Sam Hughes
Sampage
USA
Three-fight winning streak snapped
Hughes lost to Piera Rodriguez via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was a rematch of an October 2022 fight which Hughes also lost via unanimous decision. She was more competitive that night than this one. Sam has had plenty of success in the UFC, but she just hasn't been able to figure out the Venezuelan. Her main struggles have come offensively. She lost the significant strike battle by a 107-77 count, in addition to failing on all seven of her takedown attempts. The 33-year-old Iowa native sees her winning streak snapped at three with the setback.
This was a rematch of an October 2022 fight which Hughes also lost via unanimous decision. She was more competitive that night than this one. Sam has had plenty of success in the UFC, but she just hasn't been able to figure out the Venezuelan. Her main struggles have come offensively. She lost the significant strike battle by a 107-77 count, in addition to failing on all seven of her takedown attempts. The 33-year-old Iowa native sees her winning streak snapped at three with the setback.
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Scheduled against Rodriguez
Hughes is scheduled to compete against Piera Rodriguez in a strawweight fight at UFC Vegas 114 on March 14, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Hughes' last five fights include a 4-1 record, including two wins in 2025. The strawweight's two wins came over Stephanie Luciano (via split decision) and Shauna Bannon via rear-naked choke.
Hughes' last five fights include a 4-1 record, including two wins in 2025. The strawweight's two wins came over Stephanie Luciano (via split decision) and Shauna Bannon via rear-naked choke.
Cruises in Paris opener
Hughes defeated Shauna Bannon via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:58 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Paris.
ANALYSIS
Finally a favorite for the first time in her 11 UFC bouts, Hughes dominated an overmatched Bannon from bell-to-bell. Sam isn't known as much of a wrestler, but that didn't stop her from landing a pair of easy takedowns. She totally controlled Bannon on the mat, eventually earning the submission win midway through Round 2. Hughes has won three straight and four of five, which is amazing considering she lost her first three fights with the UFC from December 2020 to November 2021.
Finally a favorite for the first time in her 11 UFC bouts, Hughes dominated an overmatched Bannon from bell-to-bell. Sam isn't known as much of a wrestler, but that didn't stop her from landing a pair of easy takedowns. She totally controlled Bannon on the mat, eventually earning the submission win midway through Round 2. Hughes has won three straight and four of five, which is amazing considering she lost her first three fights with the UFC from December 2020 to November 2021.
Bannon next opponent
Hughes is scheduled to compete against Shauna Bannon in a strawweight fight at UFC Paris on Sept. 6, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Hughes will look to go 4-1 across her last five UFC fights. Meanwhile, Hughes' next opponent has three career bouts for the promotion. The first saw Bannon lose, but she has bounced back with consecutive wins, a run of momentum Hughes will look to curb.
Hughes will look to go 4-1 across her last five UFC fights. Meanwhile, Hughes' next opponent has three career bouts for the promotion. The first saw Bannon lose, but she has bounced back with consecutive wins, a run of momentum Hughes will look to curb.
Improves to 3-1 in past four fights
Hughes defeated Stephanie Luciano via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Hughes is the type that will always fight for your dollar, and she proved that once again here as a +140 underdog. Sam managed to close with a 146-101 edge in total strikes landed. She also connected on 3-of-8 takedown attempts, good for 4:21 worth of control time. Hughes rarely lands any truly damaging offense, and that can hurt her in the eyes of the judges at times, but two of the three still felt she did enough to win here. The 32-year-old Iowa native has won two straight and three of her last four.
Hughes is the type that will always fight for your dollar, and she proved that once again here as a +140 underdog. Sam managed to close with a 146-101 edge in total strikes landed. She also connected on 3-of-8 takedown attempts, good for 4:21 worth of control time. Hughes rarely lands any truly damaging offense, and that can hurt her in the eyes of the judges at times, but two of the three still felt she did enough to win here. The 32-year-old Iowa native has won two straight and three of her last four.
Luciano up next
Hughes is scheduled to compete against Stephanie Luciano in a strawweight fight at UFC Vegas 104 on March 15, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Hughes' last fight was a split-decision win over Viktoriia Dudakova in August. The former's next opponent made her UFC debut by defeating Talita Alencar that same month.
Hughes' last fight was a split-decision win over Viktoriia Dudakova in August. The former's next opponent made her UFC debut by defeating Talita Alencar that same month.