Tonight’s (March, 19, 2016) UFC Fight Night 85 from the Brisbane Entertainment Center in Brisbane, Australia, is in the books and delivered a heavy-hitting night of action for the Aussie fans. In the main event, Mark Hunt knocked out former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir with one punch (watch it here), who made his record-tying 27th walk
Tonight’s (March, 19, 2016) UFC Fight Night 85 from the Brisbane Entertainment Center in Brisbane, Australia, is in the books and delivered a heavy-hitting night of action for the Aussie fans.
In the main event, Mark Hunt knocked out former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir with one punch (watch it here), who made his record-tying 27th walk to the Octagon in Brisbane.
Neil Magny upset favored Hector Lombard with a vicious TKO in the co-main event after nearly getting stopped himself early on.
Join LowKickMMA.com for the event post-fight press conference starting at approximately 1:30 a.m. EST:
In a bout with serious implications in the welterweight division, Neil Magny (18-4) met Hector Lombard (34-5-1, 2 NC) inside the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 85 in Brisbane, Australia. Magny turned the tables on “Showeather.” Lombard stalked Magny in the beginning of the bout. He dropped his opponent with a punch and landed some
In a bout with serious implications in the welterweight division, Neil Magny (18-4) met Hector Lombard (34-5-1, 2 NC) inside the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 85 in Brisbane, Australia.
Magny turned the tables on “Showeather.”
Lombard stalked Magny in the beginning of the bout. He dropped his opponent with a punch and landed some hammerfists. Magny hung on as “Showeather” rained down some heavy right hands. Lombard connected with a short elbow in top control. Magny was able to return to his feet. He landed a knee to the body and threw some punches. He went for a takedown, but it was stuffed. A leg kick connected for Magny. He landed two straight punches and an inside leg kick to close the round.
Magny was active at the start of the second stanza. He landed an inside leg kick. Magny landed two knees in the clinch. He popped Lombard with a couple of jabs. Lombard pushed his opponent against the fence, but they broke free. “Showeather” dropped Magny again and went in the guard. Lombard gave up his position with a failed leg lock attempt.
Magny went to mount and attempted a triangle. “Showeather” escaped, but Magny took the back of his opponent and landed a series of punches. Despite Lombard getting peppered with shots the fight was not stopped. While it looked like Lombard was more tired than hurt, he was still taking a lot of punches to the head. Magny looked to be in disbelief as the horn sounded that the fight wasn’t stopped.
Magny pressed forward on a wobbly Lombard. He dumped his opponent to the mat and once again was in full mount. This time, referee Steve Percival called the fight off early in the third round.
Final Result: Neil Magny def. Hector Lombard via TKO (Strikes) – R3, 0:46
Mark Hunt vs. Frank Mir: Mike Drahota: There may not be much more than the potential of an all-out slugfest featuring Hunt against a former champ in his native Australia, but this fight should at least deliver that. Obviously the edge goes to Hunt if he can keep the fight standing despite Mir’s recent improvements
There may not be much more than the potential of an all-out slugfest featuring Hunt against a former champ in his native Australia, but this fight should at least deliver that. Obviously the edge goes to Hunt if he can keep the fight standing despite Mir’s recent improvements in that area, and ‘The Super Samoan’ has certainly looked in great shape recently. But his weakness has always been submissions, and there may be no more of a diverse and dangerous finisher on the mat than Mir. If the two-time former champ can weather the storm to tire Hunt out even a bit, he should open up the doors for a submission. Mir via round two submission.
Rory Kernaghan:
Frank Mir and Mark Hunt are two of the most well-traveled heavyweights who are still actively fighting. In terms of mixed martial arts, Mir is the more accomplished, and certainly has a huge advantage on the mat, but he faces in ‘The Super Samoan’ a K-1 champion with seriously meaty hands. The issue that stands out to me in this fight is that Mir has a tendency to test his stand-up in the Octagon, even against clearly more dangerous fighters, and it can prove costly for the former heavyweight champion. Of course we know Mir has some serious knockout power, but he’d be foolish to keep this standing against a one-punch finisher like Hunt. Although his durability has improved recently, I just don’t see Mir withstanding the punishing blows of Hunt for even one round. It pains me to say it, but I see a brutal knockout win for Hunt in the first round.
Mike Henken:
Both men have looked somewhat solid as of late with Hunt finishing Antonio Silva in his last bout and Mir winning two of his last three, albeit most recently dropping a decision to Andrei Arlovski. In my opinion, “The Super Samoan” holds the clear striking advantage here in terms of power and experience, while Mir most definitely holds the grappling advantage. I feel as if Mir’s striking has improved enough to avoid Hunt’s big shots, and drag this fight to the mat where I ultimately see him finishing the bout. Mir by third-round submission.
Hector Lombard vs. Neil Magny:
Mike Drahota:
This match-up I kind of a strange bout for Lombard, but it nonetheless could be a dangerous one for the aging former champion who is coming off suspension. Magny has looked like one of the best up-and-coming prospects in the stacked welterweight division, with his only loss in his last nine coming on the ground to Demian Maia, hardly a mistake he can be faulted for. Magny will have the far superior reach and technical striking edge on the power-punching Lombard, and with Magny’s weakness submissions, it would be in the Cuban Olympic judoka’s best interest to get this to the ground. But I don’t see it playing out there, as I believe Magny will use his range to pick Lombard apart on the outside to win the upset. I’m picking Magny by decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Lombard meets Magny in a co-main event that will interest those keen on sports betting. The heavy-handed former Bellator champion ‘Lightning’ (I know, but I refuse to acknowledge ‘Showeather’ as a nickname) is in fact the betting underdog. Magny has the reach for sure, but outside the physical advantages, where can he win this fight? Talking of physicality, expect to see a much smaller Lombard if he was in fact abusing steroids, which could also factor in to a lackluster performance if ring rust comes into play too much. Hector has proven to be frustrating for his fans in the Octagon at times, and Magny really has the footwork to negate the smaller man’s abilities to get planted and land bombs. The possibility of a KO is there for ‘Lightning,’ but I don’t see him outlasting the athletic Magny. I’m taking Magny by unanimous decision.
Mike Henken:
Despite recently serving out a suspension, Lombard has looked like a rejuvenated man at 170 pounds, possessing high-level grappling skills along with brute strength. Magny is a very well rounded contender, winning his last two bouts. While he does have potential to make some noise in the division, I expect to see Magny fall to a hungry and motivated Lombard. Lombard by round two TKO.
This Saturday, Hector Lombard and Neil Magny square off in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 85 on FOX Sports 1.
But before that goes down, check out a pair of fight replays featurin…
This Saturday, Hector Lombard and Neil Magny square off in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 85 on FOX Sports 1.
But before that goes down, check out a pair of fight replays featuring Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt and Magny vs. Kiichi Kunimoto in the videos above and below:
The UFC has added an intriguing welterweight scrap to UFC Fight Night 84 which is set to go down on March 19, 2016 live from Brisbane, Australia. Promotional officials announced today (January 18, 2016) (Via Bloody Elbow) that former Bellator champion Hector Lombard will take on No. 8-ranked Neil Magny in the evening’s co-main event.
The UFC has added an intriguing welterweight scrap to UFC Fight Night 84 which is set to go down on March 19, 2016 live from Brisbane, Australia.
Promotional officials announced today (January 18, 2016) (Via Bloody Elbow) that former Bellator champion Hector Lombard will take on No. 8-ranked Neil Magny in the evening’s co-main event.
Lombard will be making his first appearance since January 2015 when he scored a victory over Josh Burkman at UFC 182. That win was later changed to a no contest, however, when “Showeather” tested positive for performance-enhancing-drugs (PEDs).
He was handed a year-long suspension and will look to get back to his winning ways against Magny. Prior to the bout with Burkman, Lombard had won two straight over Nate Marquardt and Jake Shields.
Magny on the other hand, was riding a super impressive seven fight win streak before being submitted by grappling guru Demian Maia last August. He has since bounced back with two consecutive wins of his own over Erick Silva and Kelvin Gastelum, and will look to extend his win streak in March.
UFC Fight Night 84 will be headlined by a clash of heavyweight legends as former champion Frank Mir meets heavy handed slugger Mark Hunt.
Featuring a main event matchup that was only the UFC’s fourth last resort (!!), UFC Fight Night 60 goes down this Saturday in Broomfield, Colorado. It’s a card that’s been getting a lot of heat from hyperbolic MMA fans for being “underwhelming” and “a beacon of the UFC’s plunge toward mediocrity,” but to be honest, it’s not all that bad of a card. So join me after the jump as I break down all six (!) main card fights from top to bottom…
By CP Reader Connor Lewandowski
Featuring a main event matchup that was only the UFC’s fourth last resort (!!), UFC Fight Night 60 goes down this Saturday in Broomfield, Colorado. It’s a card that’s been getting a lot of heat from hyperbolic MMA fans for being “underwhelming” and “a beacon of the UFC’s plunge toward mediocrity,” but to be honest, it’s not all that bad of a card. So join me after the jump as I break down all six (!) main card fights from top to bottom…
Thatch is a beast on the feet, make no mistake about it. There are few 170 pounders clamoring to stand across the octagon and exchange with the (11-1, 2-0 UFC) Denver native. For the former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson (21-5, 9-3 UFC), there is a lot to lose in making his welterweight debut on short notice against a hard-hitting prospect with little name recognition. This fight will be largely predicated on the Glendale product’s ability to get the fight to the canvas, which Henderson will find is much easier said than done against the noticeably larger striker in Thatch. Look for Thatch to land early and often in the clinch, but it won’t be enough for the finish. I expect Henderson’s relentless pursuit of the takedown to pay dividends as the fight goes on and open the door for a submission in the later rounds.
Holloway has long been touted as one of the featherweight division’s best prospects, but he has his hands full in the 16-fight UFC veteran in Miller, who is riding a two-fight win streak. Miller is well-rounded and possesses strong grappling skills in addition to being one of the division’s taller fighters at 6 foot 1. However, he has shown in the past an inability to trade with shorter strikers (see the Phan and Gamburyan fights). I expect the Hawaiian native Holloway to find his range and pick Miller apart enroot to a decision.
Coming off a stretch in which he tied a UFC record for wins a calendar year (5), Neil Magny looks to keep his impressive streak going against the slick Kunimoto. With half of his 18 wins by way of submission, the Japanese welterweight poses a serious threat, although it’s hard to understand why Magny has been installed as the more than 5-1 favorite. I do, however, expect him get the better of the exchanges and ultimately earn a decision over the gritty Kunimoto.
Prediction: Magny
Dan Kelly vs Patrick Walsh
A classic matchup of striker versus grappler, this bout pits the undefeated Australian judoka Kelly versus Walsh, a 5-1 Thai-boxer. It’s rare to see a fighter have so much success entering the fight game so late, but at 37 years old, Kelly has done just that. If the Melbourne native can withstand the early onslaught from Walsh, I expect he will find a way to get the fight to the mat, from their look for Kelly to lock in one of his signature submissions for the upset.
Prediction: Kelly
Michel Prazeres vs Kevin Lee
This lightweight bout features a pair of fighters with a combined record of 27-2. Both fighters know what the other will look to do. With Prazeres, we can expect him to try and close the distance and look to score powerful body takedowns while delivering forceful ground and pound. Kelly will aim to find his range against the shorter Brazilian. What I believe may ultimately separate these two is Kelly’s ability to adapt if he can’t get the better of the exchanges. He has the tools to mix in takedowns of his own. If Prazeres can’t drag the collegiate wrestler to the floor, it will be a long night for him.
Prediction: Lee
Ray Borg vs Chris Kelades
The main cards opening bout features two of the UFC’s quickest rising flyweight prospects in the 21 year old Borg and Canadian Kelades. Odds makers have the UFC’s 4th youngest fighter pegged as high as a -600 favorite, but it’s hard to see where they’ve observed such a disparity in ability between these two 125-pounders. In the company’s fastest division Borg still makes his opponents look a step behind, his ability to transition in scrambles in nothing short of incredible. I won’t be shocked to see Kelades hang around longer than most expect him to, and even see some value in him at +400, but more likely than not Borg will find the moments opening and sink in the rear naked choke and force the Canadian to tap or go to sleep.
