Matt Hughes Realizes He Is Past His Athletic Peak As He Prepares For Renzo

From his blog:

Started my training for my next fight and one thing I realized is that the older you get, the more time you need to take to prepare. Doing a lot of lifting, plyos, stretching, and technique; but I’m not going crazy, I’m kind of easing myself into it.

The former champion will be taking on Renzo Gracie in his next match up possibly taking place in Abu Dhabi and hasn't fought since winning a close decision against Matt Serra back at UFC 98.  Hughes was an octagon regular most of his career, usually fighting 2-3 times per year.  However, that schedule has been drastically reduced over the past couple of years along with his fall from the top of the UFC welterweight division.  He managed to fight twice in 2007, once in 2008, and once in 2009.  However, he has had a stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter during that time span and also just celebrated the birth of another daughter that has kept him from competing as well.  Hughes is about 4 years older than me, and being that I have played in contact sports my entire life, I can attest that those year accumulate like a son of gun.  However, his opponent in Renzo Gracie will be the grand old age of 43 whenever their bouts take place. 

HT: matt-hughes.com