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UFC 85

UFC 85: was a event produced by the (UFC) that took place on June 7, 2008, at in , . The event, which drew an attendance of 15,327 and generated a live gate of $2,920,000, featured a total of 11 bouts across , , , , and divisions, marking the UFC's inaugural appearance at . The main event pitted welterweight contender Thiago Alves against former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, with Alves securing a stunning upset victory via technical knockout (flying knee and punches) at 1:02 of the second round. In the co-main event, local favorite Michael Bisping defeated Jason Day by technical knockout (punches) at 3:42 of the first round, showcasing Bisping's striking prowess in front of his home crowd. Other notable main card results included Mike Swick's unanimous decision win over Marcus Davis in a welterweight clash, Thales Leites edging out Nate Marquardt via split decision in the middleweight division, and Fabricio Werdum's first-round technical knockout (punches) of Brandon Vera at heavyweight, a bout that ended controversially due to a cut on Vera sustained during grappling exchanges. On the preliminary card, highlights included Martin Kampmann's first-round submission of Jorge Rivera at , Matt Wiman's second-round of at lightweight, and Luiz Cane's quick first-round of Jason Lambert at . The event also featured competitive decisions such as Paul Taylor's over at and Antoni Hardonk's second-round of at . Overall, UFC 85: achieved a reported buyrate of 215,000, underscoring its significance as a key international expansion for the promotion in the .

Background

Event Planning

UFC 85, subtitled "," was officially announced in February 2008 as the Ultimate Fighting Championship's return to the following the success of UFC 70 in the previous year. The promotional theme "" was chosen to evoke chaos and excitement, aligning with the organization's strategy to capitalize on the growing market by staging a high-profile event at the newly opened in , marking UFC's first appearance at the venue. This expansion effort built on the momentum from earlier events, aiming to solidify UFC's presence in amid increasing fan interest. Early promotions highlighted matchups to generate , including a potential main event between former champion and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, positioned as a blockbuster clash to draw . Additionally, Bisping's bout was marketed as a homecoming for the UK native, emphasizing national pride and local appeal to boost engagement among British audiences. These fights were central to the hype, with advertising focusing on the electric atmosphere expected at the O2 Arena. The official weigh-in was scheduled for June 6, 2008, at the itself, allowing fans early access starting at 3 p.m. local time to build anticipation. Ticket sales strategy targeted fans through phased releases: UFC members gained presale access on March 2, 2008, followed by newsletter subscribers on March 5, and general public sales on March 7. By early May, over 7,000 tickets had sold during presale, prompting the release of additional seats to meet demand, with projections aiming for a near-capacity crowd at the 20,000-seat venue to reflect the event's scale. Subsequent card adjustments occurred due to injuries, but the initial planning underscored UFC's commitment to a chaotic, fan-focused spectacle.

Card Changes

The UFC 85 underwent significant alterations to its fight in the months leading up to , 2008, primarily due to injuries and other unforeseen issues affecting the main and several undercard bouts. Originally announced as a between and Mauricio "Shogun" , the fight fell apart when Rua withdrew on March 4, 2008, after rupturing the () in his left knee during training, necessitating surgery. stepped in as Rua's replacement to face Liddell, maintaining the main focus. Further complications arose when Liddell suffered a torn right during training and withdrew on April 21, 2008. James Irvin was tapped as Liddell's substitute to fight Evans in a bout. However, Irvin broke his foot in late May 2008, forcing his withdrawal and leading to the complete cancellation of the Evans-Irvin matchup. With Liddell's earlier withdrawal, the promotion had already pivoted to a bout between former champion Matt Hughes and Thiago Alves as the pay-per-view main event; Hughes accepted the short-notice opportunity as a favor to the UFC. With the cancellation of the Evans-Irvin bout, the matchup between and was promoted to the main card. At the official weigh-ins on June 6, 2008, Alves came in at 174 pounds—three pounds over the limit—forcing the fight to proceed at . The co-main event, a middleweight title eliminator between Nate Marquardt and Thales Leites, proceeded without disruption after being announced in March 2008. Several undercard fights also saw adjustments. Middleweight prospect Michael Bisping's original opponent, Chris Leben, was forced to withdraw in early May 2008 due to incarceration stemming from a DUI arrest and probation violation, with Jason Day stepping in as a replacement. In the heavyweight division, Eddie Sanchez replaced the injured Neil Wain to face Antoni Hardonk, marking Sanchez's return after back-to-back victories. Additionally, welterweight Roan "Jucao" Carneiro was paired with UFC newcomer Kevin Burns on short notice in late May 2008, as Burns debuted following a quick turnaround. Light heavyweight Luiz Arthur Cane filled in against Jason Lambert after earlier scheduling shifts, while a lightweight bout between Paul Taylor and was confirmed amid minor adjustments to the preliminary card. These changes, driven largely by injuries, reshaped while preserving its overall structure and appeal for the London audience.

Event Details

Venue and Attendance

UFC 85 took place at in , , on June 7, 2008. This modern multi-purpose venue, known for its 20,000-seat capacity across various configurations, served as a prominent host for and helped solidify the UFC's foothold in European markets following its debut there the prior year. The arena's MMA-specific setup accommodated the and spectator seating effectively, creating an immersive environment for the fights. The main card began at 8:00 PM BST to align with schedules. A total of 15,327 paid spectators attended, representing a near sell-out for the venue's and reflecting robust demand from fans. Gate revenue reached $2,920,000, underscoring the event's commercial success. Production elements included a central stage setup within the arena floor and dynamic lighting to heighten the spectacle, fostering a vibrant crowd atmosphere attuned to local enthusiasm for .

Broadcasting

UFC 85: was distributed in the United States via (PPV), generating 215,000 domestic buys, which supported the promotion's expansion into international markets including the . The main card aired on PPV providers starting at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on June 7, 2008, while preliminary bouts were broadcast on Spike TV. In the and , the event was broadcast under the multi-year exclusive deal with , providing live coverage of the main card and contributing to the promotion's growing European presence. Delayed broadcasts were available on additional networks across international markets. The English-language commentary team featured on play-by-play duties alongside as color commentator, delivering analysis throughout the PPV broadcast. Pre-fight coverage included the UFC Countdown: Bedlam special, which aired on Spike on June 2, 2008, at 11 p.m. to build hype for the card. Weigh-ins were held on June 6 at the and covered live on in the UK, with post-fight press conferences streamed on UFC.com and select televised outlets.

Results

Main Card

The main card of UFC 85: featured five bouts, headlined by a matchup at 174 pounds between Thiago Alves and former champion Matt Hughes. The heavyweight opener pitted Fabricio Werdum against . Werdum quickly closed the distance, clinched, and took Vera down early in the first round. From the top position, Werdum advanced to full mount and unleashed ground-and-pound strikes, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the fight at 4:40 via (punches). This victory marked Werdum's return to the win column after a prior submission loss. In the division, faced in a technical striking affair. Swick utilized his wrestling background to control the pace, repeatedly taking Davis down and landing effective ground strikes, including elbows that opened a cut on Davis. In Round 3, referee deducted one point from Swick for grabbing the . Despite Davis's resilience and counterstriking attempts, Swick dominated the exchanges throughout the three rounds, earning a victory with scores of 29-27 across all three judges. Middleweight contender Michael Bisping, fighting in front of his home crowd at , met . Bisping asserted early dominance with sharp striking, pressuring Day against the cage and landing a flurry of punches that rocked his opponent. Day struggled to find his range, and Bisping capitalized with unanswered strikes on the feet, prompting referee Dan Miragliotta to halt the bout at 3:42 of the first round via (punches). The stoppage elicited a massive roar from the London audience, highlighting Bisping's striking precision and local popularity. The co-main event served as a middleweight title eliminator between and . Leites controlled much of the grappling, securing takedowns and maintaining top position to stifle Marquardt's offense. Marquardt faced setbacks when referee deducted one point in the second round for an illegal knee to Leites's head while he was grounded, and another point in the third round for strikes to the back of the head. Despite Marquardt's strong striking in stand-up exchanges, Leites's ground control proved decisive, leading to a win for Leites with scores of 28-27, 28-27 (for Marquardt), and 28-27. The main event saw Thiago Alves challenge Matt Hughes at a of 174 pounds due to Alves missing the limit. Hughes started strong, using his elite wrestling to take Alves down and work from top position in the first round. However, in the second round, as Hughes shot for another takedown, Alves countered with a devastating flying that staggered the former champion. Alves followed with punches on the ground, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to intervene at 1:02 via (flying knee and punches). The upset finish, powered by Alves's explosive striking, ended Hughes's brief comeback streak and earned Alves the of the Night bonus.

Preliminary Card

The preliminary card for UFC 85 featured six bouts, with two televised on Spike TV and the remainder untelevised, setting the stage for the main event lineup at in , . In the opener, Antoni Hardonk defeated via (punches) at 4:15 of Round 2, utilizing knees from the clinch to wear down his opponent before finishing with ground strikes. Sanchez had briefly rocked Hardonk early, but the fighter's heavier artillery secured the win in his continued UFC tenure. The matchup saw Paul Taylor edge out via (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), a controversial close fight marked by UK favoritism amid the London crowd's energy. controlled portions with takedowns, but Taylor's striking resilience and a Round 1 knockdown swayed the judges in the tightly contested affair. Light heavyweight contender Luiz Cane overwhelmed Jason with a (punches) at 2:07 of Round 1, showcasing his power punching by dropping repeatedly with right hands. The Brazilian's aggressive ended the fight swiftly, highlighting his knockout threat in the division. Kevin Burns pulled off an upset in his UFC debut against Roan , submitting the veteran via at 3:50 of Round 2 in their clash. dominated the first round with control, but Burns reversed position and locked in the for a stunning reversal. The first Spike TV-televised prelim was a battle where Matt Wiman knocked out Thiago Tavares via punches at 1:57 of Round 2, following a back-and-forth striking exchange. Tavares had the edge in Round 1 with takedown attempts, but Wiman's precise right hand in the second round ended the contest decisively. Closing the televised prelims, middleweight submitted Jorge Rivera via at 2:44 of Round 1, delivering a quick finish by taking the back and sinking the choke. The Dane's technical grappling prowess neutralized Rivera's aggression early, earning a dominant early stoppage.

Post-Event

Bonus Awards

At UFC 85, the Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded its standard post-event bonuses to recognize outstanding performances, with each recipient earning $50,000. The Fight of the Night bonus went to contenders Matt Wiman and for their back-and-forth striking exchange that showcased competitive action throughout the bout. Thiago Alves received the Knockout of the Night award for his flying knee knockout of former Matt Hughes in the main event, marking a highlight-reel finish. In the preliminary card, earned Submission of the Night honors for his second-round victory over , securing the tapout in a matchup. These four bonuses resulted in a total payout of $200,000, consistent with the UFC's fight night bonus structure during that era, where Fight of the Night was split between two fighters. UFC president announced the recipients during the post-fight press conference held at in .

Significance and Legacy

UFC 85 marked a pivotal moment in the expansion of in the , as it was the first UFC event held at in , establishing the venue as a central hub for European promotions and drawing a crowd of 15,327 that underscored the sport's burgeoning appeal. The event's success, with 15,327 attendees generating over $2.9 million in gate revenue, highlighted 's potential as a key market, influencing subsequent UFC visits to the city and contributing to the growth of local MMA talent pools. Michael Bisping's first-round victory over not only thrilled the home crowd but also accelerated his ascent as the UK's premier fighter, paving the way for his eventual capture of the UFC title in 2016 as the first champion. The night's upsets carried significant implications for fighter trajectories within the UFC. Thiago Alves' second-round knockout of Matt Hughes via flying knee effectively halted the former champion's attempted comeback, propelling Alves into title contention as he earned a welterweight championship bout against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 90 later that year. Similarly, Thales Leites' split decision win over Nate Marquardt positioned him for a middleweight title challenge against Anderson Silva at UFC 97, though he ultimately fell by unanimous decision in a bout criticized for its lack of action. The energetic atmosphere from over 15,000 fans at UFC 85 exemplified MMA's rising popularity across , fostering a cultural shift that encouraged greater investment in the region and directly influenced follow-up events such as UFC 89 in nearby just months later. Despite pre-event criticisms regarding card instability—stemming from multiple bouts like the main event matchup being adjusted due to injuries and withdrawals—the event's 215,000 buys validated the UFC's strategic risks in international expansion. In the long term, Fabricio Werdum's first-round of initiated a heavyweight resurgence that saw him rebuild momentum, culminating in his later UFC title win in 2015 after successful stints in other promotions.

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