UFC Light Heavyweight bout: Quinton Jackson vs. Matt Hamill
Odds: ( -270 Jackson / +210 Hamill )
Betting Pick: Jackson
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In the main event of the evening, former Light Heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson returns to action against tough young wrestler Matt “The Hammer” Hamill. Rampage has been one of the top players in the Light Heavyweight division for years, since his stint in PRIDE, but Hamill is a powerful and effective wrestler with constantly improving standup, which makes him a tough matchup for almost anyone. Rampage has been known to turn in inconsistent performances in the past, and if he underestimates Hamill and doesn’t bring his a-game, he could be ripe for an upset here.
Matt Hamill, a fan favorite from Team Ortiz on The Ultimate Fighter, is an inspirational story and a formidable fighter. The only deaf fighter in any major company, Hamill has overcome his handicap to become a top player in UFC’s Light Heavyweight division. A skilled amateur wrestler, Hamill has some of the most powerful and effective takedowns in the division. At first he was a relatively one-dimensional wrestler, but over time his striking has continued to develop to the point that he has solid boxing with heavy hands and even some devastating high kicks in his arsenal. His best work is always going to be with takedowns and ground and pound, and against a superior striker like Rampage that is doubly true, but his improved striking makes it much easier to set up his shots and keep opponents guessing.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, one of the top Light Heavyweights in the world, has been fighting the best in the division for years now. Lately he has had some mixed results and turned in a few disappointing performances, but his focus seems to be fully back on fighting after a stint in the movies. Rampage is extremely physically powerful, has an amazingly sturdy chin, and mixes up great wrestling and clinch work with some of the more devastating punching in the division. His power punches are extremely scary, he has great takedown defense, great submission defense, and is great at neutralizing opponents in the clinch and keeping fights standing where he can punish his opponents.
This is going to be a very tough fight for Hamill. Rampage is the bigger and stronger guy, and despite Hamill’s world class wrestling he is going to have a hard time getting this fight to the floor. On the feet, Hamill may have improved a lot, but he is still not on Rampage’s level in terms of technique or power. I think Hamill is going to have to telegraph his takedowns, which is just going to make it easier for Rampage to keep the fight standing, where he has a very clear advantage. I expect Hamill to hang around a while, but eventually Rampage will overwhelm him on the feet and catch him with a big power punch. Rampage by T/KO
Prediction: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via second round T/KO.
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