MMAVu

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)