Injury Forces Serra Out of Title Defense

Dakstang · 11-23-2007, 04:45 PM

This comes from sherdog.com

Injury Forces Serra Out of Title Defense

The UFC welterweight championship will be contested for just once in 2007.

Matt Serra, who claimed the belt with a shocking win over Georges St. Pierre this April, suffered herniated discs in his lower back Monday, forcing him to withdraw from his anticipated Dec. 29 title defense against former two-time 170-pound champion Matt Hughes, the UFC announced Thursday.

Serra and Hughes, who share a healthy rivalry, are coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 6" and would have fought in the co-main event of UFC 79 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

According to UFC.com, Serra, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie, was injured while demonstrating a move following one of his training sessions. A subsequent MRI revealed the severity of the injury.

"This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Serra said in a statement on UFC.com. "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."

The UFC neither named an replacement for Serra, nor announce whether Hughes would remain on the card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This really sucks. They had a good fued building.

The Phantom · 11-23-2007, 05:09 PM

WHAT! Noooooooooooooooooo!!!! This totally sucks. I was looking forward to this one. At least the card has Silva vs. Liddell to fall back on.

Zar · 11-24-2007, 02:02 AM

THis sucks. The WW belt has been doing nothing for too long with such a stacked division. NOw GSP really needs to fight again before his title shot.

Lou · 11-25-2007, 05:59 AM

Oooh, check out ufc.com, St. Pierre replaces Serra against Hughes for an interim title! Sorry Serra, but GSP is by far my favorite fighter, so the card actually just got better for me!

What does everyone think?

Zar · 11-25-2007, 02:00 PM

I am so fuckin stoked to watch GSP destroy hughes again. Although it will be a better fight if Hughes has realised he has no boxing skills against a guy like St. Pierre.

Dakstang · 11-25-2007, 04:24 PM

If Hughes takes GSP down, (like he should have done in their last fight), Hughes has a chance.

If Hughes gets beat I call it now that he will announce his retirement after the match.

Zar · 11-25-2007, 07:26 PM

I think if he gets beat he still may want to fight Serra. I think Hughes (who I think is a great fighter) has an ego too large to let himself go out on a loss. Also starting up his own gym he needs to end his career on a positive note.

Lou · 11-25-2007, 11:04 PM

Aside from one takedown in the first round of the GSP-Koscheck fight, I don't think I've seen anyone taken down GSP since he fought BJ Penn. His takedown defense is so good that we haven't gotten to see any of GSP's BJJ at all. So I am not entirely sure that Hughes would have the advantage on the ground even if he were to score a takedown. Either way, I'm pumped.

And yeah, I think even if (I'm not counting Hughes out completely) Hughes loses, he would have to settle his score with Serra before he retires. At least Dana White will make sure that it happens as it will be a money fight for the UFC after all of this Ultimate Fighter build up.

So, we get to see GSP sooner than expected. We get to see a title fight sooner than expected. And GSP finally gets to make up to the UFC and its fans by taking on a fight on short notice (after missing two fights before). I love how things just come together sometimes.

The Phantom · 11-27-2007, 02:20 PM

Awesome, this main event just got better. I fancy GSP to take this one. Hughes and Serra will definatly face off in the near future. I think both of their egos are two big to let this match go.