Why is this pattern checking true?

Questions
1

Consider the following code:

MatchQ[Cycles[{{1, 2}}] ** (Cycles[{{1, 2}}]), 
     NonCommutativeMultiply[a___, Cycles[x_], Plus[y__], b___]]

There is no plus there, how can this be true?
Thanks

2

If Plus is given a single argument it just returns the argument.

In[1]:= Plus[3]
Out[1]= 3

So if the single argument is a pattern, the unchanged pattern will be returned.

Therefore:

In[2]:= MatchQ[u*w, Times[a_, Plus[b_]]]
Out[2]= True