Villains need heroes, and heroes need villains. Matt Hughes for much of his career straddled the line between both sides.
The Hillsboro, Illinois, native retired in 2013 after a magnificent run—much of it spent tormenting welterweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship—saw him compile a 45-9 record with 35 finishes. Even though Hughes walked off into the proverbial sunset some nine years ago, his 18 victories inside the Octagon still tie him with Neil Magny and Frankie Edgar for 13th on the UFC’s all-time list. He was inducted into the pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame while he was still an active competitor in 2010, having spent 1,577 days across two title reigns as undisputed UFC welterweight champion.