Thiago Alves vs. Matt Hughes to headline UFC 85

**UpaLumpa** · Posted On: 4/27/2008 4:01pm

It was actually a completely honest question. I don't remember anything about the fight.

I think Alves has a lot of the tools needed to compete at a very high level for a long time.

**Vince Tortelli** · Posted On: 4/27/2008 8:37pm

So Hughes beating one Brazilian doesn't mean automatically mean he will dominate another Brazilian? I HAD NO IDEA!

I am not sold on the whole "Alves will win via Tony Jaa like flying knee in 8 seconds." This has nothing to do with me having an irrational man crush on Matt Hughes, and everything to do with the fact that Hughes has only been stopped by strikes TWICE in his entire career, once when he was just starting out and once by George "JCVD" St. Pierre, whom I believe to be a better striker than Thiago. I believe that this will look a whole lot like Sherk/Franca, with Alves managing to land some shots but still spending the majority of his time on his back with Hughes grinding away at him.

Side note: I swear I heard an interview with Thiago Alves where he said his strength was his jiu jitsu, it was just that nobody had got past his first line of defence (punch-kick) to make him use it.

**Tangerine** · Posted On: 4/27/2008 9:37pm

Yeah, the knee thing might be a bit of a stretch, seriously.

**G-Off** · Posted On: 4/27/2008 10:06pm

He did catch a knee on a shoot for his first career KO loss. In 2001. Against Pele.

Come on, Hughes is a dick, but washed up? He has 2 losses to GSP, and other than that hasn't lost since 2004 to BJ Penn! Granted, the GSP losses were utter domination for both of them. But I'm willing to bet it's more of a Franklin-Silva, Rampage-Silva or Page-Chuck thing, where no matter who is the better fighter against the rest of the division, one fighter simply has the other's number. Losing to the champ twice does not mean you're washed up. Hughes via 2005 form.

**Tangerine** · Posted On: 4/27/2008 10:13pm

I'll say Hughes definitely wins, as well.

**Gabetuno** · Posted On: 4/27/2008 11:55pm

Originally Posted by Vince Tortelli

Side note: I swear I heard an interview with Thiago Alves where he said his strength was his jiu jitsu, it was just that nobody had got past his first line of defence (punch-kick) to make him use it.

I absolutely buy that. His technical submission skills aren't so great, but his ability to pass guards and achieve mount are pretty fucking impressive IMO. I think its a fair statement to make that his JJ will pull the fight out for him.