UFC 85 Picks

UFC 85 is airing today, and just as with UFC 84, many great fights are on the card. As before, my own personal picks are located below, with stats from all the fighters. Hope you enjoy.



Matt Hughes Vs. Thiago Alves

Name:
Matt Hughes
Height:
5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
43-6-0



Name:
Thiago Alves
Height:
5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
20-4-0
"Pit bull"


This, as much as people want to make it out to be a hard choice, is a very simple one. Alves didn't even make weight, and it wasn't even close (4 lbs over). What a joke. Hughes in either a 2nd round TKO, or decision.



Michael Bisping Vs. Jason Day

Name:
Michael Bisping
Height:
6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
16-1-0
"The Count"

Name:
Jason Day
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
17-5-0
"Dooms"

Contrary to the Hughes fight, this is more competitive here. I like Day in the upset here as he's shown promise in his last UFC fight. 3rd round KO, or submission.

Marcus Davis Vs. Mike Swick

Name:
Marcus Davis
Height:
5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
19-4-0
"The Irish Hand Grenade"

Name:
Mike Swick
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
11-2-0
"Quick"

This has all the makings to be the fight of the night. I'm looking forward to this one, as Marcus has shown so much promise, taking all the adversity and dominating his last few fights. Swick dropped to this weight, which seems to be his natural weight, but I still see them slugging it out. Swick's dangerous, but Davis is more dangerous. I like this one ending before the end of the second round in favor of the "Irish Hand Grenade".


Nate Marquardt Vs. Thales Leites

Name:
Nate Marquardt
Height:
6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
29-7-1
"The Great"

Name:
Thales Leites
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
12-1-0

Another heck of a fight. This has more submission threat to it than knockout power, as Leites and Marquardt are both very skilled in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). I like Nate in a decision, but don't be surprised to see Leites show some true heart.

Fabricio Werdum Vs. Brandon Vera

Name:
Fabricio Werdum
Height:
6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight:
231 (105 kg)
Record:
10-3-1
"Vai Cavalo"

Name:
Brandon Vera
Height:
6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:
223 (101 kg)
Record:
8-1-0
"The Truth"

Though I am not a fan of Fabricio Werdum, the guy's skills are just nasty. He poses a threat no matter where it goes, which makes him a very good fighter all around. I just don't see it going the same way as the Gonzaga fight went (which was a disappointment by the way). Vera is also versatile either on the ground or standing, but I see this being a match decided by the fists. Vera by KO.

Jorge Rivera Vs. Martin Kampmann

Name:
Jorge Rivera
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
15-6-0
"El Conquistador"

Name:
Martin Kampmann
Height:
6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
12-1-0
"The Hitman"

This is a very underrated fight with two very skilled fighters. Kampmann has show all the promise in the world to be a big-time fighter, but injury has really hindered him. Rivera, though he isn't getting any younger, comes off a win against highly favored Kendall Grove, and it was a nasty TKO for Grove at Rivera's hands. If it goes to decision, I like Kampmann, but otherwise look for Rivera to keep building momentum in the UFC.

Matt Wiman Vs. Thiago Tavares

Name:
Matt Wiman
Height:
5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight:
155 (70 kg)
Record:
9-3-0
"Handsome"

Name:
Thiago Tavares
Height:
5' 7" (170 cm)
Weight:
155 (70 kg)
Record:
17-1-0

I am a fan of Matt Wiman. He put up a very good stint on TUF Season 5, and is still young. However, I cannot go against Tavares in this one, as he looks like a fighter who could easily make 170 lbs. Tavares by TKO in the first round.


Roan Carneiro Vs. Kevin Burns

Name:
Roan Carneiro
Height:
5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
12-6-0
"Jucao"

Name:
Kevin Burns
Height:
5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
6-1-0

Just going off the pictures, you can tell that I'm taking Carneiro. Not much is known about Burns, but based on Carneiro's past fights, I'm confident he can pull this out.

Luiz Cane Vs. Jason Lambert

Name:
Luiz Cane
Height:
6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
8-1-0
"Banha"

Name:
Jason Lambert
Height:
5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
23-7-0
"The Punisher"

This is a little different from the last question mark man. Cane has some serious skills in the Cage, and has posted some tough fights to his name. However, Lambert SHOULD, and I stress that word, SHOULD win. I am not a fan of Lambert, and I think he is the thickest 205 lbs. man around. However he's shown streaks of decency, and that should be enough to get him his 24th win.

Paul Taylor Vs. Jess Liaudin

Name:
Paul Taylor
Height:
6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
8-3-1
"Relentless"

Name:
Jess Liaudin
Height:
5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
12-9-0
"The Joker"

This fight should be nicknamed firecracker in a bottle. These are the slimmest guys besides Mike Swick at 170, and their fights have shown a serious pace that is hard normally to keep up. It's honestly a toss up here as Taylor is no slouch at striking, but Liaudin can duke it out too. I'll take Taylor because of his skill.


Antoni Hardonk Vs. Eddie Sanchez

Name:
Antoni Hardonk
Height:
6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight:
245 (111 kg)
Record:
6-4-0

Name:
Eddie Sanchez
Height:
6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:
230 (104 kg)
Record:
10-1-0
"The Manic Hispanic"

This is an even matchup. Not necessarily a great one for either man, but it's even. Both like to punch, and Sanchez can take punishment from some of the best. I think Sanchez comes up with another highlight knockout over Hardonk.