UFC Fight Night 85 results: Biggest winners, losers from ‘Hunt vs. Mir’ last night in Brisbane

Let’s run down the list of “Who’s Hot” and “Who’s Not” from UFC Fight Night 85: ‘Hunt vs. Mir’ which took place last night (Sat., March 19, 2016), nominating the biggest winners and losers from the FOX Sports 1 event inside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to Australia last night (Sat., March 19, 2016) for UFC Fight Night 85: “Hunt vs. Mir,” as the Brisbane Entertainment Center played host to a wild evening of mixed martial arts (MMA) action live on FOX Sports 1.

In the main event of the evening, Mark Hunt pulled off yet another walk off knockout, finishing Frank Mir in the first round in style (highlights here).

The co-main event featured arguably the wildest fight of the 2016 thus far, as Neil Magny somehow pulled off an unbelievable comeback to finish Hector Lombard via strikes in the third round.

Check out the highlights here.

With that quick overview of the night’s marquee bouts, here are your biggest winners, as well as the runners-up from Brisbane.

Biggest Winner: Mark Hunt

Mark Hunt always delivers, and especially so in front of his rabid Australian fans.

The combat sports legend pulled off yet another impeccable walk-off knockout last night — this time dusting Frank Mir in just three minutes — and it may have been his best finish to date, three days prior to his 42nd birthday.

The “Super Samoan” landed a picturesque right straight, snapping Mir’s head back, and leaving him to fall to the mat like a sack of potatoes.

Of course, Hunt could have easily landed a devastating follow-up blow to completely knock out Mir, but in typical Hunt fashion, he called off the fight himself by walking away with a nonchalant shoulder shrug.

Original gangster.

The finish was Hunt’s sixth knockout inside the Octagon, and only adds to the lore of the “Super Samoan.” Now riding a two-fight winning streak, Hunt could potentially be one or two wins away from fighting for UFC gold.

Heavyweight MMA is absolute madness.

Runners-up: Neil Magny

I’m running out of superlatives to describe Neil Magny.

How about consistent, durable, and prolific?

Winning his 10th fight in his last 11 — over merely two years I might add — Magny pulled off his most impressive, and most challenging victory of his career.

Hector Lombard was looking to take out Magny early, and nearly got the job done with a savage onslaught in the first round.

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veteran somehow managed to weather the storm — benefitting from Steve Perceval’s detestable refereeing — to put forth a furious comeback in the second round that saw him manage to beat down Lombard even worse than he had been beaten in the first.

Needless to say, the fight was easily the craziest of the year, possibly featuring 10-8 rounds for each fighter.

Magny’s rise from middling TUF contestant, to inspiring challenger, to legitimate contender has been nothing short of spectacular. At every turn, Magny has overcome incredible odds, and he continues to produce W’s.

It is time to see that man in a No. 1 contender fight.

Jake Matthews

In a battle between two very talented, and very promising Lightweight prospects, Jake Matthews pulled off the biggest victory of his career as an underdog in his own backyard.

“The Celtic Kid” started strong in the first round, showing off his vastly improved striking arsenal.

In the second, Matthews had to weather the storm as Case had him in compromising positions on the mat. Still, the 21-year old remained composed and collected during Case’s comeback.

Once Matthews began working Case’s body with kicks, it was only a matter of time before he would finish the fight.

With just 15 seconds remaining in the back and forth fight, the Australian locked in a deep rear-naked choke, causing Case to tap and the crowd to erupt in cheers for their hometown favorite.

It was a clinical and masterful performance from a young fighter with massive potential, and absolutely made a statement to the rest of the Lightweight division.

Biggest Loser: Steve Perceval

Move aside Steve Mazagatti, Steve Perceval is here to take the throne for “worst referee of all time.”

Not to throw too much hyperbole around, but the aforementioned statement may not be too farfetched following UFC Fight Night 85.

The fact the co-main event between Neil Magny and Hector Lombard was finished in the third is absolutely despicable, and Perceval should be held responsible for his incompetence inside the Octagon.

The referee’s job is to protect the fighters first and foremost, and there is no question Perceval failed both Magny and Lombard in Brisbane.

In the first round, Magny was badly hurt by Lombard’s initial onslaught; several different referees likely would have called a stop to the fight after the 30 or so punches Magny took while hardly defending himself.

But it would only get worse from there.

In the second round, the durable Magny flipped the script, absolutely pummeling an exhausted Lombard with more than 40 unanswered strikes. It was a savage beatdown that was completely and utterly unnecessary, and yet Perceval allowed the fight to continue into the final frame.

The incompetent ref finally stopped the fight early in the third, but only after Lombard was badly opened up and took several more brutal shots.

If I was a fighter, I sure as hell wouldn’t want Steve Perceval to referee any of my fights after seeing that spectacle.

Runners-up: Frank Mir

In his record tying 27th UFC appearance, Frank Mir was knocked out for the eighth time in his career.

Obviously Mir is a legend in the sport and deserves to be in UFC’s Hall of Fame, but you have to wonder why the 36-year old continues to put his body through such punishment instead of just hanging up his gloves and moving on to other career options.

I have long campaigned for Mir’s retirement — specifically following his four fight losing streak — but when the former UFC Heavyweight Champion reeled off back-to-back knockout wins, it seemed he may have found his third or fourth wind.

Maybe some believe Mir still has it in him to make another run, even after his loss to Hunt, and it’s hard to blame them when you consider the average age of UFC Heavyweights and the division as a whole, but what more does he have to prove?

Mir should end his career on his terms, but he has already accomplished so much, been to the pinnacle more than a few times, and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the all-time greats.

Does he really need to fight again?

James Te Huna

Speaking of retiring…

It is probably time for James Te Huna to hang up his gloves for good as well.

The formerly dangerous Light Heavyweight lost his fourth straight fight inside the Octagon with a brutal knockout defeat to Steve Bosse at UFC Fight Night 85.

Te Huna took nearly a two-year layoff following three first round losses in a row, and UFC brass gave him one more opportunity to earn a victory in front of his home crowd.

Unfortunately, the fight didn’t go the way the Sydney resident planned.

With four straight first round losses — and his last win coming over three years ago — UFC will almost certainly release the Australian fan-favorite in the coming days.

For complete results from UFC Fight Night 85: “Hunt vs. Mir,” including play-by-play updates click here.

Let’s run down the list of “Who’s Hot” and “Who’s Not” from UFC Fight Night 85: ‘Hunt vs. Mir’ which took place last night (Sat., March 19, 2016), nominating the biggest winners and losers from the FOX Sports 1 event inside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to Australia last night (Sat., March 19, 2016) for UFC Fight Night 85: “Hunt vs. Mir,” as the Brisbane Entertainment Center played host to a wild evening of mixed martial arts (MMA) action live on FOX Sports 1.

In the main event of the evening, Mark Hunt pulled off yet another walk off knockout, finishing Frank Mir in the first round in style (highlights here).

The co-main event featured arguably the wildest fight of the 2016 thus far, as Neil Magny somehow pulled off an unbelievable comeback to finish Hector Lombard via strikes in the third round.

Check out the highlights here.

With that quick overview of the night’s marquee bouts, here are your biggest winners, as well as the runners-up from Brisbane.

Biggest Winner: Mark Hunt

Mark Hunt always delivers, and especially so in front of his rabid Australian fans.

The combat sports legend pulled off yet another impeccable walk-off knockout last night — this time dusting Frank Mir in just three minutes — and it may have been his best finish to date, three days prior to his 42nd birthday.

The “Super Samoan” landed a picturesque right straight, snapping Mir’s head back, and leaving him to fall to the mat like a sack of potatoes.

Of course, Hunt could have easily landed a devastating follow-up blow to completely knock out Mir, but in typical Hunt fashion, he called off the fight himself by walking away with a nonchalant shoulder shrug.

Original gangster.

The finish was Hunt’s sixth knockout inside the Octagon, and only adds to the lore of the “Super Samoan.” Now riding a two-fight winning streak, Hunt could potentially be one or two wins away from fighting for UFC gold.

Heavyweight MMA is absolute madness.

Runners-up: Neil Magny

I’m running out of superlatives to describe Neil Magny.

How about consistent, durable, and prolific?

Winning his 10th fight in his last 11 — over merely two years I might add — Magny pulled off his most impressive, and most challenging victory of his career.

Hector Lombard was looking to take out Magny early, and nearly got the job done with a savage onslaught in the first round.

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veteran somehow managed to weather the storm — benefitting from Steve Perceval’s detestable refereeing — to put forth a furious comeback in the second round that saw him manage to beat down Lombard even worse than he had been beaten in the first.

Needless to say, the fight was easily the craziest of the year, possibly featuring 10-8 rounds for each fighter.

Magny’s rise from middling TUF contestant, to inspiring challenger, to legitimate contender has been nothing short of spectacular. At every turn, Magny has overcome incredible odds, and he continues to produce W’s.

It is time to see that man in a No. 1 contender fight.

Jake Matthews

In a battle between two very talented, and very promising Lightweight prospects, Jake Matthews pulled off the biggest victory of his career as an underdog in his own backyard.

“The Celtic Kid” started strong in the first round, showing off his vastly improved striking arsenal.

In the second, Matthews had to weather the storm as Case had him in compromising positions on the mat. Still, the 21-year old remained composed and collected during Case’s comeback.

Once Matthews began working Case’s body with kicks, it was only a matter of time before he would finish the fight.

With just 15 seconds remaining in the back and forth fight, the Australian locked in a deep rear-naked choke, causing Case to tap and the crowd to erupt in cheers for their hometown favorite.

It was a clinical and masterful performance from a young fighter with massive potential, and absolutely made a statement to the rest of the Lightweight division.

Biggest Loser: Steve Perceval

Move aside Steve Mazagatti, Steve Perceval is here to take the throne for “worst referee of all time.”

Not to throw too much hyperbole around, but the aforementioned statement may not be too farfetched following UFC Fight Night 85.

The fact the co-main event between Neil Magny and Hector Lombard was finished in the third is absolutely despicable, and Perceval should be held responsible for his incompetence inside the Octagon.

The referee’s job is to protect the fighters first and foremost, and there is no question Perceval failed both Magny and Lombard in Brisbane.

In the first round, Magny was badly hurt by Lombard’s initial onslaught; several different referees likely would have called a stop to the fight after the 30 or so punches Magny took while hardly defending himself.

But it would only get worse from there.

In the second round, the durable Magny flipped the script, absolutely pummeling an exhausted Lombard with more than 40 unanswered strikes. It was a savage beatdown that was completely and utterly unnecessary, and yet Perceval allowed the fight to continue into the final frame.

The incompetent ref finally stopped the fight early in the third, but only after Lombard was badly opened up and took several more brutal shots.

If I was a fighter, I sure as hell wouldn’t want Steve Perceval to referee any of my fights after seeing that spectacle.

Runners-up: Frank Mir

In his record tying 27th UFC appearance, Frank Mir was knocked out for the eighth time in his career.

Obviously Mir is a legend in the sport and deserves to be in UFC’s Hall of Fame, but you have to wonder why the 36-year old continues to put his body through such punishment instead of just hanging up his gloves and moving on to other career options.

I have long campaigned for Mir’s retirement — specifically following his four fight losing streak — but when the former UFC Heavyweight Champion reeled off back-to-back knockout wins, it seemed he may have found his third or fourth wind.

Maybe some believe Mir still has it in him to make another run, even after his loss to Hunt, and it’s hard to blame them when you consider the average age of UFC Heavyweights and the division as a whole, but what more does he have to prove?

Mir should end his career on his terms, but he has already accomplished so much, been to the pinnacle more than a few times, and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the all-time greats.

Does he really need to fight again?

James Te Huna

Speaking of retiring…

It is probably time for James Te Huna to hang up his gloves for good as well.

The formerly dangerous Light Heavyweight lost his fourth straight fight inside the Octagon with a brutal knockout defeat to Steve Bosse at UFC Fight Night 85.

Te Huna took nearly a two-year layoff following three first round losses in a row, and UFC brass gave him one more opportunity to earn a victory in front of his home crowd.

Unfortunately, the fight didn’t go the way the Sydney resident planned.

With four straight first round losses — and his last win coming over three years ago — UFC will almost certainly release the Australian fan-favorite in the coming days.

For complete results from UFC Fight Night 85: “Hunt vs. Mir,” including play-by-play updates click here.