UFC 85

Over 15,000 fans were ready for Bedlam at the O2 Arena Saturday night. The UFC is gaining a good hold on UK soil, which is great news for the growing sport. I am sure the titles for each show will become harder to find with the number of shows being produced now. I’m just waiting for UFC 101 ‘A bit of a kafuffle’ I am sure that is a winning title. Well, maybe.

Jorge Rivera vs. Martin Kampmann

Round 1
Jorge Rivera is a very durable and likeable fighter, but he is on the tail end of his fighting prime age wise. So every fight must seem like a do or die time for him.

Kampmann came out very strong. He made an early takedown where he rained punches. He progressed to take Rivera's back. As Rivera tried to turn, Kampmann worked a head and arm choke. Rivera escaped the submission, but ended up mounted. Kampmann looked for a guillotine choke from the mount. After a few adjustments he locked up the choke and cranked it to gain the submission win.

Rivera did not have time to get into this fight. Kampmann seized the moment well. Winner: Kampmann

Fabricio Werdum vs. Brandon Vera

Round 1
Vera has had a lot of problems getting his career in gear over the last year. He was on the bench due to a management problem. Once the problem was solved he came back only to lose his unbeaten record against Tim Silva. It will be on his mind to get back on track with this fight. Werdum just had a big win over Gabriel Gonzaga in which he was the underdog so watch out!

Vera landed a low kick before they both clinched up. Werdum landed the better strikes before they broke and squared off again. Werdum landed a takedown. Vera managed to work his half-guard to kick off Werdum and get to his feet. Vera rocked Werdum with a big right hand. Werdum tripped Vera to the ground to stop Vera capitalising on his success. This time he did not let Vera take a safe position on the ground. Werdum took mount control. Having excellent BJJ skills being held down in Werdum’s mount would not be fun. Werdum looked in good base and rained strikes on Vera. With no answer to Werdum, Vera just tried to cover up with no sign of escape. As Vera looked in trouble from the endless punches of Werdum and was not actively defending himself, the referee had little choice but to stop the fight at the 4:40.
With 20 seconds before the end of the round, some may think the referee may have stopped the fight early. But 20 more seconds of unanswered blows to the head can be the difference between just losing a fight or a serious injury. This is a sport and fighter’s well being must come first. Vera may have been trying to make it to the end of the round to be given an escape from the mount. But a fighter must be busy when in trouble. Werdum is no longer an underdog anymore! I am sure Vera will want to get back in the saddle ASAP to set him back on course.
Winner: Werdum

Nathan Marquardt vs. Thales Leites

Round 1
Both guys start out feeling each other out. Then just out of nowhere Leites lands a power right hand that dropped Marquardt on to his back. Leites progressed to the mount and took Marquardt's back, but Marquardt is still holding it together and gets back to guard. Leites was still trying to not loose the gains of the knock down, but cannot lock up control of Marquardt who escaped to his feet. Marquardt landed a few good body shots and was now looking for payback. Marquardt rocked Leties with an uppercut and drove at him.
Good round. Leites lost an opportunity to finish early. But Marquardt is one tough SOB.

Round 2
Marquardt starts out attacking the body with a very nice body punch. Marquardt was driving forward again showing his great strength. Leites ended up on the ground and trying to rest went into the clinch. As that was happening Marquardt landed an illegal knee, which rocked Leites. A point is deducted for the illegal knee. The referee asked Leites is he okay and he said he was, but he is very wobbly on this feet. His corner knows this is not a good time to restart and tell their fighter to take the short rest time given. Marquardt could see Leites had still not recovered from the knee as the fight restarted. So he ran in to takedown his opponent, looking to ground and pound him. Leites'nose was now bleeding and Marquardt is warned for striking the back of the head. Marquardt was trying to take advantage of the fact that Leites has still not recovered from the earlier illegal knee and put on an aggressive ground-and-pound. Leites was looking beat up at this point, but is hanging tough. The referee now stands the guys back up. Leites was now clearing his head and went on the attack; he landed a takedown and progressed to mount. Marquardt pulled half-guard as the round ended.

The young Brazilian showed a heart of a lion is this round. Most fighters would have had trouble continuing after the illegal knee to the head, that he took. But even on unsteady feet he was ready to fight on!

Round 3
Marquardt catches a flying knee and takes Leites down. Marquardt elbows the side of the head and a point is deducted by Dean for a phantom strike to the back of the head. The shot landed on the side of the head near the ear. Marqaurdt gets a takedown once action resumes. Leites, from guard, elbows the top of the head and is warned by Dean. Leites looks for a Kimura but Marquardt has none of it. Marquardt picks Leites up and powerbombs him before the horn sounds.

Thales Leites takes the split-decision. After having two points deducted it would have been hard for Marquardt to win this fight on the scorecards. Marquardt did control the pace of the fight but how much advantage did he have after the knee to the head? Leites could have walked after the knee and nobody would have blamed him. But he showed his fighters heart and it paid off for him with the W.
Winner: Leites

Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick

This was set to be a tough fight all round. Davis was on a big 11-fight winning run. Swick is coming down a weight so he will used to fighting bigger guys. Also Swick is known for his quick submission game. Both guys are looking for stepping up for title shots. A lot would be on the line.

Round 1
Swick started with high kicks, looking to upset Davis’ game from the start. They clinch up and Davis drove Swick against the cage maybe to show his strength is all good to handle the naturally bigger Swick. Davis looked to throw his opponent down, but as they scramble to the ground it is Swick on top. Swick was in the half-guard of Davis, but as he tried to pass Davis pulled full guard. Swick now worked Davis to the fence and lands some strikes. An elbow from Swick cut Davis's above his right eye.

Round 2
Both fighters look ready to rock and roll. Davis now knows he is the hunted and must make the stand up count. Swick is a well-rounded fighter so it is hard to say what is coming next. Swick landed a right hand and then tripped Davis to the ground. Davis had half-guard and Swick punched looking for a way to pass. Davis locks up a kimura (shoulder lock) but cannot finish from the position he is in. It is more an attempt to escape or reverse his position. The plan works as they end up back on their feet. Davis started land his punches. A big right made it home and Davis tripped Swick to the ground only to land in a triangle-choke from Swick. Davis defended well. Swick restood and got a takedown of his own and controlled side position.

It is looking more and more that Davis doesn’t have the key to dealing with Swick.

Round 3
Davis must have known he needed a knockout to win now. So he came out game and ready to trade. Swick keeping his cool must have also known that he must keep up his control of the fight to seal the deal. Both fighters trade knees and punches, trying to break each other. Swick locked up a strong Thai-plum, to work knees to the head. Davis looked for the inside-leg trip but Swick was ready and answered with a knee to the body. Davis has been cut below his right eye now. The cut is bad and looked very deep. Referee Yamasaki deducted a point from Swick for holding the fence. The referee’s have been on the case with this issue of late. Swick seemed to be charged up by this and quickly shot a takedown. He then punched like a man on a mission until the end of the round trying to make the point deduction not impact the round. All three judges score the contest 29-27 for Mike Swick.
Winner: Swick

Michael ‘The count’ Bisping vs. Jason ‘Dooms’ Day

This looked to be a good test for Bisping. Jason Day had come in to replace Chris Leben. A fight, which is now set to happen in October in Birmingham. Day has a good record and had won his last 5 fights. Beating the very tough David Loiseau in the process. When Bisping came into the octagon he looked like a wild cat pacing up and down ready to attack!

Round 1
Both fighters started out throwing punches trying to find range. Day landed with a clean right hand. Bisping clinched up and tripped Day to the floor. Standing over Day he unloads a rain of punches. Day covered up and Bisping controlled the positions well. Day made it back to his feet only to be back down by a clean power double-leg from Bisping. Bisping then displayed great control in his ground and pound skills by riding the positions of control while delivering non stop punches to Day. This gave the referee Dan Miragliotta no choice but to step in and stop the fight at 3:42 of the first round.
Winner: Bisping

This was great night for Bisping. Growing from strength to strength. He could have looked for a submission, but he played a good game plan of position control for the ground and pound. This showed off his sound grappling skills.

"People think I have no wrestling, no ground game -- have a bit of faith!" said Bisping afterwards. “I’ve always said that I never fought to the best of my ability in the UFC,” said Bisping. “I started to do that in my last fight, and I’m happy with my performance.”

Matt Hughes vs. Thiago ‘Pit Bull’ Alves

Matt Hughes had said he new he would be bigger and stronger that Alves. Hughes must have not been to happy when he was a visibly bigger and stronger looking Alves enter the octagon. This was a classic young lion challenging the old lion fight.

Round 1
Hughes started with a shoot for a takedown, which is no surprise at all. But Alves defended well. Hughes tried again but hit a wall to which Hughes answered by pulling guard. Now that was a surprise. Hughes was trying to be busy and looked for an armbar but Alves was having none of it. Alves stood and worked knees to the body. Hughes soaked it up and finally scored his takedown. He looked to ground and pound, but Alves is calm and defended very well. Alves looked to use his butterfly guard but Hughes gained half-guard. Alves got back to his feet and is pulled into the guard of Hughes. Hughes looked a bit worked over at the end of the round and Alves looked like he had not started.

Round 2
Hughes again was ready to drive a takedown. But got nailed with a big knee. Hughes was now cut near his right eye. Alves exploded looking for a finish. He jumped in with a flying knee, which grazed Hughes. He again is all over Hughes raining punches until referee Herb Dean steps in at 1:02 of the second round. The action replays makes it clear that Hughes' knee was injured after getting hit with the flying knee strike. It looks like he twisted on the way down and may have a ligament injury.
Winner: Alves

Big win for Alves. He looked very strong and explosive. After the fight he pleaded to Dana White for a title shot saying, ‘I've been a good boy, please give me a title shot."

Matt Hughes had once been one of the most dominant fighters the UFC as seen. But now it looks like his time at the top may have passed. He is still an excellent fighter, but it only takes a small change for you to have trouble when the level is set so high.
“I’ve got one more fight in me,” said Hughes. “That’s Matt Serra. My wife wants it, I want it, and all these fans want it.” This would be a good last fight for Hughes. They both dislike each other and both have held the UFC belt. This fight would be make sense.

Another great night for MMA in the UK!

Alan Orr is a disciple of Robert Chu Sifu and the European representative of the Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun system. Teacher of Tui Na Chinese Massage Therapy

He is also the UK representative for Guro Mark Wiley in the Filipino martial arts and Sensei Eddy Millis of Shark Tank in NHB/Grappling.

Web:
www.alanorr.com
www.thechinesemedicineacademy.co.uk
www.warriorfunctionaltraining.com

For further information Tel: 07958 908 196 or email: info@alanorr.co.uk