FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST Interviews QUOTABLES: Matt Hughes disapproves of Strikeforce's treatment of fighters, says the "little things will drive fighters away"

Feb 1, 2010 - 7:50:49 PM

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"There's just a difference on how the fighters are treated. When we walked in the hotel there were a couple of people from Strikeforce in the lobby. By gosh, I don't fight for Strikeforce so don't worry about me [but] you would've thought they would've stood up and shook Robbie's hand but nobody did. It's little things like that where you just don't feel at home. The UFC wouldn't do that... [Jay Hieron and Joe Riggs are] back in the lockerroom and it's been three hours since they fought. And they're still waiting for someone to come and stitch them up. It's the little things that are going to drive fighters away."

-Matt Hughes talks to Steve Cofield at Yahoo! Sports' Cagewriter about this last weekend's Strikeforce: Miami event and his H.I.T. Squad fighter Robbie Lawler's treatment by the organization. The video interview is below (App users video available at MMATorch.com):





Penick's Analysis: This isn't the first time Hughes has talked about his feelings towards Strikeforce in regards to Lawler's treatment, as he sounded off on them on his own website last month when Lawler's December 19th fight was canceled at the last minute.

Of course, these experiences are not indicative to what all of Strikeforce's fighters are subject to, but it's likely situations like what Hughes discusses that could end up with Lawler heading back to the UFC instead of sticking around with Strikeforce.

Also, with what Hieron continues to battle with Strikeforce both with promises not being kept and with this three hour wait to be stitched up following his fight on Saturday, it would not be the least bit surprising if he did not re-sign with Strikeforce. He may not have the leverage to get back to the UFC, considering he's signed on to be a part of the EA Sports MMA videogame, but he may have another option with Bellator Fighting Championships.

For now, I'd expect Lawler to be on his way out of Strikeforce with one of his coaches openly spouting off about the way things are handled by the organization, and considering he's had success in the Octagon in the past he's very likely to want another crack at the organization now that it's a much bigger event than when he was a part of the organization.

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