When it comes to his 2017, heavyweight Jeff Hughes was able to pick up wins in both of his fights, but he feels the way he performed in them couldn’t be more opposite.
First against Ryan Pokryfky at Big Guns 24 in June, Hughes didn’t quite fight as well as he would have liked, contrasted when he faced Richard Odoms in October at LFA 26, where he feels he couldn’t have done much better.
“I wasn’t happy with my fight (versus Pokryfky) prior to the LFA title fight (against Odoms),” Hughes told MMAWeekly.com. “I kind of went (into the Pokryfky fight) with an injury and probably should have pulled out, but I got the win, so I shouldn’t complain too much.
“I thought the LFA title fights (with Odoms) was my best one yet.”
As Hughes has worked his way up to having a championship in a national promotion, he realizes that he has to approach the fight game with more determination than he has before.
“I understand the game a little bit better now,” said Hughes. “I’m taking it more seriously than I ever have, and I think that’s really helped me grow.
“The higher I get up in the ranks, I’m starting to realize it’s possible for me to get up there. I see what these other fighters are doing, and I try to push harder than them.”
Hughes (8-1) will look to defend his title for the first time in the heavyweight main event of LFA 38 against challenger Maurice Greene (5-1) on Friday in Minneapolis, Minn.
This article first appeared at News – MMAWeekly.com
