Audra Moore-Hughes is the ex-wife of two-time UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. The American woman married the retired MMA legend on 9 July 2004. Their relationship became widely known after Matt suffered a life-threatening brain injury in 2017 and following domestic violence allegations in 2018 and 2019. Their 15-year marriage ended in divorce.
Source: UGC
Key takeaways
- Audra Moore-Hughes and Matt Hughes married on 9 July 2004 in Hillsboro, Illinois.
- Matt is a two-time UFC welterweight champion with a career record of 45 wins and 9 losses.
- On 16 June 2017, a train struck Matt's pickup truck near Raymond, Illinois, causing a severe brain injury.
- He was diagnosed with a Grade 3 diffuse axonal injury and spent 19 days in a medically induced coma.
- The couple filed for divorce in 2019 following domestic violence allegations.
Audra Moore-Hughes profile summary
Full name | Audra Moore-Hughes |
Place of birth | United States |
Nationality | American |
Profession | Unknown |
Relationship status | Divorced |
Children | Two daughters (with Matt); one son from prior relationship |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Blue |
Audra Moore-Hughes is an American woman who rose to public attention through her marriage to Matt Hughes. She has maintained a deliberately private life, and little is verified about her background, education, or career.
She is believed to be in her mid-to-late 40s, based on the timeline of her marriage. She does not maintain a public social media presence.
How did Audra Moore-Hughes and Matt Hughes meet?
The couple married on 9 July 2004 in Matt's hometown of Hillsboro, Illinois. Their wedding ceremony was private, attended by family and friends. Both Audra and Matt brought children from previous relationships into the marriage.
Together they have two daughters. Matt has one son from a prior relationship. Audra has one son from a previous relationship.
Source: Original
Matt Hughes's UFC career and bio
Matt Hughes is one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history. He held the UFC welterweight title twice, first defeating Carlos Newton at UFC 34 in 2001. He went on to defend the belt a record seven times.
He lost the title to Georges St-Pierre in 2006 and retired from competition in 2011 with a record of 45 wins and 9 losses. The UFC inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2015 in the Pioneer Wing.
How did Matt Hughes get hit by the train?
On 16 June 2017, Matt Hughes was driving his pickup truck near Raymond, Illinois. His truck crossed a railway level crossing directly in front of an oncoming train. Illinois State Police confirmed the train struck the passenger side of the vehicle.
The collision occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time. Hughes was 43 years old. He was airlifted to HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, with severe head trauma.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the severity of the injuries shortly after the accident, saying: "Apparently he has head trauma."
Source: Instagram
What is Matt Hughes suffering from?
Matt Hughes was diagnosed with a Grade 3 diffuse axonal injury (DAI), the most severe category of this brain injury type. The crash caused axons in his brain to shear, disrupting neural connections across multiple systems simultaneously.
He spent 19 days in a medically induced coma. A family statement confirmed he was later taken off his ventilator and was breathing independently, describing the ordeal as "a long journey."
Hughes has spoken candidly about the lasting effects. He told WLOS:
"The brain injury took away my balance and I've always had super-good balance."
Hughes also experiences significant memory loss. He receives ongoing treatment at Apex Brain Centre in Asheville, North Carolina, under the care of Dr. Michael Trayford. Treatment includes hyperbaric chamber sessions, balance therapy, and rhythm exercises using a metronome.
Former trainer Pat Miletich confirmed Hughes emerged from his coma five-and-a-half weeks after the accident. His recovery has been described as "nothing short of a miracle" by those close to him.
Audra Moore-Hughes and Matt Hughes's marriage breakdown
In early 2019, Audra filed for a restraining order against Matt, citing domestic violence. Court documents reported by TMZ detail two alleged incidents: a choking incident in late 2017 and a threat in July 2018. A third alleged incident occurred on 12 December 2018.
A judge ordered Matt to remain at least 500 feet away from Audra and their children. Matt's twin brother, Mark, also sought a separate restraining order over an alleged incident involving Mark's son.
On 21 February 2019, Matt filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce ended their 15-year marriage.
Matt Hughes's net worth
The retired mixed martial artist is worth between $4 million and $8 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth and The Richest. He earned the majority of his wealth through his UFC career. Per-fight earnings and endorsements contributed significantly to his income.
Latest news
In May 2026, Matt Hughes suffered a new setback when he lost a segment of a finger in an accident. He did not explain how the injury happened. Hughes posted on social media, saying:
“Luckily, God’s been real good to me... He left me nine more to work with.”
FAQ
- What is Matt Hughes suffering from? Matt Hughes has a Grade 3 diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a severe traumatic brain injury sustained when a train struck his truck in June 2017. He has ongoing balance problems and memory loss as lasting effects.
- Does Matt Hughes have a wife? Matt Hughes and Audra Moore-Hughes divorced in 2019 after 15 years of marriage. The split followed domestic violence allegations and a court-ordered restraining order.
- How did Matt Hughes get hit by the train? On 16 June 2017, Hughes's pickup truck crossed a railway level crossing directly in front of an oncoming train near Raymond, Illinois. The train struck the passenger side of the vehicle, causing severe head trauma.
- How many children does Matt Hughes have? Matt has two daughters with Audra and one son from a previous relationship, making him the father of three children.
- What happened to Matt Hughes after the train accident? Hughes spent 19 days in a medically induced coma. He was diagnosed with a Grade 3 diffuse axonal injury and had to relearn basic daily functions. He continues treatment at Apex Brain Centre in Asheville, North Carolina.
- When did Matt Hughes and Audra Moore-Hughes marry? Matt and Audra married on 9 July 2004 in Hillsboro, Illinois.
- Is Audra Moore-Hughes on social media? Audra does not maintain a public social media presence and keeps her personal life private.
Audra Moore-Hughes became famous for marrying former UFC fighter Matt Hughes. They welcomed two children together. However, things turned sour in 2017, and since then, Audra has filed several restraining orders against Matt over domestic violence. Audra has since transitioned entirely to a private life out of the public eye.
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