Written by Scott Swerbinsky

---

After all the changes to the UFC 85 card, it still turned out to be a great day of fights. There were a few that went the way a lot of people thought, and others that ended with people shaking their heads.  And we may have seen the end of the great career of MMA pioneer Matt Hughes, who was beaten in the main event by Thiago Alves.  My cousin recaps the card for us. After all the changes to the UFC 85 card, it still turned out to be a great day of fights. There were a few that went the way a lot of people thought, and others that ended with people shaking their heads.

The main event saw another former champion who simply doesn't have it anymore. Long time welterweight king Matt Hughes was beat up again, this time by a young up and coming Thiago Alves. Hughes was slow and his standup was not a factor at all. Thiago Alves is for real. His all around game is fantastic. Even though he was unable to make weight he looked quick and very sharp. Alves explained that the reason he failed to make the 170 limit was due to a sprained ankle suffered a week before the fight that prevented him from being able to run.

Alves finished Hughes off with some heavy shots after landing a perfectly times flying knee. He pounced in for the kill and the ref stopped the fight in the second round. With the win Alves will be in line for a title shot very soon. Beating a former champ is a nice feather in his cap.

Hughes on the other hand said he has at least one more fight in him and that he wants Matt Serra still. Those two have some unfinished business from a fight that should have happened long ago. They don't like each other and Hughes will get his wish in a few months.

Michael Bisping looked awesome in his destruction of Jason Day. The fight was stopped in the first round and Day was never in the fight. Bisping was landing at will and continues to get better. His style is very pleasing to watch and he just goes all out every time he gets into the octagon.

One of the fights that didn't really go according to plan was the Mike Swick and Marcus Davis matchup. Everyone expected this to be a standup battle. It turned into a ground game and Swick clearly had the upper hand. Davis was unable to do anything as he was on his back the majority of the three rounds. Swick easily won a unanimous decision and looked a lot better than he has in his last few fights. I was impressed with his takedowns and his ground work.

Nate Marquardt lost a very exciting tough fight to Thales Leites. In the fight Marquardt was deducted of two points that ended up costing him the fight.  One was clearly legit as he landed an illegal knee to Leites' head. The second foul was said to be an elbow to the top of the head but it wasn't even close to a foul. That point, in the end, cost Marquardt the fight as he lost a split decision. It was a back and forth battle and full of action. The best fight of the night was won by the wrong guy as Marquardt deserved the win for an excellent fight.

Full results:

Thiago Alves def. Matt Hughes via TKO (strikes) -- Round 2, 1:02

Michael Bisping def. Jason Day via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 3:42

Mike Swick def. Marcus Davis via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Thales Leites def. Nate Marquardt via split decision (28-27, 28-27, 27-28)

Fabricio Werdum defeats Brandon Vera via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 4:40

Martin Kampmann def. Jorge Rivera via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 1, 2:44

Matt Wiman def. Thiago Tavares via KO (punch) -- Round 2, 1:57

Kevin Burns def. Roan Carneiro via submission (triangle choke) -- Round 2, 2:53

Luiz Cane def. Jason Lambert via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 2:07

Paul Taylor def. Jess Liaudin via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Antoni Hardonk def. Eddie Sanchez via TKO (strikes) -- Round 2, 4:15

Overall, a very solid card yet again put on by the UFC. Many people were bad mouthing the event saying the fights weren't that good and worthy of a pay per view. I got to see a lot of great young talent and walked away impressed. When it was over, I wanted more, that's when I know it was a good showing.