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  - SERRA SAYS MAY 23 FOR HUGHES FIGHT
Monday, January 12, 2009 - by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com
While it has long been common place for coaches of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series to face each other after the series finale, few took to a personal disliking of each other like season six’s Matt Hughes and Matt Serra.
Throughout the season’s run, the two traded barbs with each other almost every chance they could get, thus it came as no surprise that their intended title showdown at UFC 79 was one of the most anticipated fights of 2007.
Injury forced the initial fight to be postponed, eventually leading to Georges St. Pierre defeating both Hughes and Serra to claim the undisputed welterweight championship; still fans clamored to see the two Matts finally square off.
Now it appears that over a year and a half later they will finally get their wish.
“I’ve got a date of May 23 in Vegas against Matt Hughes,” Serra confirmed to MMAWeekly.com. “That’s what I just found out a few days ago and it’s actually awesome.”
The Long Island native explained why the fight had been delayed to May after so much anticipation.
“Originally I thought it was going to be in the fall (of 2007), then he was still hurt,” said Serra. “So then I thought it was going to be in January, and then that wasn’t working because he wasn’t going to be ready until March. But I’m having my kid in March, so it’s just the way things work out.
“I’m not going to miss the birth of my first born. I’m an easy guy to work with, but c’mon. So then I thought maybe April, but now it’s May.”
While initially unhappy with the delays, Serra now feels the timing may be perfect.
“With my kid being born in March is definitely going to take away a little from training, and will be a new experience for me, so I don’t mind (the fight) being pushed to May,” he admitted.
Still five months out from the proposed date, Serra is wasting no time beginning preparations now that he’s finally healthy off an injury that kept him sidelined much of last year.
“I’m driving to (Ray) Longo’s right now to get my training on,” he stated. “I’m starting to weigh out. My goal is to get in phenomenal shape and then work everything from there.”
With both fighters coming off losses in their most recent fights – Hughes to Thaigo Alves in June, and Serra to St. Pierre last April – each is in need of a win if they have hopes of staying in contention for the welterweight title to be determined on January 31 between St. Pierre and current UFC lightweight titleholder B.J. Penn.
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