This is a valid point, which is why I think GSP's run is a lot more impressive then Hughes'
However, Pride didn't have a 170 weight class, so you'd have to look at LW fighters, perhaps a couple of smaller MW's. So Gomi? Dennis Kang? Aoki? I mean most of the big names in Pride at the time were the bigger guys. Who from that time would you rate higher than Hughes? Or as someone who would be able to challenge him in his prime?
There are a bunch that could certainly be a challenge. These are some:
- The guy who actually beat Sakurai in dominant fashion right before Sakurai challenged Hughes for the UFC tittle: Anderson Silva (Shooto WW champion). The only reason why UFC had to sign the loser instead of the winner is...exactly, because Pride paid better (and had better ties with Chute Boxe and other Brazilian main gyms)
- The guy who actually KOed Hughes just before Hughes started his championship run: Pele Landi. The only reason why fan favourite Pele signed for Pride instead of UFC is....exactly, because Pride paid better.
- Pride and MMA superstar who, being the same size than Hughes, was submiting legit LHWs and even former UFC HW champions: Kazuzhi Sakuraba.
Needless to say that Saku would laugh at the kind of money UFC was offering at that time. But if in a remote case UFC could match or even outbid Pride for his services, there is no doubt Saku could make 170 even easier then Hughes did, and be a serious challenge for him
- The guy who, also weighting in fight night the same than Hughes or even lighter, took Dan Henderson to a controversial decision, was known for his skill to back up to his feet, and was certainly regarded as one of the best guys his size in MMA at the time: Yuki Kondo.
If Kondo was offered to challenge the guy 30lbs bigger for the UFC tittle (Tito Ortiz) instead of the guy his same size/weight, it's not because Kondo would refuse the latter. It's rather because UFC prefered a safer investment.
- The guy who, again being the same size/weight than Hughes, took UFC LHW champion Liddel to a competitive decision, was regular training partner of Fedor, and a certified badass of the early '00s: Amar Suloev
We could go on, you mention Denis Kang which is a nice pick, Misaki who beat Dan Henderson for the Pride MW belt is another, among others
This is not to discredit Hughes, he is an ATM. It's just that in the comparison with Usman's run, Usman was definitely more tested vs universally proven top talent around his size/weight. He had no protection from UFC in that regard, because UFC didnt need to look their investment so carefully to protect their few stars who actually brought them profit as in the early-mid 00's-
