Matt Hughes on Spirituality
I've commented on this blog previously on the interesting correlation between Christian mixed martial and their success in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
List the current major MMA champions and you find that most ascribe to Christianity: Franklin, Hughes, Silva, as did former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champ, Randy Couture. Other great fighters in that category are Shogun Rua, Matt Lindland, Josh Barnett, Nathan Marquardt, Rampage Jackson, Vitor Belfort, and various others.
After presenting this idea to others, including fans of MMA, I'm often attacked as being ridiculous or just being a "Bible thumper" (whatever that is). But, within recent days, my suspicions on the importance of the faith to one's in-ring success has been supported by none other than Matt Hughes, the most dominant welterweight MMA champ in history.
Hughes has held the WW belt seemingly forever and has only been defeated 4 times in around 42 total fights. He's the king of 170lb. fighters. Interestingly, in his recent premier on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter reality show, Hughes noted the importance of his spiritual state to his fighting prowess. Hughes noted that fighters must be strong mentally, physically, and spiritually to have their best chance at ultimate success in the fight game. By "spiritually" Hughes unmistakeably implies a Christian spirituality, as that is the faith to which he holds.
I realize there are great fighters who are non-Christians. But that fact does nothing to undermine the interesting connection between Christian faith and fighting success. The best fighters in the world continue to be predominantly Christian in orientation, which I think requires some form of explanation. Does God truly protect those who are faithful to Him (as expressed in the Psalms and other places), at least in some important cases?
Perhaps you think fighting and God are irrelevant to one another. And it's certainly your right to have that view. Just don't express it to Matt Hughes.
List the current major MMA champions and you find that most ascribe to Christianity: Franklin, Hughes, Silva, as did former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champ, Randy Couture. Other great fighters in that category are Shogun Rua, Matt Lindland, Josh Barnett, Nathan Marquardt, Rampage Jackson, Vitor Belfort, and various others.
After presenting this idea to others, including fans of MMA, I'm often attacked as being ridiculous or just being a "Bible thumper" (whatever that is). But, within recent days, my suspicions on the importance of the faith to one's in-ring success has been supported by none other than Matt Hughes, the most dominant welterweight MMA champ in history.
Hughes has held the WW belt seemingly forever and has only been defeated 4 times in around 42 total fights. He's the king of 170lb. fighters. Interestingly, in his recent premier on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter reality show, Hughes noted the importance of his spiritual state to his fighting prowess. Hughes noted that fighters must be strong mentally, physically, and spiritually to have their best chance at ultimate success in the fight game. By "spiritually" Hughes unmistakeably implies a Christian spirituality, as that is the faith to which he holds.
I realize there are great fighters who are non-Christians. But that fact does nothing to undermine the interesting connection between Christian faith and fighting success. The best fighters in the world continue to be predominantly Christian in orientation, which I think requires some form of explanation. Does God truly protect those who are faithful to Him (as expressed in the Psalms and other places), at least in some important cases?
Perhaps you think fighting and God are irrelevant to one another. And it's certainly your right to have that view. Just don't express it to Matt Hughes.
posted by Tom Wanchick at 8:11 AM
14 Comments:
And I s'pose the fact that the UFC takes place in a nation that is overwhelmingly Christian plays no part in this?
When both fighters in a match are Christian you can't attribute the better performance of one of them to Christianity, can you--or are you going to measure the depth of their faith, now, too?
How then would you explain the Joe Son Do loss in UFC 3, given that he said "Jesus is my Lord" before being roundly defeated? That would seem to be a clear indicator that his faith was strong. (I have no idea if the guy who beat him was Christian or not) Same goes for Kimo, who was defeated by Royce--a man who may well be a Christian, but I certainly never saw any evidence of it when I was around him. Neither did my father, and he was a student at the Gracie Academy in Torrance for several years.
I think you're really grasping at straws, here, Tom--though, as Clayton already pointed out, it apparently doesn't matter how bad the argument is. If it supports the notion that Jesus is Lord, then you'll use it.
Tom,
I have read Many People giving you a hard time because of this post. I for one do not believe that your post was meant to be Malicious in anyway and is very well written statement on why a strong belief in God (whatever faith) is important and i enjoyed reading it. Please feel free to stop by my blog at anytime as i believe very strongly in God and his having a hand in my grappling success www.MattMarcinek.blogspot.com
I think your post is well intended, but with all due respect, it's a non-sequitur. There are many successful non-christians in the UFC and other MMA competitions too.
Following this thought process through we should also be able to see Christians as the most successful in many careers. God may protect His own for His purposes as well as give common grace to the unbeliever. I think we should be careful how we present ideas like these to the world. Being a Christian doesn't guarantee more or less protection nor does being successful at anything validate the Christian faith.
Mark
Matt Hughes, most dominant welterweight in history? Well, with all due respect, he only fights in talent-poor UFC and EC (whatever that is). Bring him to Pride or Vale Tudo and we'll see if he can stand international competition.
Pride fighting is a bunch of sloppy boxers....put any of them in a ring with Matt Hughes and he'd put them to shame....Pride fighters dream of making it to the UFC, not the other way around. Matt Hughes the most dominant welterweight in history???? YES.....8 times defending!!!!! I suppose you consider Bushido qaulity "International Competition" as well?!?!?!? HA
America is not predominantly Christian. A believer in the Jesus of the Bible is one who believes that Jesus, God the Son, while being sinless, died a perfect Sacrifice for our sins and rose again, and gives eternal life (what we can never deserve) as a free gift to all who simply believe on Him for it. Most Americans believe in some sort of works salvation, not in the saving Jesus of the Bible.
one has to be in question as to the reality of their devotion of course i am basing this whole comment on one fighter "rampage jackson" because of his recent bout with liddlel he has received alot of time on the prefight anyliticals and repeatedly uses the "a bomb" i personally believe that cussing is "ok" but only if it does not drag those around you down if you are around non-christians i beleive it is completely out of the question because this gets them in a state of i thought you were a christian mentality
Actually, once Rampage turned Christian, he lost several fights in a row. Maybe he wasn't praying hard enough to li'l baby jesus?
The poster who pointed out that we live in a country that is overwhelmingly Christian had a great point. It is so typical that Christians look for every possible validation for their faith in their fairy tale, wherever they can find it. If it's raining, it's a sign from God... oh, it's sunny? sign from God.
Finally, if it actually were true that the best MMA fighters are Christians, then it would really fit with the history of western civilization. After all, Christians spent how many centuries ransacking, torturing, murdering, raping and killing people in the name of Christ? Who should say that MMA fighters don't have that right too, to at least be "kickin' some ass fer jeezus?"
I fail to see how Matt Hughes can be quoted in an article of Christian faith when his entire demeanor is characterized by arrogance, chauvinism (see his demeanor to GSP) and blatant racism (fat lips comments to Din Thomas on national TV.)
And after the particular proselitizing stunt he pulled at the TUF reality show, it is how absolutely and unequivocally innapropriate and un-Christian Hughes' conduct is. How innapropriate this would have been if one or more of the team members were non-Christian (Jewish, Muslim) or non-Presbyterian Christians (Catholic, Lutheran) as many US citizens are.
A lot of people who likes to spout how Christian they are, be it in TV or over the internet, they should do their faith and their fellow brothers of faith a favor and read The Gospel of Matthew 6:5-6
Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
As far as proselytizing goes, that is certainly NOT what Matt Hughs was doing. The word first entered into existence during the Crusades when some Christians killed non-believers for not following Jesus. That, my friend, is proselytizing. Why do people put a double standard on Christians? Society says do not be afraid to voice your opinion, beliefs, ect., yet anytime a Christian voices his or her belief people are always quick to say he or she is forcing their beliefs on me. It seems a lot of people have some vendetta against Christianity. If you watched the show, the guys on Matt Hugh's team were not offended. That one guy even said that if Matt crossed the line and began forcing his beliefs he would say something. The implicit meaning here is that the guy was thinking that Matt was not forcing his beliefs. So, if you are going to use a word like "proselytizing" please use it correctly.
i think when most ppl read this blog they get this idea that the person who wrote this is tryin to say becuase one is christian they win. i certenly dont believe thats the point here. the point is can a strong mental situation help a fighter. i would say yes , its very helpful. it can also provide that certain edge sometimes that means the differance between victory and defeat. it also helps the fighters when they lose. it helps them to see a bigger purpose then just fighting. the point here is not if being a christians means u win every fight. i think the point is having a healthy spiritual life can def help a fighter.
like hughes braught bibles to his team. his point wasnt everyone become christian. his point was get inspired , get motivated, know that a loss is not the end of the world, know that i as ur coach wont shun u if u lose. but most ppl didnt see wot he was tryin to do all they saw was "hughes pushing his religion on others blah blah blah". that becuase they were to caught up in the negativity they couldnt pick the positives from the situation.
www.jesusdidnttap.com
Elnyka has it exactly right. Matt Hughes makes a big point of telling people he's a Christian because you would never guess it from observing his actions. He prays in public not to talk to God, but to get credit from his fellow man for being a pious person. Matt's "faith" isn't about God at all, it's all about Matt. The Bible passage advising people to pray in a closet was practically written about Hughes. He prays to be seen praying by man, not to be heard by God. Having people fall over themselves to pat him on the back for being such a good little Christian is his reward. There's nothing spiritual about it.
Regarding the "Jesus didn't tap" nonsense... I'm sure Jesus would be thrilled that his name is being used to sell MMA merchandise. Slapping Jesus's name on something doesn't make it holy. His name is constantly abused as a free celebrity endorsement, and frankly, it's disgusting.
I surpose the moron above me personally knows Matt? How would you know if his prayers are about himself and not to God? You are ignorant, but i guess your intitled to your opinion just as i am. Im so very curious to know how you Laura can tell Matt Hughes isnt praying to God??
And elynka, just because a man says someone has fatlips, or how un-christian you make him out to be... doesnt necessairly mean you can tell his personal relationship with the Lord. You calling Matt unchristian was just a TAD BIT hypocritical.... Come on now.
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