Former UFC fighter’s son picks same career against his father’s wish, Hall of Famer father reacts

Former UFC superstar Matt Hughes helplessly watched his son take up professional fighting as a career against his wishes. Father and son revealed their thoughts on the situation.

Matt Hughes’ son, Brandon Mills, watched his father fight in enclosures while growing up but did not understand what was really happening in those days. According to him during an interview, he assumed his father was doing something easier.

‘I knew Dad fought,’ he said. ‘But I thought it was more into WWE, is what I thought it was when I was younger,” Mills recently told MMA Junkie. “It didn’t take until much later in life to figure out the whole gravity of the situation and how good and dominant he was.’

Then he grew up and decided, like many people, to choose Daddy’s profession, only that Daddy had other views.

‘I know that he is not quite the biggest fan of me fighting,’ said Brandon Mills. ‘When he’s in the cage, it’s up to him. He knows he can win, he can do everything in his power. But when his son’s in the cage, he just has to sit there and watch.

‘He can bark all the commands that he wants but he has to sit there and watch to where he’d rather be inside fighting the fight for me. I know he’s told me multiple times. I think he enjoys it, though.’

‘He always told me I was allowed to do these things and if I wanted help, I just had to ask for it. He kind of just stepped back and let the coaching staff at American Top Team do what they do best.’

Concerning this matter, here is what the father said while speaking to MMA Junkie: ‘I know the lows of this sport just as much as I know the highs. I can’t imagine any father would actually want their child to become a cage fighter.

‘Those that do, have obviously not lived the life. I think there are a lot better and smarter ways to earn a living. And actually being good enough in this sport to make a living out of it is very rare.

‘So yes, I did not want Brandon to choose this path. It’s a tough life and you need thick skin. Not something I wanna see my kid go through. … However, if he wants it, I’m going to support it.’

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was a boxer and supports his son to fight very tough people, the most recent of which are Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. There must be something different in how these fathers see their sons or other things. This might be known in the future.

Matt Hughes leaked a few things he usually tells his son, who is now officially a professional fighter.

‘Don’t ever say no to a coach. Listen to your corner. Don’t get cocky. Keep your mouth shut and work hard. I always said when I fought, “When you lose say little, when you win, say less.”‘

Brandon Mills revealed some other tiny details.

‘When it actually became a reality and I knew I was determined that this was going to be my future and career was me and my Dad went out to Hawaii to visit B.J. Penn when he was opening up one of his gyms.

‘For the half a week or so we were out there, watching those two train together and do seminars and traveling and watching the practices, that was the defining moment of, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life as a career.” ‘

But his father gets nervous outside while watching his baby boy fight. This is understandable. Matt Hughes revealed he usually felt so when his team members competed back in the day.

‘I was always more nervous cornering my teammates than I was for my own fights. I had the urge to jump in the cage and help them. I don’t like that helpless feeling when I have to sit on the sidelines and scream what to do.

‘So guaranteed, I’ll be feeling the same thing when Brandon and Pat are fighting this weekend.’

What do you think of Brandon Mills’ choice? Comment below.

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