Denis will never die! LOL[/quote]

    Actually it will soon enough.. between you and BV, you guys are coming up faster than I am keeping up, BV has posted TWICE as much as me in the past month and RJ you are keeping up pretty good, so I foresee his number dying within 4 months.. at least to the bottom…[/quote]
    yeah someday i WILL get past the mighty Dennis.

  37. bvrasp says:

    [quote comment="11782"][quote comment="11777"]the legend of Denis will never die! LOL[/quote]

    Actually it will soon enough.. between you and BV, you guys are coming up faster than I am keeping up, BV has posted TWICE as much as me in the past month and RJ you are keeping up pretty good, so I foresee his number dying within 4 months.. at least to the bottom…[/quote]

    haha ya Patricks been right there too, too bad its not basd on number of words, not number of posts hehe

  38. richard says:

    [quote comment="11776"]Hey Richard, you aren’t pulling a Dennis are you??? Haven’t seen you online in a while…[/quote]
    barely got my computer working ,moved in to a new place

  39. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11785"][quote comment="11776"]Hey Richard, you aren’t pulling a Dennis are you??? Haven’t seen you online in a while…[/quote]
    barely got my computer working ,moved in to a new place[/quote]

    Cool man, I am relieved… hehe, thought you had disappeared..

  40. R.J. St.Croix says:

    did anyone watch any Spiketv tonight? they showed ultimate knockouts 2 and UFC3. the Sylvia vs Silva fight isnt a very good one but the rest of the UFN3 card was pretty good. the knockout show was cool too they showed a bunch of old fights and some really nice knockouts.

  41. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11783"][quote comment="11782"][quote comment="11777"]the legend of Denis will never die! LOL[/quote]

    Actually it will soon enough.. between you and BV, you guys are coming up faster than I am keeping up, BV has posted TWICE as much as me in the past month and RJ you are keeping up pretty good, so I foresee his number dying within 4 months.. at least to the bottom…[/quote]
    yeah someday i WILL get past the mighty Dennis.[/quote]

    What a freaking goal huh?! lol! This is getting hilarious, you guys think Dennis will ever find his way back online and on to this site?

  42. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11788"][quote comment="11783"][quote comment="11782"][quote comment="11777"]the legend of Denis will never die! LOL[/quote]

    Actually it will soon enough.. between you and BV, you guys are coming up faster than I am keeping up, BV has posted TWICE as much as me in the past month and RJ you are keeping up pretty good, so I foresee his number dying within 4 months.. at least to the bottom…[/quote]
    yeah someday i WILL get past the mighty Dennis.[/quote]

    What a freaking goal huh?! lol! This is getting hilarious, you guys think Dennis will ever find his way back online and on to this site?[/quote]
    i dont know but i kinda hope so because he was fun to argue with. lol

  43. R.J. St.Croix says:

    Dennis and Richard had some classic scraps.

  44. richard says:

    i always thought kansas and hillbilly had way better fights

  45. richard says:

    what about karo vs hughes then the winner fights serra

  46. R.J. St.Croix says:

    [quote comment="11792"]what about karo vs hughes then the winner fights serra[/quote]
    now thats a thought the only problem with that is Karo just fought in the last pay per view and he having some issues with his hand. so ether way it looks like Hughes is going to have to wait a bit if he wants to fight top comp.

  47. MMAKansas says:

    [quote comment="11793"][quote comment="11792"]what about karo vs hughes then the winner fights serra[/quote]
    now thats a thought the only problem with that is Karo just fought in the last pay per view and he having some issues with his hand. so ether way it looks like Hughes is going to have to wait a bit if he wants to fight top comp.[/quote]

    The hand is broken.. out for 3 months to get out of the cast.. out for another 2 months to ensure calcium ect surrounds the injury and he wont re break immediately — I had the same break before… thats how it goes…

  48. R.J. St.Croix says:

    i think if i was Hughes i wouldnt take just any fight right now. if he is only 1 or 2 fights away from retirement i would use those last couple of fights to fight the best guys i could.

  49. PATRICK says:

    [quote comment="11761"][quote comment="11745"]BOOOOOOOOOOOOO HORSE ****!!!![/quote]

    So eloquent, so well put… lol BOOOOOOO!

    PATRICK YOU NEED TO DO THIS WITH AN AUDIO COMMENT A LEAST ONCE![/quote]
    LOL I WILL BRO

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