Any time you place Quinton “Rampage” Jackson inside of a cage, you can expect an awe inspiring example of controlled violence. Coincidentally enough, Matt Hamill has been known to bust a few noggins himself. So, what happens when both men enter the cage with the intention of rendering the other unconscious?
I’m guessing a grueling, bloody, often wild affair.
While that single sentence does in fact whet my appetite for human destruction, there’s a bit more substance to UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill than the well-publicized main event offers. The true beauty of this card will most likely unravel in the evening’s featured welterweight bout, which pits rising prospect Rick Story against perennial top 10 contender Thiago Alves.
Very few men competing at 170 pounds bring forth the offensive output of either Story or Alves; these two freaks of nature swing hard, often and with intimidating conviction. Story’s wrestling is impressive to say the least, but does he have the moxy to force Alves to his back and keep him there? Let’s not forget Thiago’s invested plenty of time in his wrestling, and implements a startlingly effective sprawl-and-brawl attack.
This match looks to have “Fight of the Night” written all over it, as neither man looks to possess a skill set so technically advanced as to bet on a one-sided blowout. Story’s striking acumen may not equal Alves’, but his determination is unquestionably equal, his power is comparable and his heart cannot be called into question.
That noted, if Alves can keep this fight in the center of the octagon and use angles to confuse Story, we could see Rick play the bull to Thiago’s matador. It’s an ideal game plan for the Brazilian, but it’s a game plan I don’t foresee him executing to perfection; Story has proven to be too unrelenting.
And that is the exact reason that, while Rampage versus The Hammer will make for a fun affair, the fight will dim in comparison to the explosions produced by the meeting of Rick Story and Thiago Alves.
Both fighters have something substantial to gain from victory. Since Story’s octagon debut he’s amassed an impressive 5-1 record, toppling fellow prospects Jesse Lennox and Johny Hendricks in the process; a victory over Alves leaves Rick knocking on the door of title contention. Thiago Alves meanwhile finds himself forced to find victory in order to maintain his place amongst the division’s upper echelon.
Expect fireworks from UFC 130’s main event, but bet on an unnerving explosion of fury from two of the welterweight division’s most promising young athletes: Rick Story and Thiago Alves. That’s where the evening’s deepest appeal lies.
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