The fallout from UFC Fight Night 85 proves that it was one of the best fight cards of the year.
The Walk Off KO and An End Of An Era
Mark Hunt may have just put a period on Frank Mir’s career. The talented heavyweight kickboxer looked completely calm, cool, and collected in his first round starching of the former UFC heavyweight champion. Mir had some decent footwork and a good jab in the early moments of the fight. But once Hunt got the former champ’s timing it was all she wrote. A jab feint and right hand later and Hunt floored Mir. 
Hunt looks to have plenty left in the tank. If he’s able to continue to put on performances like this at the tail end of his career it’s not impossible that we could see the “Super Samoan” back in title contention very soon. For Mir this loss could have signaled the end of a great career. The former champion should feel no shame falling to hunt and has proven himself a talented fighter during his years in the UFC. Whether Mir chooses to continue fighting or put an end to his career there’s no doubting that he’s proven himself to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
Magny Has Championship Heart
If you haven’t seen the Neil Magny versus Hector Lombard fight that served as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 85 then you truly missed out on a war that told the tale of two fights. Magny would end up as the eventual winner of the bout, but what he had to survive made the match as memorable as any I’ve seen. Lombard started well with some well placed, blistering fast and heavy punches that had Magny in 
all sorts of trouble. A lesser man would have crumbled under the pressure, but Magny was able to weather the storm in the first round and come back in the second and third frames. The fight highlighted a major aspect of each man’s game. Lombard, though extremely talented, needs to work on his cardio as well as staying more controlled and calculated when he has his opponent hurt. Small consistent shots could have put an end to the fight rather than the heavy one hundred percent shots he was throwing to put Magny out. Strategy is a huge part of the game at this level and in order to survive you must learn to play it smart and be tactical. Magny also proved that he has the grit and determination to one day challenge for a belt. The kind of punishment he endured was astounding. To come back from that proves just how tough Magny really is and with that kind of toughness and determination, anything is possible, even strapping a UFC welterweight belt around his waist.
Matthews Rising
Jake Matthews shocked the hell out of me on Saturday. I thought Johnny Case’s well rounded game would get the better of the young Australian fighter. 
Boy was I wrong. Matthews proved that he has tons of talent and room for to imrpove and at only 21 years of age has a pretty high ceiling for growth. Where Case had the volume advantage and more diverse strikes, Matthews was able to pick his shots wisely and certainly had the power advantage. Going forward Matthews would do well to throw more feints and fakes, mix up his striking speed, and blend more of his wrestling into his game. All in all, it was an impressive showing from both young men that is sure to improve both of their games. Where do you rank UFC Fight Night 85 among the greatest UFC fight cards? Follow Generation Iron MMA on Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to share, like, and comment to show your support. Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter to keep up with his antics.
