Thiago Alves vs. Matt Hughes to headline UFC 85

**El Matador ATT** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 3:15pm

taken from mmaweekly ....

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Matt Hughes will return to action on June 7 in London to face Thiago Alves in the main event of UFC 85, as confirmed from sources within Alves’ camp, as well as Hughes on his personal website.

Matt Hughes is coming off of a loss to St. Pierre in December. After premature talk about his possible retirement, he will return to headline another UFC card.

Hughes also has no plans to call it quits regardless of the outcome of the fight with Alves. As he stated on his website, “The fight (with Alves) is confirmed, it will be the main event for (UFC 85). Dana just called me with the news. Chuck got hurt and couldn’t fight, so he needed a replacement and called me and I said yes … No matter what happens in this fight, I’ve got Serra next.”

In his last fight out, Thiago Alves took the biggest step forward in his career defeating Karo Parisyan by TKO in the second round, putting himself in the mix as a top contender in the weight class.

This is actually the second time Alves has put himself in place to face Hughes. After former champion Matt Serra had to drop out due to a back injury, Alves stepped up and offered to fight Hughes, but Georges St. Pierre ended up getting the fight instead.

UFC 85 also features a bout between Rashad Evans and James Irvin that MMAWeekly.com confirmed with both fighters earlier this week.

UFC 85 Bouts (officially announced):
-Fabricio Werdum vs. Brandon Vera
-Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera
-Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites
-Thiago Tavares vs. Matt Wiman
-Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick
-Luis Arthur Cane vs. Jason Lambert
-Neil Wain vs. Antoni Hardonk

UFC 85 Bouts (unannounced):
-Matt Hughes vs. Thiago Alves
-Rashad Evans vs. James Irvin
-Ryo Chonan vs. Roan Carneiro
-Jess Liaudin vs. Paul Taylor

**Roidie McDouchebag** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 3:20pm

Awesome. I was considering not watching the event at all.

**Jadonblade** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 3:32pm

Yes despite Hughes being a slice of mature knob cheese, his mutant strength is endeering.

**UpaLumpa** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 3:34pm

Originally Posted by Geordi LaForge

Awesome. I was considering not watching the event at all.

Agreed. Very good replacement, better than the most recent headliner too (not better than Liddell-Rua though).

**selfcritical** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 4:04pm

Werdum-Vera is a definate draw for me

**Vince Tortelli** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 4:06pm

Hughes eats Brazilian BJJ Blackbelts for lunch. Hughes via domination.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpQUgkB6cxo[yt]

**Pandinha** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 4:12pm

Three fighters from ATT on that card!

Gonna be a good night.

**selfcritical** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 4:55pm

Originally Posted by Vince Tortelli

Hughes eats Brazilian BJJ Blackbelts for lunch. Hughes via domination.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpQUgkB6cxo[yt]

Thiago is a MUCH better striker than royce.....

**Draven** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 5:00pm

Originally Posted by selfcritical

Thiago is a MUCH better striker than royce.....

Quite possibly the understatement of the year.

Hughes is getting knocked out. He shoots in for a takedown and eats a knee. I´ll be putting money on that one.