Just to start; I like Matt Hughes in spite of some aspects of his personality, and think he is one of the best fighters ever.
But;
I think folks need to remember that Hughes is only 34. You guys are talking about him like he is in his 40's. There are a whole bunch of fighters in their mid-to-late 30's that are still fighting with varying degrees of success. Shoot, there's guys on TUF in their 30's just trying to BREAK IN to the MMA game.
Hughes has fought more than the average fighter. But if you check into a lot of other fighters that are 28+, if they haven't make the UFC yet, they also have 30+ fights. Nate Marquart would be only one example.
SO, I don't think that Hughes has any reason to quit due to age (tons of fighters older than him), and I don't think he has any reason to quit due to # of fights (Evan Tanner, Jeremy Horn, Wanderlie Silva and soooo many more). If Hughes wants to quit and retire the reason is that he doesn't feel that he can ADAPT to the sport in it's current state. He clearly knows how to train in endurance, strength, wrestling, and some other skills; He could train harder on other aspects to adapt to the current competition. I wish he would.
Age? No way
Wear and Tear? No way
Stubbornness to change fighting style? Maybe a little
Not wanting to tarnish his record? 99%
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