Former UFC Champ Matt Hughes Injured in Accident Following Collision with Train

Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes has been airlifted to a medical facility after a truck he was in collided with a moving train, according to a report from ESPN.com.

“Apparently he has head trauma,” UFC President Dana White told ESPN. “His family is traveling to him now.”

According to Illinois State Police, a truck driven by Hughes was struck by a moving train in Raymond, Ill., at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time. Hughes drove the truck across the tracks “directly in front of the train,” and the collision occurred on the passenger side of the vehicle. Hughes is currently hospitalized in Springfield, Ill. The 43-year-old was reportedly helping a friend when the accident occurred.

Our thoughts are with Matt Hughes and his family. pic.twitter.com/TF6BaHSa85

— UFC (@ufc) June 16, 2017

Hughes is recognized as one of the greatest welterweights in mixed martial arts history. The two-time UFC 170-pound champion retired after a loss to Josh Koscheck in 2011. He was later hired as vice president of athlete development and government relations by the promotion but was let go this past December after the UFC was purchased by new owners WME-IMG.

Earlier this year, Hughes admitted that he would be interested in a comeback fight if he could find the right opponent. The Hillsboro, Ill., native is 45-9 over the course of a pro career that began in 1998 and owns victories over the likes of Carlos Newton, Sean Sherk, Frank Trigg, Georges St. Pierre, Royce Gracie and B.J. Penn.