Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) travels "down under" for the first time this year as the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion gets set to host a UFC Fight Night 85 card, featuring a heavyweight main event pitting veteran finishers, Mark Hunt and Frank Mir, against each other.
It all goes down inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia, TONIGHT (Sat., March 19, 2016) when "Super Samoan" and the ex-champion Mir duke it out inside the Octagon.
In the co-main event, the volatile Cuban, Hector Lombard, squares off with the ever-improving Neil Magny in a 170-pound contest. Elsewhere on the evening's main card, upstart lightweight talents face off when the Aussie Jake Matthews meets Power MMA's Johnny Case, while former Olympic competitor Dan Kelly collides with ground ace Antonio Carlos Jr. in a middleweight affair.
However, before we can get to the night's main courses, fight fans will be treated to a set of six "Prelims" exchanges, which are set to begin on the Fight Pass digital streaming service at 7 p.m. ET, before transferring over to FOX Sports 1 (FS1) for the final four at 8 p.m. ET.
Below are the results recaps for the two "Prelims" bouts scheduled for Fight Pass:
Ross Pearson vs. Chad Laprise
The British brawler Pearson came into the land "down under" searching for his first win in 2016 over Canada's Laprise.
Both fighters content to stay at range for the moment. Some feelers being thrown. Quick one-two snap for Pearson. They each are starting to incorporate low kicks (Pearson) and high kicks (Laprise) into their arsenal. Pearson eats a right hand on the way in. Good leg kick from the Brit. Good short left hook afterwards. I like the head movement from Pearson. His striking has gotten so much better over the years. We're past the midway point now. You can see Laprise is looking for the high kick counter. A left hand sneaks in for Pearson. Snapping leg kick for "The Real Deal." Pearson switching between stances momentarily. Hard body kick crashes into the mid section for Laprise. Tough round to judge. 10-9 Pearson
A slightly more energetic Laprise is out in round two. Pearson goes high with a kick. Both know round one could've went either way. Chopping leg kick for Pearson. I think he needs more of those definitely. Laprise hits him with one now. Pearson comes in with the straight right counter. Laprise responds with a jab. Pearson switches things up and throws a body kick from southpaw. Another jab for Laprise. Good body shot for Pearson. He appears to be looking for the left hook now. He's trying to time it just as Laprise is circling away. He got tagged with a left hand, Laprise. Both men letting their hands go as round two ends. I'll give it to Pearson again. 20-18 Pearson.
Pearson pressing the action to start the final round. He needs more body shots and low kicks. He can't keep throwing the jab, one-two, and a left hook. A left hook lands for the 31-year-old. They trade kicks. Pearson with a body blow. "The Disciple" doubles up on the jab. High kicks are traded by both men. Cut under the right eye of Pearson worsens from the stinging jab of Laprise. Hard right leg kick for Pearson. Pearson shoots for a takedown with 20 seconds left. Both slug it out with kicks and raging hooks for the remaining seconds. Laprise 10-9, but 29-28 Pearson overall
Pearson moves to 19-10-1 NC, while Laprise drops to 10-2.
Result: Pearson via split decision
Alan Patrick vs. Damien Brown
It's Brazil vs. Australia when two rising lightweights collide as "Nuguette" took on "Beatdown."
Patrick in on a takedown early. He gets Brown down to the mat and has him pinned up against the fence. Half guard now and short punches. Very, very bad spot. Patrick moves towards a guillotine and clamps down with the hands. Now he ends up in top position. He's staying very low, smothering and disrupting the breathing of Brown. Elbows raining down. Patrick now in side control after another guillotine attempt. But he's reversed! Well done by Brown. He does little while in full guard and stands up. Brown now looking to take control of the back of his opponent. Costly mistakes by both men this round. There won't be too many windows like this. Let's see what he can do with this kimura. Brown is keyed in on the arm of Patrick. Wild round. Patrick jumps into guard with a punch. He looks to almost be in side control, just needs to pass the leg. Brown doing an excellent job of not absorbing damage while on his back, but this round goes to Patrick. 10-9 Patrick
Patrick picks up where he left off and barrels into striking range with his left hand. Another takedown and into half guard. You can start to see that Patrick is not getting complacent as he wants to advance position. He hasn't done much in half guard. Patrick taking less risks in this round, which has results in him staying on top for the majority of the frame. A good mixture of hammerfists and elbows, Patrick has thrown. No submission attempts from Brisbane's own Brown. The 31-year-old just can't escape. Great wrestling from Patrick in this round. Patrick defends a late kimura attempt nicely and moves safely into the final round. This was dominance. 20-17 Patrick
Rinse and repeat in round three. Patrick gets the takedown off a head kick attempt from the Aussie. That's what you don't want to do, unless you're Holly Holm. Patrick nearly gets the arm triangle in for the tap, but Brown evades. Side control now. Good explosions here from Brown, but it's too late. Patrick now riding the back, clobbering him with punches. Brown turtled up near the fence. Back to the feet they go. Brown's got to get out of this position. A knockout is his only hope. Patrick using great control here, while Brown holds onto an arm. I don't know why, he should just let go. We're standing with 70 seconds left. Brown just walking him down here; hands are low ... and another takedown. Patrick rides out the round in top position. 30-26 Patrick
Patrick gets back on the winning track and improves to 13-1, while Brown falls to 15-9.
Result: Patrick via unanimous decision
For complete coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 85 card, including up-to-the-minute live results and play-by-play, click here and here.