Made in America: The Most Dominant Champion in UFC History Reviews

• Not much new here.

  
  By A27TD0ADDG41PS on 2008-01-02
  First, I am a huge MMA and Matt Hughes fan. My problems with this book are like the other reviewer said, "This book is flat." Maybe the literary world is not ready for this book. I watched Matt's fight and I am not sure who wants another book written. So let's see what I think is wrong with the book and hopefully I am not labeled a "Matt Hater".
  Matt speaks of his childhood and growing up in Illinois. His father was a jerk but worked hard. Matt and his brother had apretty good life and alot of fun. They liked to fight and were very competitive with each other. Not much to can keep a reader from not nodding off to sleep.
  As Matt speaks of his coming of age in MMA he comes off like a spoiled jerk. He treats Tim Silvia like dirt because, as Matt puts it, is not a team player. He is right. Tim can be pushy. The problem is that he idolized the MMA fighters and Matt and Jens Pulver could have cared less and told him so. So Matt acted like a bully.
  It was not until Matt's being saved did he realize he was not walking the right life. The issue I have, as a man of faith, is Matt was still a selfish man even though he knew it was wrong. Matt wears his Christianity on his sleeve for everyone to see. He can go to Mexico as many times as he wants but he is not walking in faith as he should be trying to lead by example.
  The point of all this effort is if the book is worth buying. In my humble opinion, yes. I bought it and read it and then donated it to the local library. The book is ok but not that interesting. Matt should consider training harder for his next fight (if there is one) so he won't get beat up by a pint-sized French-Canadian.
  
  

• Rear-Naked Choke on Reality but - Entertaining for MMA Fans ...

  
  By A56AA52NMMKYQ on 2008-02-24
  First, let's deal with the hype of the book's immodest subtitle. "The Most Champion in UFC History"?? Uh .... well, there is a guy named Randy Couture and his following who may have something it to say about that. When their respective careers have ended, there is little doubt that - as great as Matt Hughes was - Couture's legacy will overshadow that of the dude from Hillsboro.
  
  At his peak, Matt Hughes was a "monster," in the best MMA sense of the word - a one-man wrecking crew who elevated the "ground and pound" to an art form. He was scary strong and could submit opponents with punches, arm-bars or chokes. Choose your poison.
  
  "Made in America", which begins rather abruptly and with little context, is not altogether a flattering portrait. For example, the dude needs some anger management lessons. So his Dad used to come home in a grouchy mood. So Matt and his brother gang up to beat up the old man. Matt's twin brother was 90 minutes late picking him up, so Matt punches him in the face. At his brother's wedding reception, some local boys try to pick up some girls so Hughes and his brother take off to try to beat the #$%$ out of them.
  
  Start to see a familiar pattern here?
  
  Other unflattering aspects to Hughes are self-revealed. For example, Hughes treats Tim Sylvia like dirt when the latter arrives at the Miletich Fighting Systems gym in Bettendorf, IA. Even when Sylvia reaches out to Hughes and tries to mend fences, Hughes blows him off. Later, though, when Hughes is committed to a publicity appearance on the very day his wife is having a C-section, who does he call to bail his butt out? Tim Sylvia!
  
  One chapter briefly covers Hughes' religious conversion to Christianity while on a mission at a Mexican orphanage. Later, in the second fight against Penn, Hughes calls on strength from Christ during the fight and comes back to win (ironically, catching and pounding Penn in a hold known as "the crucifix," a bit of irony that I would not have otherwise noticed).
  
  The autobiography is still going to be an interesting read for MMA fans. Hughes' ascension roughly paralleled the rise of MMA and the UFC from that of a fringe sport to a multi-million dollar mainstream athletic event that is covered by the likes of ESPN and Sports Illustrated. The inside perspectives from the Frank Trigg battles, the Royce Gracie "fight," B.J. Penn 1.0 and 2.0 and the first two fights against George St. Pierre are interesting.
  
  "Made in America" comes out as Hughes - now well into his 30's - is clearly in the twilight of his MMA career. He said as much on the last series of TUF when he mused aloud about having only a few more fights left. He was totally dominated by GSP and tapped out in their third fight in late December 2007. One can only hope that we will still see Hughes vs. Matt Serra before retirement looms, as there is genuine bad blood between the two.
  
  Despite his waning skills and the rise of other fighters at 170 who clearly eclipse Hughes, he has rightly earned his place in the pantheon of UFC and MMA greats.
  
  No one will mistake Matt Hughes for Ernest Hemmingway. (On the other hand, I doubt that Hemingway was any good at a flying rear naked choke, a la the kind Hughes whipped on Frank Trigg.) I confess to being a big Matt Hughes fan. This book tells you more about the guy, warts and all. It is not a work of great literature and doesn't aspire to be. For the MMA fan and enthusiast, it is a quick and still entertaining read.
  
  
  

• Can't stand Hughes, or his Book

  
  By A1MITA0PNSIRK2 on 2008-01-02
  The only thing flatter then this book is Hughes' personality. The entire book comes off like a love letter to himself. I'll sum up the book for you, Matt thinks he's perfect, does MMA for a Hobby, and is a small town farm boy. He throws in some juicy trashtalk about other fighters but ends up making himself look all the worse in the process. There is definitely a market for a tell all behind the scenes UFC/MMA book, but this is not even close to fullfilling that demand. Matt Hughes is already going around telling poeple how great his book is, and how everyone is begging him to write another one. Well, I for one, am not asking for another one. He's a great fighter, but not a writer.
  
  

• BORING

  
  By A2413IMA7H34AG on 2008-01-02
  If you are looking for a behind the scences look into the UFC or even you want to understand the life of a fighter then do not buy this book. I was a Matt Hughes fan until I read this book. Everyone points out his arrogance as a major flaw, but I never really cared the least bit. After reading this I see just how full of himself he is. Fighting is mentioned more of a side note in this book. It is mainly filled with pointless conversations between he and his brother, tales of his family, and farm, jesus and a little more farm. This book is a complete boring let down.
  
  

• Simply Outstanding

  
  By A1ML8VIR2PQFF6 on 2008-01-03
  This book is great. It's a look inside to the relationships and people that are the nucleus for the fastest growing sport in America. The themes of friendship, family, love, failure and success capture the heart as you read about this extraordinary man. A MUST read for anyone, not just MMA fans. This no holds bar look into the life of Matt Hughes will inspire you in every way possible.
  
  
• a must read for all MMA fans!
  By A2PWB7ZJZ6IXTJ on 2008-01-03
  This is an amazing book. Not only does it explore the life of the greatest welterweight champion this sport has ever known, it also gives you the insight of what really goes on in the world of mixed martial arts.
  Matt starts off with his humble upbringing in rural Illinois and paints a vivid picture of what it was like growing up on a farm in the late seventies and early eighties. As the family endures many hardships, Matt and his twin brother Mark turn to wrestling as a means to let out their pent-up aggressions. It quickly becomes apparent that they both have the talent and desire to take it to the next level. As they both go on to college, Matt is the one who excels and eventually becomes both state and national champion. But it isn't until a chance meeting with a promoter (Monte Cox) and an MMA legend in Pat Miletich , that Matt becomes the fighter that we all know and love. His rise from the small shows to the "Big Show" (the UFC) is all documented here with fantastic behind the scenes commentary and insight. From his early loss to Dennis Hallman to his title-winning victory over Carlos Newton, you get the feeling that something special is happening and it's only the beginning. As he continues his journey, he realizes mistakes that he has made throughout his life and finds God and salvation. It's only then, that he finds the peace in his life that was missing.
  What i liked most about this book was that he never tries to sugar-coat anything, instead he's extremely candid and brutally honest and i feel that it draws a connection between the reader and Matt, the person.
  A very good book and a must read.
  
  
  
• Country simple. But not in a wholesome way.
  By A3E1DCNLUVXR0Y on 2008-03-21
  Wow. I thought I was stunned by level of drivel in this book but I'm even more stunned to find that 17 people gave this book 5 stars. I would love for them to tell me which parts made them laugh out loud.
  
  Over and over in the reviews, the book is praised for its brutal honesty. Sure, it would be great if Jeffery Dahmer were candid about the tickles and delights of dismembering people and shagging them after he had killed them, but I'm not sure it makes his actions any more palatable. In fact, if 'ol Jeffrey, who also became a born again christian, were to tell us how he had learned and changed as result of his new found christian ways (or just with a little introspection), we may even be able to find *him* acceptable.
  
  Matt, on the hand, tells us about how he's nasty to people and then leaves it at that. Throughout the book, his little anecdotes have no connection to each other and almost never lead up a realisation or a bigger point. It's almost like sitting next to someone on the bus who incessantly gives you a commentary like "That shop is open. That tree is green. That man looks angry."
  
  And often he almost brags about some of the occasions when he was less than kind to others and feels fully justified and content with his actions.
  
  Saying that, I don't have to like the protagonist of a book to enjoy reading it. But I think if I were to tap Matt, and I don't mean with an armbar or choke but rather like you'd tap a tree for sap, I'd probably discover the essence of boring. Though sadly, boring is not in great demand and so my discovery wouldn't help me recover the cost of this book.
  
  Anyway, I don't doubt this guy's work ethic (and it's paid off too as he is a pretty damn good fighter) but it's possible that he did little besides train and fight because nothing much else seems to have happened in his life. Though he's happy to include loads of conversations of the "could you pass the salt?" ilk so that he could at least rob us of whatever more exciting time we could have had if we weren't reading the book.
  
  Ah, the simple life.
  
  It's sweet that everyone sees him as a simple country boy and family man. I mean just when the guy is about to get jiggy with a hot girl, this is what he writes:
  
  I sat down on the bed, and she sat on top of me.
  "So what's your favourite colour?" I asked her.
  "Green," She said.
  "Mine too."
  
  Uhm. What is he...five? I haven't heard that kind of chat since I was in kindergarten. Well, at least he's being nice and lovely there. Imagine most of the book with that level of excitement but smeared with a good dollop of nastiness and arrogance.
  
  If you are a fan of Matt Hughes, you'd be better off spending a couple of hours re-watching all his fights than you would the few hours you'd never get back if you read this book.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The last reviewer is obviously a biased hater
  By A11081XDW0OGGZ on 2008-01-02
  This is only a response to the last reviewer who decided to take the time to come here and bash Matt and this book. You are an obvious Matt hater and wouldn't even buy the book. Why you think its worth while to come here and bash the man is beyond me.
  Matt is a good guy, unlike you. Get over yourself.
  
  
• Awesome book for a great fighter!
  By A35LDD4R3YSRB8 on 2008-01-02
  I got this book when it first came out and read it through in one sitting. I can't remember the last time any book captured my attention so well. It offers a lot of insight into who Matt is as a person and how his path to becoming the most dominant champion in UFC history was a rocky one. He's made a lot of mistakes in his past, but he talks about those openly and without trying to rationalize or justify his behavior. It's honest and unflinching and Matt doesn't always portray himself in a positive light. So, this is in no way Matt stroking his ego and talking about how great he is. In fact, in many ways, it's just the opposite. It's an amazing look into the life of the UFC's most decorated champion and future Hall of Famer. Highly recommended to fans of Matt Hughes, the UFC and MMA in general.
  
  
• A Refreshing Read
  By A2O2TSZLTFZHD7 on 2008-01-03
  I have read this book and was shocked by how candid it was and surprised by the brutal honesty. However, it was refreshingly pleasant to read a story where someone could share the good times and the bad. And share the bad without sugarcoating things. If Hughes wasn't honest about himself then we would see a much different book. The criticism that he is already recieving is a testament to the fact that he treats himself just like he does others. Good or bad, he calls it like he sees it. I was taken aback by some of the things he shared but found myself days later thinking about some of the things he had said. I thought many times about some of the lessons he learned. And I learned a few things myself. I learned that if I can be as honest about myself as he is then there is nothing that I can't do. Self reflection and being honest with yourself will allow you to find your own faults and change for the better. So, if you are still looking for things that you would change about Matt Hughes and not taking a look at yourself then you just didn't get it.
  
  
• I expected more.
  By A27YSDRXHN9B2X on 2008-02-21
  There are 3 ways to judge this book. 1. as an autobiography 2. as a UFC/MMA/Matt hughes fan and 3. as a well written, interesting story.
  
  This book comes up short on all 3 counts. Its a terrible autobigraphy. After i finished the book, I didnt get the feeling that i understood or knew Matt hughes. Sure, I knew more facts about matt hughes, but nothing on how he became who he is today, just facts. as a UFC/MMA/ Matt Hughes the fighter fan, its not real informative. He doesnt put any timeline on anything. I could never figure out where we are in his life. is it the next month, day, year what? Does he give any in depth thoughts or feelings into MMA? not really. Any behind the scenes stuff? limited.nothing of substance. he hardly even talks about his relationships with other fighter, or who is fighting with him. At one point he says he fought Tito. Tito Ortiz? yes. but does he ever tell us Tito ortiz? no. He just says tito. and you didnt even know Tito was atthe tournament until he says that he fought "Tito.". lazy. also, matt hughes come off pretty poorly in this book as a man. i had to double check to see if this was an autobigraphy or an unauthorised biography because he just came off as a selfish, meanspirited arrogant, judgemental, a little dilusional, bully. I dont care he doesnt have a relationship with his illigitamate son. Its a tough situation only he truley understands. I care he is not humble enough to acknowledge life is messy and people make mistakes, much like he has, when he makes blanket judgements on people (Especially Randy). finally this book is poorly written. paragraph after paragrah of directionless stories. I found myself rereading things thinking i missed something, or waiting in vain for a point to a story, some sort of epiphany or turning point that helped sculplt matt hughes the man. nothing. maybe some stuff got edited out because the book just had no flow, ryme or reason. I found myself getting frusterated as a read trying to undertsnad the point of a story, only to accept there wasnt one. BUT I didn't hate the book because there aren't enough MMA fighter books out there yet. The lidell book is much much better and mor einformative, but after you read that ther eis nothing to fill the void so you have to read this and just gut through it, just for another perspective as limited as it was. because of this, I am still glad I read it. I just wish it was more of what it could have been. I'msure Matt's life was very interesting, too bad he isn't. oh well.
  
  
• Country Boy!
  By A328547P5BGZC on 2008-05-18
  Wow, I'm amazed by the horrible reviews here. Do you people even know what MMA is??
  
  Matt Hughes is cocky, he isn't the most dominant champion of all time, he's a horrible writer, that's what they said! Well of course he is cocky, it's called the superior confidence of being a dominant champion. That kind of "cocky" confidence, is what gets your hand raised at the end of the fight, these are men, professional fighters that want to break your face more than anything.The writing isn't perfect, right, that means that the words are straight from Matt, not some notetaking editor.
  
  I'm a hardcore UFC fan and I've seen Matt win and I have seen Matt get totally dominated, never has he been disrespectful to an opponent. He earned his place in the UFC and reigned as champion, his glory days are over, but he will "DEFINITELY" be in the UFC Hall of Fame.
  
  I read this book in about a week, thats quick for me. I loved it!
  
  It's Matt's life, his story, the ups and downs, the road to the UFC and his personal life. The book is very entertaining, with many funny stories, as well as great fight stories.
  
  If you love the UFC and MMA you'll love this book. 5 Stars!
  
  
• Could not put it down.
  By A2OPPDER6IHFNG on 2008-01-03
  From the moment the first cover opened i could not put this book down . It brings a true and rarley seen insight to a very down to earth person . We get a glimpse into the life of the most humble proffesional athlete in the industry imo. It is an honest read with a good dose of humor. Matt tells of personal details that most would leave out but he lets you into every corner in this book . I think you will love this book , even if your are not yet a fan it is a must read for any mma fan . id give 6 stars if they were available.
  
  
• Didn't care for it.
  By A21DYMFOMQ37AH on 2008-01-29
  I haven't been a Matt Hughes fan since Season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter where I thought he came across as a jerk. Still, I'm a big MMA fan, and was really hoping for an inside scoop on a fighter's life, and some good stories from the Militech Fighting Camp. You don't get any of that here.
  
  The first third of the book is devoted to Matt and Mark growing up together on the farm, and then heading off to school to become wrestling champs. The "Early Years", if you will. If you like stories about meathead jocks who tip over trucks as a practical joke, then this will be right up your alley.
  
  There was surprisingly little time devoted to the actual fighting game. I was very interested in what Hughes thought of the PRIDE organization, whether he had been offered a contract to fight there, and I definitely wanted to hear about his time spent coaching fighters on Season 2 of the Ultimate Fighter. He talks a little (very little) about his stint on the international circuit, fighting in Abu Dhabai, Japan, and other places, and those portions are by far my favorite. They are few and far between, however. Frank Trigg gets several mentions and it's obvious Hughes has no love for this guy. He devotes about one page to Season 2 of TUF, and then it abrubtly ends.
  
  I was amazed at how arrogant the book made Hughes look. Apparently, he decided to boycott Randy Couture during TUF2 because he was offended at Couture's un-Christian divorce of his wife. Of course, Hughes has an out-of-wedlock child that, as far as his book describes, he's never even bothered to say "Hi" to. I would agree with a previous reviewer who thought that Hughes' on-the-sleeve Christianity was a little fake.
  
  
• Interesting Fighter, Horrible Book
  By A1I80KTDBLPEB9 on 2008-01-31
  Matt Hughes is an asset to the UFC, whether you're rooting for him or against him....but his book is just terrible. I wish it was more interesting, because he is very interesting to watch fight, in my opinion. The book has no heart though. It's flat all the way though, and the way events are described are uninspired. Besides his fights, Matt's life is pretty boring. There's nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't make for a good book. Usually when somebody writes a book about themself, it is best if that person has come to some sort of knowledge, or realization about something. Some wisdom that they have lived their life to discover. An understanding. There is none of that in this book. There is one chapter about finding God and becoming a Christian, but the whole book is rittled with back handed compliments and insults to fighters he's faced, or that have said things about him. Seems like a lot of the book is a tool to settle scores publicly with people he dislikes (which is a lot of people). He is unfriendly and really rude to a lot of people. It's quite at odds with his devotion to religion. Unsettling even. I don't need him to be a good guy to watch his fights or even root for him. He is an interesting fighter. This book however was a waste of time. If youre not a complete fanboy, and if you read books often, this is one to pick up at the library. I wish it had been more.
  
  
• A great read if you are blind
  By A1LUG713IAJZ32 on 2008-02-22
  As a fan of MMA, Books and autobiographies I have to say this book is boring. It is a flat unemotional story where after finishing it I feel as If Matt thinks he is the god he worships. Great fighter horrible writer next time hire a better ghost writer Matt because your book lacks any real depth or drive behind it. Feels like all it was is a cheap paycheck for you.
  
  
• Great Book about a TRUE Champion
  By A2D6B2OH9FCZ04 on 2008-01-04
  As a long time MMA fan and Matt Hughes fan I can explain this book in one word - PHENOMINAL!
  I read this book in one day; I just couldn't put it down. This is a must read!!!!! Matt Hughes does not leave one aspect of his life both professional and personal out of this book. I highly recommend it to MMA and Matt Hughes fans everywhere.
  
  
  
• UFC fighter tells his story
  By A1MLDMS8W3O2HV on 2008-03-10
  Matt Hughes, as the cover blurb states, may be the "most dominant champion in UFC history" but he sure isn't the nicest guy in the world. I'm not certain that this matters a great deal.
  
  His autobiography is however exciting, truthful and well-structured, thanks mainly to the hard work of his co-author, the wonderfully-named Michael Malice. I like the honesty of his account and the humor too. Perhaps the funniest thing is the photo of Matt Hughes sat in front of a manual typewriter, claiming to be "spending another long night completing the manuscript" of his book. In truth Hughes wouldn't know a manuscript if one bit him on the nose.
  
  It's this lack of self-knowledge which gives the book its strange tone. Hughes, thanks to the Herculean efforts of his friends and twin brother finds God on a Mexican hill-top. As a lapsed Christian myself, I found this quite moving. But he then identifies himself as someone who is always trying to help others, despite there being hardly any instances of him helping anyone outside his own close circle of family and training buddies in the whole book.
  
  Also, despite his bad behavior (including deserting his son from a casual relationship) he criticises MMA legend Randy Couture several times for getting a divorce, even though he barely knows the guy.
  
  On the positive side, his UFC fights and the atmosphere of Pat Miletich's training room are well described. He's also without vanity, telling the assistant on a photo shoot (quite truthfully) that he gets his clothes from a Salvation Army charity shop. His story is also interesting because he must be one of the first amateur wrestlers (he was a two-time All-American champ) to make a career out of MMA - sadly there aren't the same avenues for minority sports stars as there are for college football or basketball players.
  
  Above all, I like his unapologetic attitude towards his profession. "Fighting solves everything," he says and he talks of "that switch within us that gets turned on and can only be turned off by violence". Thankfully with a little help from his wife (and God perhaps) Hughes is just about able to contain his demons and he should be applauded for sharing his life, warts and all, so openly in this surprising and often laugh-out-loud funny book.
  
  
• Caught in the Middle
  By A365X4FTQ6JAUW on 2008-03-21
  Matt Hughes has been one of the most dominate champions the UFC has ever known. This book is essentially his life's story, and how a man went from a small rural town to the big lights of the UFC.
  
  The book is honest and revealing: Everything from street fights to his conversion to Christianity, to his near death experience at the swirl pool to his long up and downs with his current wife. The book does a great job of capturing Hughes' voice and personality.
  
  I found this book to be more entertaining than Iceman: My Fighting Life (although I would never say that to Liddell's face). Nevertheless, both were great reads and provide extraordinary behind-the-door information about the fastest growing sport in the country.
  
  
  
• Brutal Honesty, Beyond the Fame
  By A1FT7QFKNHL9DT on 2008-01-24
  When I rented my first UFC, it was UFC 4, where Royce Gracie defeated Dan Severn in the finals. And that fight alone took 15 minutes! When I finally got back into watching UFC, it was UFC 47 & 48 that I picked up on DVD. So my friends were always talking about who they liked, didn't like, whatever. They talked about Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Tim Sylvia, and of course, Matt Hughes. So the first Hughes fight I ever saw was his unanimous decision over Renato Verissimo. And it was a good fight, but not a great fight. Only when I picked up previous UFC DVDs and the ones to follow would I realize what a competitor Matt Hughes was. He quickly became of a favorite of mine. And when I saw that he had this book written, "Made in America," I had to see this! I thought it was pretty interesting, and I learned a lot more about Matt Hughes!
  
  First off, Matt has a twin brother, Mark. They were both farm boys. And growing up in Hillsboro, Illinois, they were best friends, as well as the best of competitors, including among themselves. I had a lot of good laughs along the journey of Matt's childhood. And then you learn (and it probably isn't too hard to guess) that the Hughes boys got into their share of scraps growing up. They certainly wreaked they're share of havoc! Matt goes through his college days, how he began coaching after college, and how he got his first MMA fight. You also discover how he met Pat Militich, and his manager, Monte Cox, and his eventual entrance in the UFC.
  
  Hard work. You read about hard work, in and out of the octagon. Matt grew up surrounded by hard work on the farm. Matt talks about his relationship with Jesus Christ. The fact was, I'd always thought that Matt was a Christian for sometime until I picked this up. He gives the glory to God. He is family man, and you can see that through this work. Matt has made sacrifices, some he didn't want to make, and he's a better man for it. All in all, Matt easily lets in all hang out in this, so it isn't always a pretty picture. The language isn't always church language, but it shows a true reality, not just a cardboard cut-out of a man. He talks about the fights with Frank Trigg and B J Penn. As you can guess, he talks about a lot of his fights! And the humor, along with the true grit shows some true emotion, and we even see a little dirt under the fingernails. I admire that in a man! Not afraid to get dirty hands.
  
  There is some brutal honesty imbedded within these pages. It goes beyond the fame and fortune of Matt Hughes. It shows a man who loves his competition, a man who loves his God, and a man who would fight for his family! I'm glad I picked this up, and finished it with a whole new respect for a Champion named Matt Hughes!!!
  
  
• A Nice Read
  By AJGFQMMS4GXAJ on 2008-02-08
  I was surprised that this book turned out to be as good as it was. It was very interesting reading. Unfortunately I finished it in 5 days. You will be entertained if you buy this one.
  
  
• Terrific book and a fast read!
  By A3I5NS5CVC275F on 2008-02-18
  I'll share this book with any fan of the Ultimate Fighter. Hughes gets down to brass tacks talking about his upbringing and fighting with his brother. I have a number of students that just might be inspired by the tenacious attitude Hughes shows to succeed.
  
  
• What I expected
  By A21JITR7ABK753 on 2008-03-19
  After TUF Season 2 I had summed up Matt Hughes as a bully who whas his own biggest fan. A read through this book confirmed my belief. I was surprised that an editor didn't have him expand on many references to UFC events that many readers wouldn't understand. I consider myself and my husband avid MMA fans and there were even comments we needed to research to understand the context. Knowing that he had become a Christian, I was surprised how he presented previous questionable acts. He still seemed to be proud of some of the things he had done that aren't necessarily "Christ-like" actions. I absolutely understand he was a different person pre-conversion but a little contrition on his part would have made this all a little easier to swallow. Revelation -- whether about self or others -- that moves the story or shows some kind of emotional development is acceptable in my book. However, telling stories (i.e. his great uncle's incontinence)that may be embarassing to others just to tell them screams of immaturity and insensitivity. Matt Hughes still isn't high on my list but I don't regret the read. I just wish I had waited until the library had a copy of it.
  
  
• Great read!!!
  By AT3YK5FB0HUJT on 2008-01-04
  This book was very interesting and well written. It held my attention so much so that I was able to finish it all in one sitting. It gives you a look into Matt's private life as well as his fighting life. I would certainly recommend this book. Very interesting, good stuff!!!
  
  
• Great book for any MMA fan
  By A3FYLE7Z557EZV on 2008-01-07
  I just got done reading "Made in America," and can't wait to read it again (when my husband's done with it!). It was an easy-read...written almost like he was talking to old friends ... it was very honest and straighforward --- just like Matt Hughes seems to be! I learned a lot about what makes him such a great fighter, family-man, farmer and Believer...his 'wild youth,' his struggle to make it to the top of the MMA world, his loyalty to family and friends, and his touching conversion to Christianity. The book also has a lot of 'behind-the-scenes' information about the UFC, which was very cool! I would recommend this book especially to people who interested in Ultimate Fighting, but also to those who enjoy learning about God's amazing grace!
  
  
• Good Book
  By A1JV36F9FB4T2H on 2008-01-07
  Excellent book! I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. If you are an MMA fan then you will enjoy it.
  
  
• One of the best sports biographies ever written!
  By A1ZKA280MAE3VL on 2008-01-13
  Matt Hughes puts together a book with just the right amount of "pre-UFC" info along with stories of his famous battles to make this a must read. The book gives a "just a regular guy" perspective as you read not only the thoughts of a UFC warrior on his likes and dislikes of the UFC and his foes, but also see the softer side in the way he loves his family and GOD. Also, reading about the crazy situations he got himself into with his brother (when he was a child as well as in his college days) brought back memories of things I had gotten into back in those days as well. All in all a great biography if you are an MMA fan. Sometimes I find it hard to sit and read (many times getting bored with a book and never finishing it), but I read this book cover to cover over a 3 day span.
  
  
• great read
  By A3JSB835PDHO4E on 2008-01-29
  ive always been a mma fan, but never really cared for matt hughes. ive always sided with serra. after reading this book and seeing how much i can relate to this down to earth man. ive been thinking about changing my perspective on fighters. being from a small farm town in illinois, i related to almost everything he had to say about growing up in rural illinois. it might not be a book for everyone, and im no critic, but i would recommend it to anyone that wants to learn about what it takes to become a champion in the ufc.
  
  
• If you like Matt, you'll love this book.
  By A228L7CE8YQQ14 on 2008-02-01
  This book just confirms what most already knew. Matt is an arrogant jerk to put it nicely, but this book made me laugh out loud in real life on several occasions. I've known of Matt since his high school wrestling days, and growing up in IL myself, I had to get it. I'm glad I did. If you're looking for an intelligent, thought provoking novel look elsewhere. If you want a glimpse at how one of your favorite fighters grew up, and take a look at his fighting career from Jr. High to one of his last wins in the UFC with a few laughs at his training partners expense along the way, then this book is for you.
  
  
• Do not judge a book by it's cover
  By A2KE7G3BE369DO on 2008-02-10
  well being a matt hughes fan, i thought what a nice way for him to tell the fans of how his life was pre-ufc and how the ufc has influenced him to date....well, i was not impressed with the book itself. i have to confess that i could not get through it and gave it to my husband to read (maybe he can better understand the way a man writes?) so far he is not impressed and to say the least, we are a little disappointed in how he potrays himself (i think another reviewer said arrogant). i do not feel it should reflect on him as a professional athlete nor take away from what he has done for the sport of mma and ufc. leaving his professional career out of it, i am still a fan, just hoped this book would have been a little better written. as a christian myself, it is not for me to judge the way matt chooses to live his life and give him a break, he is a human being, we are all sinners and fall short of the golry of God. matt is not above any laws or christian doctrines and he does not profess to be.
  
  

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