Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

The question for the legend Matt Hughes going into UFC 85 is whether or not he brings the proper motivation to fight Thiago Silva. He's been in the cage with the greatest fighters in the world, and while Alves is a hungry, young fighter, he's not the caliber of opponent Hughes is used to fighting. Throw in the fact that Hughes is taking this fight on short notice, and you have a potential recipe for upset.

But Hughes is nothing if not a proud man. He's lost two of his last three fights, but both of those were to Georges St. Pierre. There is no shame in losing to one of the best in the world, and Hughes still feels like he can challenge the Canadian dynamo one more time. But he has a hungry Alves waiting for him, and -- win or lose -- Matt Serra waiting in the wings.

While many experts think Hughes has begun a downward slide on the way to retirement, he has made a career of taking strikers to the ground and neutralizing their best asset. If he can not find a way to beat Alves, he may decide like his time is up, and the Serra fight might be his last. If he beats Alves, he may feel like he's worthy of one last shot at glory. It should be interesting.

The card also features a key heavyweight tilt between Brandon Vera and Fabricio Werdum, as well as the second middleweight fight of Michael Bisping, taking on Jason Day. Put the upset-alert out on this one. Day is much better than most know; Bisping mentioned in pre-fight interviews that he didn't know a whole lot about Day, and that is dangerous.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Brandon Vera

In the intro to their fight, Mike Goldberg said Vera suffered "an upset loss" to Tim Sylvia in his last fight. I'm sure Goldberg was just reading what's on his prompter, but in what world is a two-time champ beating a guy with eight fights -- even a previously unbeaten guy -- an "upset." This should be a fun fight, Werdum has great ground work and Vera is a standup guy, so it's a serious style clash.

Round one: Clinch against the cage early as Werdum looked for a way to get the fight to the ground. He was unsuccessful and they squared off again. After trading, Werdum scored a trip takedown and put the fight into his world. Vera got away without taking much damage. Vera threw a knee in the clinch and Werdum caught it and tried to drag him down, but Vera kept his balance and landed a few punches. Vera then followed him to the cage and landed an elbow to the jaw. Werdum scored another trip takedown with one minute remaining and passed to half-guard, then mounted. Werdum pounded on him for 30 seconds before the fight was stopped.

Winner: Werdum via TKO

Vera was very upset with the stoppage, immediately complaining to referee Dan Miragliotta before Werdum even got off him. (Fun fact: Miragliotta was the ref in the Kimbo Slice-James Thompson fight last weekend.) Vera had his hands up trying to ward off the punches but he wasn't doing anything to improve his position.


Thales Leites vs. Nate Marquardt

Round one: After a long feeling-out process, Leites rocked Marquardt's world with a solid right with 3:30 to go. Marquardt crashed backwards to the canvas, but managed to ward off any further damage. Meanwhile, Leites worked to earn full mount. Marquardt did a great job getting it back in half-guard. Leites is a ground wiz, so full mount is a horrible position. Marquardt managed to scramble his way back to a standing position. Marquardt turned the tide with a hard uppercut with :30 to go and followed with a knee. Back-and-forth round that is difficult to score but likely will go to Leites.

Round two: Marquardt scored the takedown and as they were scrambling, Marquardt connected with a knee while Leites still had a knee on the canvas. Leites was on his way up but Marquardt was just a bit early with his timing. Ref Herb Dean called in the ringside doctor, but Leites said he was OK to continue and the doctor agreed. Dean gave him time to recover. Marquardt rushed him on the restart and took Leites down. Marquardt opened a huge cut on Leites' nose with a shot from the top and stayed busy with ground-and-pound. Marquardt threw another flurry from the top and Leites struggled to find a way to get out, briefly trying a quickly aborted armbar. With 30 seconds to go, Dean stood them back up. Marquardt tried a final takedown as the round was ending and slipped, with Leites ending up on top. Marquardt had a point deducted for the illegal knee.

Round three: Marquardt scored another takedown 30 seconds in. Leites tried a triangle, but Marquardt slipped out. Marquardt had a point deducted for hitting Leites in the back of the head, meaning Marquardt needs a finish to win. Marquardt dragged him down again midway through the round. This time, Marquardt struggled to find the range from in close as Leites kept an active guard. Both men looked exhausted and Leites face was a bloody mess as they worked their way up to standing as Marquardt basically pile-drove him to the mat with 10 seconds left. Leites withstood the blow and the horn rang. Leites will likely get the decision because of the point deduction, but that fight is worthy of a rematch.

Winner: Leites by split decision (28-27, 28-27, 27-28)


Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick

Round one: Davis has to find a way to cut the distance as Swick has a seven-inch reach advantage. Swick threw a series of kicks early until they clinched against the cage. Davis scored a takedown but Swick scrambled out. Davis then tried a guillotine but Swick escaped and found himself in Davis' guard. Swick passed to side control but Davis quickly returned to full guard. Swick wasn't doing much damage but neither could Davis find a way to escape. The crowd began to get restless as they continued the fighters continued their ground chess match. Not a huge action round but Swick was able to keep the fight in his favor and opened a cut over Davis' nose.

Round two: Davis landed his first big shot 20 seconds in. Swick landed a hard knee in response, knocking Davis backwards, and Swick took top position again. Swick passed to side control with 3:00 to go but Davis got it back to side control. Davis tried a kimura and held onto it trying to use it for a sweep. Davis finally escaped and the fight went back to standup. Davis went for a takedown but Swick grabbed the fence to aid his defense, and the ref warned him. Davis scored a takedown with :40 remaining. Swick tried a triangle but Davis pulled out. They stood up again and Swick scored a quick takedown. Swick looks like the weight cut agrees with him a lot more the second time around. Davis needs a KO or submission to win.

Round three: Davis stalks Swick around the cage, looking for the home-run punch, but Swick keeps a distance and circles the cage well. Davis got a takedown with 2:10 left, but Swick got back up to his feet in seconds. Swick had a point deducted from Swick for holding the fence on a takedown. That could be huge as it could mean a draw. Swick suddenly turned it up a notch, knowing the importance of the point and took Davis down immediately and flurried him with punches. Swick let it go with 10 seconds left, throwing everything he could as the horn ran out. Swick will win a decision, ending Davis' 11-fight win streak.

Winner: Swick via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)


Michael Bisping vs. Jason Day

Round one: Good back and forth early with Day looking for leg kicks and Bisping doing some head-hunting. They clinched against the fence and Bisping dragged him to the ground. Bisping landed some shots, stepping in and throwing punches, then pulling out and repeating the process. Good strategy against Day, who is excellent on the ground. Bisping passed to side control but they scrambled up to their feet. Bisping took him right back down and ended up in half guard before moving to full mount. Day gave up his back and Bisping relentlessly pounded on Day until the fight was stopped. Brilliant performance from Bisping.

Winner: Bisping via TKO


Matt Hughes vs. Thiago Alves

Just in case you didn't know, Alves didn't make weight yesterday, checking in at 174, so this fight will be at a catchweight. Alves looks huge, and you have to wonder if he can continue on at this weight since he has struggled to make weight in the past as well.

Round one: Hughes went for the early takedown but Alves sprawled. Alves threw a leg kick and Hughes caught it and looked for a takedown. Alves stopped it, but Hughes pulled guard. Alves landed a couple of punches but Hughes looked for an armbar and Alves pulled out. Hughes scored his first takedown 1:45 in and put the fight in his world. Hughes couldn't muster much offense as the ref threatened to stand them up. Alves got back up to his feet with :30 left and Alves took down Hughes. Alves scored with some punches from the top as the round finished.

Round two: Alves landed a knee as Hughes came in from the takedown. The shot bloodied Hughes, who pulled guard again. They got to their feet and Alves landed a flying knee and Hughes fell awkwardly to the ground, possibly hurting his knee as it collapsed beneath him. Alves crushed him with a shot from the top, and the ref stopped the fight.

Winner: Alves via TKO

Undercard fight results
Martin Kampmann def. Jorge Rivera via guillotine submission, Rd. 1
Matt Wiman def. Thiago Tavares via KO, Rd. 1
Kevin Burns def. Roan Carneiro via triangle submission, Rd. 2
Luiz Cane def. Jason Lambert via TKO, Rd. 1
Paul Taylor def. Jess Liaudin via split decision
Antoni Hardonk def. Eddie Sanchez via TKO, Rd. 2

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