Cagewriter - UFC

Cagewriter

Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:32 pm EST

Obama speaks with Y! about Matt Hughes

By Steve Cofield

UFC fighter Matt Hughes is one of the more outspoken athletes when it comes to his stance on politics. Hughes says that he's voting for John McCain based on two key factors, respect and a tax plan.

Hughes says on his blog that Barack Obama has often disrespected John McCain:

"I want the President to be a good role model, Senator McCain always addresses Barack Obama as Mr. or Senator Obama. Barack always addresses Mr. McCain as John McCain. I like the respect value that Mr. McCain always shows. I dislike that Barack seems to show no respect for Mr. McCain. Barack not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge also falls under the respect factor."

The former UFC welterweight champ is also concerned about Obama's 'tax plan':

If Obama’s tax plan is what I’ve heard it is, then if you make over $250,000 a year, he is going to take 65 cents for every dollar you make and redistribute that. I’m all for helping people who need help, what I dislike is the government giving money to people who just want to sit around and be lazy and would rather soak up taxpayers’ money instead of going out and getting a job. I think we have enough of that already and those people don’t need anymore help. I would rather choose for myself who my money goes to.

We felt it was important to track down Sen. Obama so he could respond to Hughes. Obama joined Yahoo! Sports for an interview today.  

Click below to hear Obama directly address Hughes' statements (ESPNRadio1100 w/Cofield & Cokin):

You can hear the entire Obama interview here.

It's interesting to hear Hughes talk about respect being a key factor in gaining his vote. Longtime mixed martial arts fans can recall more than a few occasions where Hughes didn't practice what he preaches. Hughes angered many Canadians before UFC 65 when he made the blanket statement that they don't have a warrior spirit and they don't venture to help the world out. Just before the The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale he said Matt Serra isn't a role model for kids. And the capper was badmouthing his friend Tim Sylvia in his book, Made in America.

digg delicious
more

176 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. J W
    1. Posted by J W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    cofield, what the hell is your problem? i am honestly asking you. matt goes on in the book to say how tim became the hardest worker in the gym, how has never asked for anything, and is one of his dearest friends. you post this nonsense all the time without ever following up on stories. time was only read that tiny section of the book; he didn't get the whole story (sound familiar?). you are the worst writer in mma history. idiot.
  2. Anton
    2. Posted by Anton Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Is this surprising? A Bible-thumping, Ohio resident voting for McCain? THat's not an insult to Christians or people of Ohio but Hughes is a Christian fanatic and fanatics are usually blindly ignorant in their faith as Hughes showed when he tried to force his religion on others. What is the difference between John McCain and Mr. McCain? It addresses the same people in a respectful manner. Lastly, doesn't Hughes sound like the target demongraphics Palin finds so easy to manipulate?
  3. Mangler
    3. Posted by Mangler Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    J W I totally agree with you, It's "HACKFIELD" again stirring up the crap. I'm amazed you gave HACKFIELD credit for reading a tiny bit of the book.I didn't know he could read and i bet he has a "legion" of workers combing every detail of mma so he can enlighten us. At least this time he had a mma connection, unlike his last blog. MANGLER OUT
  4. Kevin S
    4. Posted by Kevin S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Everybody knows Hughes is a douche. Just ask Kim Couture. Besides, only an idiot would follow the political opinion of a guy who gets punched in the head for a living.
  5. Jeremy G
    5. Posted by Jeremy G Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    i think you're confusing respect with criticism. you can disagree and be respectful. calling a veteran who has 30 years on you by his first name *is* disrespectful. saying someone isn't a 'team player' is criticism. you should've stopped writing right before you were about to indirectly show your political colors, because up til then, it was a good piece into the personal life of an mma star.
  6. NickG
    6. Posted by NickG Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    For some reason this blog attracts the more mainstream contingent of fans, who aren't yet aware that Matt Hughes is one of the biggest douchebags in MMA. It is funny to see them get so worked up about any criticism of their hero though. Anyway, it's awesome to hear Cofield interview Obama.
  7. Nutcracker
    7. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Way to go Hughes. Another totally ignorant, misinformed opinion by a hack UFC fighter.. He is a racist POS.
  8. Spastic Monkey
    8. Posted by Spastic Monkey Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I just can't believe were talking about respect, or, lack of, when Obama Bin Laden refuses to cover his heart while showing "respect" to the American flag. and by the way, Nick and Kevin S must be well experienced dealing with douchebags, and other feminine products for that matter, as Matt Hughes may be well out of his prime, but is still an animal when it comes to shutting up [profane] like Nick and Kevin S. Is this why you call him a douche?
  9. Da_Bay_Beast
    9. Posted by Da_Bay_Beast Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    How respectful was it to imply that GSP was on steroids when he whooped that ass? Matt hughes is a joke. i guess he's disregarding that MR. McCain has called MR. Obama 'That one'. Or was he even watching that debate??? Not to mention the bold-face blatant lies that MR. McCain has spewed about the tax plan, health care, and not to mention "Joe The Plumber" - who has no license to do business anyway and owes the IRS back taxes!!! Talk about Disrespectful. Pls Matt - respond to me!?!
  10. Xad
    10. Posted by Xad Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    John McCain fought in World War 2?!? hahaha!
    I can't blame Obama, i mean, McCain looks like he fought in World War 1 even, but yeah, it was Vietnam.
    Obviously the long and gruelling campaigns taken it's toll on both guys, they're probably drained as hell and making silly mistakes here and there (McCain forgetting the names of people in the crowd, Obama mistaking Florida for Ohio).
    Matt Hughes is an idiot. i read his original comments and wasn't surprised that a McCain supporter had such dumb reasons for not supporting Obama. rather than give real reasons why he was supporting McCain, he gave horrible reasons as to why he wasn't supporting Obama. typical right winger.
    Hopefully he wins big and democrats take over the senate so no more filibustering from the far right wing nuts.
  11. Kelvin
    11. Posted by Kelvin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Obama just owned Matt Hughes...that is all.
    http://mma4real.net
  12. Dustin M
    12. Posted by Dustin M Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Matt seems to be woefully ignorant of many things, and sadly his ignorance will be reflected in the form of a vote.
    He talks about McCain being respectful and Obama being disrespectful, because of all things, he didn't use Mr. on all occasions. And yet McCain famously called Obama "that one" in one of the debates. This also seems to ignore the major smear campaigns that McCain has issued against Obama. Whereas Obama's negative ads focus on McCain's policies, McCain tries to smear Obama's reputation, and his running mate goes as far as to say he "pals around with terrorists". (Nevermind that the "terrorist" was only involved in those activities when Barack was a small child, is now known for being a professor at a college, and their "close association" amounts to attending the same meetings.) So much for "respect".
    Worst of all, he doesn't seem to understand how taxes are distributed very well. He says his taxes shouldn't be given to lazy people...but I know he's probably all about supporting the troops. Isn't he aware that the military gets the second biggest chunk of tax money? What's first? Social Security and health care for the elderly. Way to go, Matt. You don't want to support the troops or disadvantaged people who can't support themselves. That's certainly the sort of thing Jesus would advocate!
    Cofield, thanks for putting Obama up on the blog to address these silly criticisms. But you're still not off the hook for your Anderson Silva bashing!
  13. poker_punker
    13. Posted by poker_punker Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "Georges didn’t look as big as he has before and he seemed like he had gotten tired from the first round."
    I can't possibly blame anyone who interpret that as an attack towards GSP. Maybe that wasn't Matt intention, but...
    Matt has shown in the past a lack of respect for his opponents and other people: I don't think he is in the position to criticize other people about it. I mean, calling someone older by their first name doen't necessarily means a lack of respect for such person. Calling french-canadians cowards - now that's disrespectful.
  14. Da_Bay_Beast
    14. Posted by Da_Bay_Beast Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    wait a minute, wait a minute. the quote was that gsp had to be on steroids because he was bigger in the fight after hughes than he was in the fight with hughes.
    doesn't matter. the biggest fact here is for someone to be disrespectful and expect for other people to be the opposite is entirely egotistical. i never expected that from matt hughes, who is still a respected fighter. but to not see disrespect in labelling someone 'that one' is a nearsighted as not seeing disespect in someone saying 'you people', which was as close a mr. mccain could come without being called a racist! too many lies, too little time.
  15. Da_Bay_Beast
    15. Posted by Da_Bay_Beast Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    oops, i stand corrected. Thanks poker! i did have it backwards, the quote, i mean.
  16. boyothekid1
    16. Posted by boyothekid1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Man..I want to see Sera bash this douchebag's brains in.
  17. Ron..aka.. Cptn Cunnilingus..aka.E.B.aka.Mo-Fo-Sho
    17. Posted by Ron..aka.. Cptn Cunnilingus..aka.E.B.aka.Mo-Fo-Sho Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Listening to this a$$ is just as bad as taking political advice from the idiots in hollywood
  18. chris
    18. Posted by chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hughes is a pudd.
  19. Dubya b
    19. Posted by Dubya b Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Matt Hughes is voting for the guy who tried to put him and hundreds of MMA fighters out of work?
  20. Zay Day
    20. Posted by Zay Day Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    OBAMA ,08 We realy need a change in this country . It is in bad shape and other countrys know it if this BONE head Mr Hughes is talken about it [WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU.] LOL. COMMENT #7 you are right about this POS . OBAMA 08 . SOUNDS GOOD DOESNT IT
  21. Josh
    21. Posted by Josh Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I've never commented on a article before, but I've gotten so sick of political crap on yahoo that I decided I had too. It's getting so ridiculously out of hand. I'm sick of hearing people stray from sports to talk about political crap. If this fighter talked crap about McCain, you wouldn't be writing this article. You wouldn't find it important to track down Sen. McCain. You're a sports writer. You're not supposed to write political articles. Stick to that.
  22. antwon w
    22. Posted by antwon w Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Matt hughes needs to continue running backwards in his cornfields with all his racist clan member hicks and out of politics. Matthew obviously dosnt know what the hell he is talking about when it comes to the real world. I think tiago alves really damaged his brain with that knee. It sucks that such a good fighter had to show his true colors i think some of these guys need to just keep there mouth shut and hand up oh matthew watch out for that knee. I hope serra destroys you. chump
  23. Jim
    23. Posted by Jim Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Listen to what Matt is saying........He has a right to say what he thinks.
  24. Madjahed
    24. Posted by Madjahed Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It doesn't matter what Matt did or did not do in the past. He simply gave his reasons for voting. Most of the Obama supporters vote for him because he is younger, speaks better, and because of his color. Yes it is racist because 98% of blacks are voting for "that one." And people have a nerve to call Hughes racist because of his political views?
    Funny thing is no one had anything to say about 2nd reason why he is voting for Mr. McCain. The most important reason-economic plan. America is about opportunity and about being a free person. No one should take 50% of your income because you happen to earn more than most. I am a 1st generation immigrant. I don't pay taxes yet, but I understand that this tax raise is as unamerican as it gets. My family immigrated from Russia for a reason, and now this Marxist(creator of communism, whom Obama oppenly admires) Obama is trying to convert this great place into an average poor country.
    It makes sense to support him if you are a bum and you don't care about your future or children you might have later on. Because if they get somewhere, they will suffer.
  25. jb
    25. Posted by jb Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    i would respect his opinion a lot more if hs reasons were valid. disrespect? a phrase like "that one" takes away any formal 'mr.' or 'senator' he EVER used. that was just horrible to call anybody not to mention a man who will most likely beat you in the election.
    if those two reasons are the only ones that he is voting for mccain take away that right from him, idiot.

Cagewriter

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Steve Cofield

Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Maggie Hendricks, Zak Jensen,

Related Photo Gallery

More MMA Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Cagewriter Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)