Facing a veteran on one week’s notice is no easy task, but that’s exactly what Sam Hughes signed up for when she signed on to face Tecia Torres at UFC 256.
UFC 256 is back today with the defending flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo fighting number-one contender Brandon Moreno. In the co-main event, Tony Ferguson is taking on Charles Oliveira in an exciting and important lightweight bout. The card is stacked with talent and just one UFC debut. Tecia Torres was supposed to take on Angela Hill but Hill tested positive for COVID and now Torres will welcome newcomer Sam Hughes.
Sam “Sampage” Hughes
5’1″
Flyweight
28-years-old
Everett, Washington, US
Catalyst MMA
5-1
1 KO/TKO
3 Submissions
How will Sam Hughes fare in the UFC?
Hughes, I have no doubt, will do very well in the UFC. Three things she has are so important and that is a well-rounded skill set, good cardio, and high fight-IQ. On the feet, Hughes mixes up everything very well. She throws a straight jab, a sharp right hook, an inside leg kick, and a variety of other weapons. Throwing with volume is what she does and she gets right out of the way, moving in-and-out perfectly. Hughes is good in the clinch as well providing strong control and frames to land elbows and knees at times. Hughes has no problem wrestling, mixing it up. I don’t think her wrestling is as good as everything else, but it’s there to give her opponents issues.
How Hughes matches up with Torres:
I love that Hughes is in the UFC, but facing Tecia Torres in her debut is not. Torres may be only 1-4 in her last five fights but all of her losses are to the very top of the division. She did win her last one and she looked pretty good. This is just too much too soon for Hughes. I predict she will have a good showing, but the experience of Torres and her speed will be a factor.
