Upcoming UFC 130 Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Matt Hamill May 28th, 2011 from Las Vegas, Nevada
So this card was meant to include the third fight between lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard but unfortunately due to injury (both fighters being injured) that fight is being postponed. Edgar was the first to be injured with broken ribs and initially Anthony Pettis (who is in line for the title shot as he was the last to hole the WEC lightweight title) was going to replace him. I’m not happy Maynard got injured but I am happy that he doesn’t have to take on Pettis before getting his chance against Edgar again. This has left the main card to be mostly big guys but there are still some great fights, which should make for a very entertaining evening.
Rampage Jackson vs. Matt Hamill – light heavyweight
UGH I hate when this happens, I like both of these guys! I know a lot of people can’t stand Rampage because he is so cocky and the stunts he pulled delaying the coaches matchup against Rashad Evans and leaving the sport temporarily to pursue his “acting” career but I have always kinda liked something about him. Hamill is a typical good guy, well liked and for good reason. He is definitely an inspiration to a lot of people. He is deaf and recently beat Tito Ortiz at UFC 121after he had made fun of his disability. Hamill is an awesome fighter but I really want to see old Rampage back on top. I can see this being a early first or second round knockout.
Frank Mir vs. Roy “Big Country” Nelson – heavyweight
Unfortunately this is a fight I see as choosing the lesser of two evils. I am going with Big Country on this one, not because I like him, but because I like Mir even less! Mir will probably act like his cocky self coming off a recent defeat of UFC big name, Cro Cop in a painfully boring fight where it felt like Cro Cop didn’t even show up. Before that though he was totally demolished in a first round KO by Shane Carwin. Big Country’s last fight was for the title shot against Junior Dos Santos, which he obviously did not win. Before that, however, he was on a bit of a streak defeating both Stefan Struve (also on this card) and Brendon Shuab by first round KOs. I am really reeeally hoping for another one of those!
Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne – heavyweight
I have said it before that I think Struve is going to be a big name in a couple years and I definitely want to stick with that. He is a big dude at 6’11” and as he continues to put on more muscle as he trains for each fight I can only see him getting better. His last fight was an impressive TKO finish of Sean McCorkle at UFC 124 and before that a gross KO victory over Christian Morecraft at UFC 117. Browne has not been in the UFC long at all. His last fight, and UFC debut, was a draw (lucky for him) against Cheick Kongo at UFC 120. Before that fight though he seemed to be a KO/TKO king so this may be a tough one for Struve who doesn’t seem to be able handle fast pressure too well. Let’s see what the kid can do!
Thiago Alves vs. Rick Story – welterweight
Simple answer, I made the mistake at UFC 124 of going against the pitbull and I’m not going to again. Story is not a fighter to be looked past, he is on a five fight win streak but my decision is made.
Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago – middleweight
After the UFC 125 I became a huge fan of Stann. He mentioned taking on Wanderlei Silva next but first will have to take on UFC rookie Santiago who has spent most of his mma career in Japan. After seeing this guy’s record where most of his wins are a stoppage, wither TKO, KO or submission I feel like it will be a great fight for Stann and I can’t wait to see him better his position in the middleweight division.
