If I had to choose the winner based on mean-lookin' faces, I'd choose Thiago Silva, by way of "Pulverizing th' Bum"

Some people are complaining about this line-up, but really, what could the UFC have done? Several main event guys had to drop out, and there’s only so many guys around that are “true” headliners. Rashad Evans is one, and Thiago Silva is getting there. With a clean win over Evans however, Silva will be a main eventer. There are a bunch of solid bouts here though, just like how last year’s “Fight for the Troops” turned out to be an incredible card, with “b-level” fighters.

Main Bouts (On Pay-Per-View):

Rashad Evans (205) vs. Thiago Silva (205)

Evans will have picked the brain of teammate Keith Jardine, whose brains were scrambled by Silva a few months back. I say Evans takes it by TKO, but it will be a close fight.

Paul Daley (172) vs. Dustin Hazelett (168)

The one-dimensional Daley will get taken down and submitted by Dustin “McLovin’” Hazelett in short order, or Hazelett will be staring at the lights. I’m betting Hazelett is smarter than that, and will take Daley down fast.

Joe Lauzon (155) vs. Sam Stout (155)

I like Stout, a fellow Canuck, but Lauzon is too much on the ground for him. Joe by sub.

Duane Ludwig (156) vs. Jim Miller (155)

Bang.

Junior Dos Santos (237) vs. Gilbert Yvel (239)

Junior takes the duke, and puts himself in the short list for guys to fight for the heavyweight strap.

Preliminary Bouts (On Spike TV):

Martin Kampmann (171) vs. Jacob Volkmann (171)

Kampmann has sure fallen down the charts after a single loss, from a welterweight title eliminator against Mike Swick at UFC 103 to the prelims here. Sounds like he has Jon Fitch-itus. Why no love for Marty?

Dan Lauzon (155) vs. Cole Miller (155)

J-Lau Jr. (pronounced Jay-Low) takes on the wiry pipe cleaner of an excuse for a fighter, Cole Miller. I think Dan is still too young, and will get taken out by Miller, who has had more big show experience.

Preliminary Bouts (Non-Televised):

Mark Munoz (185) vs. Ryan Jensen (186)

Munoz. Because he has a better last name.

Mike Pyle (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170)

What a Pyle of…Jake takes this, after improving his cardio after the loss to Condit. Jake was doing great until he gassed. Hopefully that problem has been fixed.

Rafaello Oliveira (156) vs. John Gunderson (155)

This is the first of the un-televised prelims for a reason. Not much of an idea who these guys are, but I’m taking Oliveira, because I like that pasta.

Main Card:
Welterweight Finals: DaMarques Johnson (170 lbs) vs. James Wilks (171 lbs)
So how does a guy fighting out of Laguna Beach, CA supposed to be on Team UK? Wilks has been in the USA for a third of his life and started his MMA career here. Oh well. Watch for Johnson to trade a little, then take Wilks down and pound him out.

Kevin Burns (171 lbs) vs. Chris Lytle (170 lbs)
Kevin “feel the” Burns takes on the fireman, Chris Lytle. I have to believe the fireman wins here, and does so in convincing TKO fashion.

Lightweight Finals: Ross Pearson (156 lbs) vs. Andre Winner (155 lbs)
This is a close call, but the good big man will beat the good little man, as Winner wins.

Joe Stevenson (155 lbs) vs. Nate Diaz (156 lbs)
Steveson needs this win bad, and with his new camp, I think he’ll achieve that goal, and grind Diaz down for the decision.

Preliminary Bouts:
Melvin Guillard (155 lbs) vs. Gleison Tibau (155 lbs)
Ol Melvin is back from his legal and drug problems…but the ground game is his weakness, and that’s Tibau’s specialty. If Tibau, who likely weighs 180lbs come fight tme, doesn’t get caught by a hail mary punch, he’ll tap Guillard out with ease.

Edgar Garcia (171 lbs) vs. Brad Blackburn (170 lbs)
Um, Blackburn…because he has a cooler name.

Tomasz Drwal (205 lbs) vs. Mike Ciesnoleviscz (208 lbs)
Yup.

Frank Lester (170 lbs) vs. Nick Osipczak (170 lbs)
You have to root for Frank “Ma” Lester here, he’s the goofy underdog “who could” in this fight. Nick is tough, so hopefully Frank bring his A game. “Ma” Lester by armbar.

Cameron Dollar (154 lbs) vs. Jason Dent (155 lbs)
Let’s see…Dent by submission, also by armbar.

Diego Sanchez: Good Fighter, Idiotic staredowns...

C'mon Hughes, get off of the box. I ain't that short...or am I?

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

UFC 98 Main Card:

Rashad “Suga” Evans (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (204)
Matt Hughes (170) vs. Matt Serra (171)
Dan Miller (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (186)
Sean Sherk (156) vs. Frankie Edgar (155)
Drew McFedries (185) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (186)

UFC 98 Preliminary Bouts:

Brock Larson (171) vs. Mike Pyle (172)
Tim Hague (263) vs. Patrick Barry (237)
Phillipe Nover (156) vs. Kyle Bradley (156)
Andre Gusmao (206) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (206)
Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171) vs. Brandon Wolff (170)
George Roop (154) vs. David Kaplan (156)

Rashad has apparently dropped the last “r” in his nickname, and shortened it to just, “Suga”. As well, Chris Wilson had to withdraw at the last minute (due to incomplete paperwork) and his replacement, Mike Pyle, was allowed an extra pound over the welterweight limit.

Wilson was recently robbed at gunpoint in Brazil, along with his two children. They made Wilson load everything into his car and drive them to a particular spot. Wilson said he wasn’t sure if he was coming back from the trip…scary stuff.

The weigh-ins took place today at the O2 Arena in London England, but not everything went according to plan. Thiago Alves, one half of the night’s main event, weighed in at 174lbs, a full three pounds over the welterweight limit. For non-title fights like these, fighters are allowed a 1 pound cushion from the 170lb limit. However, Matt Hughes agreed to go on with the fight at a 174lb catch weight.

Technically, if he was so inclined, Hughes could have declined the fight and royally screw up the often juggled line-up for UFC 85. Had he done so, the UFC probably would have pulled a welterweight out of another fight and match him up with Hughes. Other welterweights on the card include: Mike Swick, Marcus Davis, Jess Liaudan, Paul Taylor, Roan Carnerio and Kevin Burns. Realistically, only Marcus Davis and Mike Swick would be Matt Hughes candidates. On second thought, that shuffle likely would not do very much to the drawing power of UFC 85, since Hughes is the main event and the card would sell just as well with Davis or Swick in the main event slot.

Hughes went on to say that he views this bout as his comeback fight, since he has lost 2 out of his last three fights. What’s good to note is that Hughes does not plan on retiring any time soon. He has two fights left on his contract counting this fight, and says he plans on signing another contract after the current deal expires.

UFC 85 goes on this Saturday from the O2 Arena in London, England.

Main Bouts:
Matt Hughes (170) vs. Thiago Alves (174)
Jason Day (184) vs. Michael Bisping (184)
Mike Swick (170) vs. Marcus Davis (170)
Thales Leites (185) vs. Nate Marquardt (185)
Fabricio Werdum (247) vs. Brandon Vera (228)

Preliminary Bouts:
Martin Kampmann (186) vs. Jorge Rivera (185)
Thiago Tavares (154.5) vs. Matt Wiman (155)
Roan Carneiro (171) vs. Kevin Burns (170)
Luiz Cane (204) vs. Jason Lambert (205)
Jess Liaudin (169) vs. Paul Taylor (169)
Eddie Sanchez (244) vs. Antoni Hardonk (247)