UFC 85: Bedlam Preview

The greatest welterweight of all time, Matt Hughes, embarks on what shouldn't be such a long road back to a championship fight as he goes up against Thiago Alves.

Other than a match up with Matt Serra, it was not clear what Hughes would be doing next. There was speculation that he might attempt to move up in weight class or simply retire all together.

Alves will be looking to make the latter come the night of June 7th in London England. Personally, I would have titled this PPV "Consequence", since the results will have huge impacts in the future of three divisions and some fighter's careers.

Matt Hughes (43-6) Vs. Thiago "Pitbull" Alves (20-4)

Matt Hughes is back fighting at 170 pounds. Thiago Alves is his 24 year old opponent, who is now headlining a PPV event thanks in part to his surprising win over Karo Parisyan. I had Alves in my top ten before the fight, but now he's on the cusp of my top five going into this one.

Matt Hughes has been on top of most peoples top ten welterweight lists  for years. The good thing about a guy like Matt Hughes is that he is not one to be mentally suspect after a loss. Matt Hughes can bounce back as well as anyone in the game.

Thiago Alves is one hell of a striker, and will not mind being put on his back by a wrestler, even one the caliber of Matt Hughes. I may have been wrong about the game passing Wanderlei Silva by, but I don't believe I will be wrong here.

A win for Matt Hughes will mean he will have more choices than Matt Serra

A win for Thiago Alves means he is next in line for GSP

Prediction: Thiago Alves by TKO in Round 3.

Michael "The Count" Bisping (16-1) Vs. Jason "Dooms" Day (17-5)

Jason Day was a last minute replacement for Chris Leben due to Leben's arrest. Jason may rue the Day that he made this decision. While this is great exposure for him, it may not be the kind he was looking for. Jason Day is a tremendous brawler, and can mix it up with the best of them. I am just not so sure that on such short notice, he can maintain a high level of performance against a fighter of the caliber of The Count.

Michael Bisping is all about cardio and if Jason thinks he can out-box him, he can't. If he thinks he can out-wrestle him, he can't. If the thinks he can out-jiu-jitsu him...you get the point.

A win for Jason Day puts him in the spotlight and gets him a long term deal with the UFC.

A win for Bisping is expected, and a loss will raise serious questions about his future in the UFC.

Prediction: Michael Bisping by KO in Round 2

"The Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis (19-4) Vs. Mike "Quick" Swick (11-2)

This is the kind of fight that the fans of England are going to love. Neither of these fighters can even spell the word wrestle, so that will certainly not be an option on June 7th. Marcus Davis feels that his time is now and he wants to start challenging for a title.

Mike Swick moved down to welterweight so that he can do just that, but was less than impressive in his last performance. Davis has not faced high level competition yet, but to his credit, he has been knocking them out in the first round like a top ten candidate should do.

Mike should be much better in this fight, since he will be used to working to make weight. With his long range, he will cause problems for Davis, who feels that his timing is on point and is used to finding long range fighters.

A win for Marcus Davis may get him headline status

A win for Mike Swick would make him next in line for a title shot.

Nate "The Great" Marquardt (29-7-1) Vs. Thales Leites (12-1)

Both of these fighters have world class ground games, but for one of these fighters, he will want to win standing up. Nate Marquardt has an amazing trainer in Greg Jackson, and trains with Quebec's GSP and Jonathan Goulet.

The problem for Leites is, while he is an amazing ground fighter, to be in the top ten in the UFC, you have to be well rounded. Thales will have to show he can stand up with a guy like Marquardt, who is only in his second fight since taking on Anderson Silva. Having just beat a veteran in Jeremy Horn, I have to think that Marquardt is well on his way back to title contention.

A win for Marquart confirms him as a top 5 for the weight class

A win for Leites will keep in on the main card.

Prediction: Marquardt by Decision

Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) Vs. Brandon Vera (8-1)

Brandon Vera is coming off a disappointing loss, and an even more disappointing performance against Tim Sylvia. He was completely ineffective, a point he attributes to a hand he broke in the fight. It's interesting that he is going up against Weedy, a great BK fighter. Werdum is someone who had to prove to be an exciting fighter or lose his contract. He won the fight, but probably didn't prove himself enough, so they are giving him Vera.

With the heavyweight division so thin, and the UFC banking on three up and coming fighters in Garwin, Velasquez and Lenser, existing fighters like Weedy and Vera will have to come up big or be sent home. Weedy is now in his second fight since joining Chute Box, so Vera will have his hands full. 

A win for either fighter puts them into title contention.

Also on the card:

Jorge Rivera Vs. Martin Kampmann
Matt Wiman Vs. Thiago Tavares
Roan Carneiro Vs. Kevin Burns
Luiz Cane Vs. Jason Lambert
Paul Taylor Vs. Jess Liaudin
Antoni Hardonk Vs. Eddie Sanchez