UFC 130 Liveblog


(Man, Edith LaBelle has really let herself go.)

After sorting out some technical difficulties with my satellite company, I am set up to get this b*tch blogged for y’all.

Let’s get to it.

Spoilers are after the jump. You’ve been warned, yo.


(Man, Edith LaBelle has really let herself go.)

After sorting out some technical difficulties with my satellite company, I am set up to get this b*tch blogged for y’all.

Forget the foreplay, let’s just get to it.

UFC 130 Preliminary Bouts (On Facebook)

Gleison Tibau defeats Rafaello by submission (rear naked choke)  3:28 – R2

Michael McDonald defeats Chris Cariaso by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Renan Barao defeats Cole Escovedo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)


UFC 130 Preliminary Bouts (On Spike TV)

Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres by unanimous decision – 29-28 (all)

Tim Boetsch def. Kendall Grove by unanimous decision -30-27 (all)

Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago

Round 1

Stann throws a combo, and a lead leg kick. Santiago backing and circling to the right away from Stann’s power hand. Santiago seems to be dropping his head when he throws his combos. Kick to the body for Santiago. Overhand right just misses Stann. Stann continues to move forward. Santiago slips, but gets back to his feet quickly. Santiago lands a lead leg kick. Stann answers with one of his own. Santiago still trying for the overhand right. Stann looks like his game plan is to land combo-leg kick, combo-leg kick.  Santiago lands a head kick but doesn’t seem to hurt Stann. Stann drops Santiago with a left after a combo and jumps on top.  Santiago throws some up-kicks to try to survive, but Stann gets back on top and into Santiago’s guard, where he forces the Brazilian into the fence and continues his onslaught of ground and pound. Hammer fists and forearm strikes from Stann continue to score. Stann gets back up to his feet and lands a handful of stiff rights before both men regain their feet as the horn sounds.

Round 2

Stiff right by Santiago. Santiago tries for a takedown, but only succeeds in pushing Stann against the cage. Stann circles out and both men throw hooks. Santiago’s lands.  Santiago slips again as Stann kicks his leg. He recovers and catches Stann’s chin with a short right.  Stann is controlling the Octagon. He stuffs another takedown and clinches before circling away again.  Stann lands another front leg kick. Santiago is stunned with a left hook.  Santiago lands a spinning back fist, but Stann’s ok. Stann catches a lazy leg kick by Santiago but lets it go.  Stann connect with another right to the jaw, followed by a leg kick.  Left to the forehead by Stann, followed by a combo that has Santiago on his heels. Santiago tries a flying knee, but Stann knocks him onto his back with a hook. Leg kick by Stann met by crisp right by Santiago.  Stann lands a body kick. He drops Santiago with a right and follows up with a half dozen rights that leave Santiago dazed and confused on the canvas.

Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago by TKO (strikes) 4:29 – R2

———-

Rick Story vs. Thiago Alves

Round 1

Story throws a combo, Alves dodges and stuffs a takedown.  Story shoots again.  Alves tries to stall but runs out of room and ends up on his ass agains the cage.  Alves puts his hand on the canvas, and Story punishes his side with knees, and continues to tenderizes Alves thighs with relentless knees.  Alves needs to get up.  Alves gets underhooks and takes Story down, but Story reverses and gets back to his feet.  Story working against the fence, and Alves doing his best to prevent being taken down.  Story is controlling Alves against the cage, and landing knees to the body and thighs.  Finally he breaks and throws a wild combination, but Alves defends.  So far this has been more of a clinch match than a fight.  Both fighters with 20 seconds left are going toe to toe, winging punches and kicks and the round ends with Story shooting for a takedown.

Round 2

Alves lands a good body kick.  Another kick to the body, but Story grabs this one and drags Alves to the canvas. Both men regain their feet.  Story has Alves moving backwards, anticipating the takedown.  Story shoots for a double, and drops Alves on his back, but Thiago uses the cage to get back to his feet and drops Story on his back with a kick. Alves working from half guard. Story’s elbow is bleeding. Story explodes and gets back to his feet. Story drops for a single, but Thiago defends. Alves can’t get his back off the cage. Alves makes space, but Story ducks under a left hook and grabs him around the waist. Alves seems to be tiring. The referee calls for a break. Alves lands a stiff right, and Story shoots. Alves sprawls. Story turns the corner and drags Alves back down against the fence.  Alves stands back up, and is pinned back agains the cage. Alves connects with another right, but can’t get anything going as the buzzer sounds.


Round 3

Story shoots, Alves spins and lands a stiff knee that seems to hurt Story.  Story shoots again, and pushes Alves against the fence, landing a knee to the body as they break.  Alves lands a left hook, but backs himself into a corner, avoiding Story’s combo.  Story lands a left to the body, and grabs a single.  Alves defends, and backs away.  Story lands a left hook, but Alves answers with a heaver left of his own.  Story is breathing heavy.  Alves connects with another left to the ear.  Alves lands a stiff right.  Story seems to be slowing.  Alves is getting the better of these exchanges, and Story wants out and grabs for another double.  Alves ducks underneath the clinch and circles out, and sneaks in another right hook, and catches Story with a knee as the wrestler shoots.  Story clinches again against the cage.  Alves again pushes away and circles out.  Thiago lands a right and clinches, connecting with a handful of knees and a combo as the round ends.

Rick Story def. Thiago Alves  by unanimous decision – 29-28 (all)

———-

Travis Browne vs. Stefan Struve

Round 1

Both fighters exchange leg kicks, and both keep their hands low.  A pair of body kicks connect with each, and Struve tries for a Superman punch that doesn’t connect.  Struve presses Browne against the cage, and eats a short elbow.  Browne reverses and lands a handful of knees, but Mazzagatti calls for a break.  Struve throws a front kick, but it’s blocked by Browne.  Browne lands a leg kick and then another.  Struve lands a kick to the body, but Browne catches it and lets it go.  Browne is winging that overhand right repeatedly, but can’t connect.  Struve using the front kick to create space.  Struve clinches and attempts to spin Browne into the cage, but ends up on his back as Browne trips him.  Browne tries to pass the guard, but is thrown off by Struve.  Before Browne can scramble to his feet, Browne locks in a D’arce choke, and switches to an anaconda choke.  Struve jumps for a flying knee to the body, and eats a Superman punch, and is out before he hits the canvas, but Browne follows up with a pair of hammerfists for good measure to make sure he finished the fight.

Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve by knockout (strikes) 4:11 – R1

———

Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson

Round 1

Nelson throws a combo and immediately bumrushes Mir into the cage, but can’t complete the takedown.  Mir reverses, but can’t keep Nelson from circling out.  Nelson works against the cage with short shots, and Mir clinches and lands a knee to Nelson’s forehead.  Mir lands a left right, and just misses with a head kick, and gets tagged with a left.  Big Country pushes Mir into the fence, and Frank checks the clock with two and a half minutes left.  Mir lands a half dozen knees to Nelson’s rotund mid-section and finishes up the flurry with a combination.  Nelson grabs on and pushes Mir back into the cage, but does little else than hold him there.  Nelson pushes off and whiffs with a right.  Combo by Nelson just misses, and Mir makes him pay with another knee to the gut.  Mir with a hip throw, takes Nelson’s back, but Roy stands back up and again pushes his much bigger opponent into the fence.  The round ends with Nelson connecting with a knee to Mir’s solar plexus.

Round 2

Both men come out breathing heavy and with much less steam behind their shots.  Mir lands a body kick.  Nelson, a light combo.  Mir presses Nelson into the cage now and gets the trip.  Working from half guard, Mir covers Nelson’s mouth and takes his back, as Nelson rolls out.  Nelson gets back to his feet, and Mir lets him.  Nelson lands a few inside uppercuts and eats another knee to the chin.  Mir drops for a double, and drops Nelson on his back.  Working to pass the guard, Mir pins Nelson’s right arm down like a bully on the playground.  Nelson gets back to his feet again after a scramble.  Nelson pushes Mir into the cage.  Both men are clearly exhausted.  Mir lands a kick and a knee to the body, and gets tagged with an overhand right.  Nelson pushes Mir once again back up against the cage, but can’t finish the single.  Mir’s using overhooks to stifle Nelson’s punches.  Josh Rosenthal warns both fighters to work, as they seem content to hug it out.  A break before the bell solves nothing as the buzzer sounds a few seconds later.

Round 3

Nelson’s hands are dropped.  He’s ready for bed.  Mir lands a front kick to the belly.  He’s looking for a big combo a la King Hippo.  Mir gets the takedown and works short elbows from half guard while covering Nelson’s mouth.  Nelson really needs to think long and hard about dropping down to 205.  Mir’s size and strength are just too much for him.  Nelson scrambles back to his feet.  Mir narrowly misses with a knee to the face, but connects with the follow up.  Another takedown.  Mir working again from side control, scoring with punches and elbows.  Roy scrambles back to his feet again.  Mir drops him on his back again, and continues to punish Nelson with big elbows while pinning down his right arm above his head.  Nelson scrambles back to his feet, and this time avoids the takedown until the buzzer sounds to end the fight.

Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

———-

Quinton Jackson vs. Matt Hamill

Round 1

Hamill comes out throwing leg kicks.  Rampage is stalking him.  Rampage sprawls, avoids the takedown, and tags Hamill on the temple with a left.  Looks like Hamill wants to kickbox.  Rampage watching Hamill’s face like he’s zoning in on a target.  Hamill whiffs with a half-hearted head kick.  Rampage continues to push forward.  Hamill steps in with a combo that misses, and Rampage connects with a left.  Hamill is dropping his hands and his head as he wades in.  Hamill fakes the takedown, and Rampage immediately drops his hands, waiting to sprawl.  Rampage lands a right to the body and an uppercut.  Hamill throws an overhand right and misses, and a leg kick.  Another takedown fails.  Again, Rampage stuffs Hamill’s takedown attempt.  Hamill’s backed up with a jab.  Jackson showing great footwork.  Hamill lands the jab.  Jackson stuffs another takedown.  Hamill clinches.  Rampage pushes him off and connects with a right.  Hamill seems hurt.  Jackson stocking forward, and connects with a right and then a left.  The round finishes as a lead leg kick lands on Hamill’s thigh.

Round 2

Jackson’s cut over the right eye.  Hamill is bloody around the mouth.  Hamill continues his leg kick attacks.  He throws a weird crane kick and Jackson shrugs it off.  Hamill shoots, Rampage defends and pushes him up against the cage.  Jackson lands a knee to the body.  Hamill drops a level and shoots and Rampage connects with a knee to the belly.  Hamill drops for another takedown.  Jackson lands a combo and just misses with a knee.  Hamill seems tired.  Jackson is still on his toes.  Hamill’s leg kicks even seem like he’s going through the motions.  Rampage catches Hamill with a left to the chin as he drops his head.  Hamill connects with a jab and follows up with a leg kick.  Another jab by Hamill.  Hamill clinches, Rampage stuffs and lands with another punch to the face and a shot to the body.  Hamill throws a head kick, and Rampage knocks him off kilter with a combination.  He seems hurt, but battles back.  Hamill shoots, Rampage stuffs and jumps in for an elbow that grazes Hamill’s ear.

Round 3

Hamill attempts the Superman punch, Jackson counters.  Double jab by Hamill. Rampage misses with a right hook.  Hamill pushes Jackson into the fence and misses with the push-off uppercut.  Rampage hits the jab.  Hamill connects with the right left.  Hamill connects with a leg kick, and eats a left to the body.  Hamill pushes Jackson into the corner and takes a knee to the body.  Quinton takes wrist control and avoids another takedown.  Right elbow, left hook by Jackson.  Leg kick by Jackson.  Hamill lands a left hook.  Jackson nearly takes the back, looking for a slam.  The crowd is booing with a minute and a half left.  Jackson is tired.  Hamill fakes a shot.  Jackson lands a knee to the body.  Rampage has double underhooks.  Hamill reverse and pushes Jackson against the cage where he uses dirty boxing, but not for long.  Jackson gets his second wind, but it’s too little, too late as the buzzer sounds.

Quinton Jackson def. Matt Hamill by unanimous decision – 30-27 (all)

Somehow I don’t see this version of Rampage lasting very long with Jon Jones.

Rampage Jackson Easily Beats Matt Hamill at UFC 130

Filed under: UFCQuinton “Rampage” Jackson was a heavy favorite to beat Matt Hamill at UFC 130, and with good reason: As Jackson showed for 15 minutes in the Octagon with Hamill on Saturday night, he was simply the much better fighter, easily winning a …

Filed under:

Rampage Jackson beats Matt Hamill at UFC 130.Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was a heavy favorite to beat Matt Hamill at UFC 130, and with good reason: As Jackson showed for 15 minutes in the Octagon with Hamill on Saturday night, he was simply the much better fighter, easily winning a unanimous decision.

The fight wasn’t particularly entertaining, and the fans in Las Vegas booed at the end. Jackson said afterward that he had a fractured hand and wasn’t able to fight the way he wanted to.

“Matt Hamill is tough, man. I tried to knock him out,” Jackson said. “I apologize I wasn’t able to put on the kind of fight I wanted to.”




In the early going Hamill tried to use kicks to his advantage, cognizant of the way Jackson’s stance leaves his lead leg exposed. But Jackson was able to check most of Hamill’s kicks, and punish him with punches when he would come to the inside. Hamill, who was an excellent college wrestler, tried to get close enough to take Jackson down, but he never succeeded and usually ate a couple of hard punches from Jackson when he tried. By the end of the first round, blood was dribbling out of Hamill’s mouth, and Jackson clearly was ahead in the fight.

In the second round the fans began to boo as the fight became predictable: Hamill would try to go low for a takedown, and Jackson would make him pay again with a knee and more punches. The fight started to get dull not because there wasn’t action, but because the action was so repetitive, with Jackson showing that he was the vastly superior fighter and Hamill doing nothing about it.

That was on display to an even greater extent in the third round, as Jackson dominated, Hamill did nothing, and the crowd booed. Jackson controlled the fight and certainly deserved to win the decision, but it wasn’t the great performance the UFC was surely looking for from Jackson, who may fight Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title next. This was an OK performance, but not what fans expect from a champion.

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UFC 130 Fight Card: Predicting the Main Card, Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne

Another tough fight to call, but I’m going with the Skyscraper.Struve is still so young (23) that he should be adding strength at a rapid clip and polishing his skills with ease. Considering the Dutch youngster already has some impressive wins on his r…

Another tough fight to call, but I’m going with the Skyscraper.

Struve is still so young (23) that he should be adding strength at a rapid clip and polishing his skills with ease. Considering the Dutch youngster already has some impressive wins on his resume, he’s gonna be a handful when his power catches up to the rest of his skills.

Oh, and he looks like he has added a substantial amount of weight without compromising his fluidity or flexibility. We obviously won’t know for sure until the gloves drop, but he’s looking physically primed.

Travis Browne is no slouch, but he was probably lucky to escape with a draw from his last affair with Cheick Kongo due to a point deduction suffered by the latter.

Kongo was Browne’s toughest opponent to date and it’s not like Struve is a world-beater…yet.

Nevertheless, I expect to see vast improvement from Holland’s own and another victory for the kid.

UFC 130 Live Blog: Rampage Jackson vs. Matt Hamill Updates

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Rampage Jackson faces Matt Hamill at UFC 130.LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 130 live blog for Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Matt Hamill, the main event of tonight’s pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jackson (31-8, 6-2 UFC) is coming off a split decision win over fellow former light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida at UFC 123 in November. Hamill (10-2, 9-2 UFC) has won five straight – including a controversial disqualification win over current champion Jon Jones in December 2009.

A win by Jackson could put him next in line to face Jones for the 205-pound title later this fall.

The live blog is below.




Round 1: They meet in the middle for instructions. They touch gloves. The MGM Grand reports Rampage closed as a -250 favorite to Hamill’s +200 underdog. Hamill kicks first. Rampage stays outside. Hamill throws a high kick. Hamill shoots 30 seconds in, but Rampage defends well and throws a combo to push him back. Rampage now in the center. Straight left jab from Hamill misses. High kick from Hamill misses. Rampage stalks, then lands a tight right uppercut. Right kick from Hamill is checked by Rampage, and Hamill fakes a teep to try and keep some distance. Right-left from Hamill, then a kick that Rampage tries to counter off of. Rampage nearly lands a big uppercut. Two rights from Hamill are followed by two frights from Rampage. Hamill then shoots again, but Rampage defends it with a knee to the body. Hamill goes low for a takedown, but it’s again not there. Rampage opens up a little with a right-left-right combo. Left jab from Hamill pushes Rampage back, and he misses a follow-up right. Hamill again has nothing in the form of a takedown, and Rampage gets a little offense on the break. With 25 seconds left, he has Hamill possibly hurt and backing up. Rampage seemed to control things a little more and the late flurry helped give him a 10-9 round on our card.

Round 2:
High kick from Hamill opens things up, but Rampage has none of it and counters with enough to back Hamill up. Another sort-of shot from Hamill does nothing but lead to a clinch, and Rampage pushes him against the fence. Rampage throws a knee that lands to the body. Then another as he defends Hamill’s desire for a takedown. Another awkward-looking shot from Hamill leads to more Rampage offense, and he nearly lands a huge knee to the chin. They tie up briefly, then break. The crowd grows quite restless on a night that has seen just one submission and two knockouts. They dance and feint and paw jabs for a minute with little real activity. Hamill goes in again for a takedown, but Rampage again defends. A right-left-right from Rampage is the best offense of the fight so far, but Hamill doesn’t go down. Rampage follows with a big shot to the body as time winds down in the frame. MMA Fighting gives the second to Rampage, 10-9.

Round 3:
Quick start with a left from Rampage. Hamill has to believe he needs to finish the fight to get a victory. He shoots, but again Rampage defends on his feet. The two trade knees and tie up. Again, the crowd grows restless. Rampage throws a left that Hamill blocks, but lands a right to the body. Hamill then ties things up on the fence as the crowd again boos. Halfway through the round, they break. Hamill misses a jab. But Rampage lands a nice left that seems to wobble Hamill for a moment. Hamill seems tired. He thinks he catches a low blow, but Herb Dean doesn’t give him the stop. The crowd really boos now as Hamill throws a lazy punch. Rampage ties him up along the cage now with a minute left. They trade positions. Not much happening until Rampage throws a small late flurry, but it doesn’t put Hamill down. Hamill takes a knee, and a great big beer comes flying to the cage, landing on the photographers. It’s another 10-9 round for Rampage, and MMA Fighting gives him the fight 30-27.

Result: Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

 

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Rampage Jackson faces Matt Hamill at UFC 130.LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 130 live blog for Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Matt Hamill, the main event of tonight’s pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jackson (31-8, 6-2 UFC) is coming off a split decision win over fellow former light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida at UFC 123 in November. Hamill (10-2, 9-2 UFC) has won five straight – including a controversial disqualification win over current champion Jon Jones in December 2009.

A win by Jackson could put him next in line to face Jones for the 205-pound title later this fall.

The live blog is below.




Round 1: They meet in the middle for instructions. They touch gloves. The MGM Grand reports Rampage closed as a -250 favorite to Hamill’s +200 underdog. Hamill kicks first. Rampage stays outside. Hamill throws a high kick. Hamill shoots 30 seconds in, but Rampage defends well and throws a combo to push him back. Rampage now in the center. Straight left jab from Hamill misses. High kick from Hamill misses. Rampage stalks, then lands a tight right uppercut. Right kick from Hamill is checked by Rampage, and Hamill fakes a teep to try and keep some distance. Right-left from Hamill, then a kick that Rampage tries to counter off of. Rampage nearly lands a big uppercut. Two rights from Hamill are followed by two frights from Rampage. Hamill then shoots again, but Rampage defends it with a knee to the body. Hamill goes low for a takedown, but it’s again not there. Rampage opens up a little with a right-left-right combo. Left jab from Hamill pushes Rampage back, and he misses a follow-up right. Hamill again has nothing in the form of a takedown, and Rampage gets a little offense on the break. With 25 seconds left, he has Hamill possibly hurt and backing up. Rampage seemed to control things a little more and the late flurry helped give him a 10-9 round on our card.

Round 2:
High kick from Hamill opens things up, but Rampage has none of it and counters with enough to back Hamill up. Another sort-of shot from Hamill does nothing but lead to a clinch, and Rampage pushes him against the fence. Rampage throws a knee that lands to the body. Then another as he defends Hamill’s desire for a takedown. Another awkward-looking shot from Hamill leads to more Rampage offense, and he nearly lands a huge knee to the chin. They tie up briefly, then break. The crowd grows quite restless on a night that has seen just one submission and two knockouts. They dance and feint and paw jabs for a minute with little real activity. Hamill goes in again for a takedown, but Rampage again defends. A right-left-right from Rampage is the best offense of the fight so far, but Hamill doesn’t go down. Rampage follows with a big shot to the body as time winds down in the frame. MMA Fighting gives the second to Rampage, 10-9.

Round 3:
Quick start with a left from Rampage. Hamill has to believe he needs to finish the fight to get a victory. He shoots, but again Rampage defends on his feet. The two trade knees and tie up. Again, the crowd grows restless. Rampage throws a left that Hamill blocks, but lands a right to the body. Hamill then ties things up on the fence as the crowd again boos. Halfway through the round, they break. Hamill misses a jab. But Rampage lands a nice left that seems to wobble Hamill for a moment. Hamill seems tired. He thinks he catches a low blow, but Herb Dean doesn’t give him the stop. The crowd really boos now as Hamill throws a lazy punch. Rampage ties him up along the cage now with a minute left. They trade positions. Not much happening until Rampage throws a small late flurry, but it doesn’t put Hamill down. Hamill takes a knee, and a great big beer comes flying to the cage, landing on the photographers. It’s another 10-9 round for Rampage, and MMA Fighting gives him the fight 30-27.

Result: Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

 

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UFC 130 Fight Card: Why Rampage Jackson Has the Most To Lose Saturday Night

The UFC 130 fight card is one that won’t bring anywhere near as much attention as UFC 129 did, but there is still a good amount of drama to be had and jockeying for rankings to be done.The scheduled main event of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard wo…

The UFC 130 fight card is one that won’t bring anywhere near as much attention as UFC 129 did, but there is still a good amount of drama to be had and jockeying for rankings to be done.

The scheduled main event of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard would have certainly helped the buyrate for this pay-per-view, though the new main event of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Matt Hamill may end up actually being a more important fight for the long-term future of one fighter.

Of course, I’m talking about Rampage.

Once considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest 205-pound fighter on the face of the planet, Jackson has fallen back quite a bit since defeating Keith Jardine in the main event at UFC 96.

It was after that event when Jackson signed on to coach The Ultimate Fighter against “Suga” Rashad Evans. The fight was built up for months and despite the two fighters having no real prior “heat,” it ended up being one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history—and it wasn’t even for a title.

Jackson was thoroughly dominated by Evans’ takedowns and looked to be on his way to losing the fight, but fought back in the third round. Jackson clipped Evans and nearly finished him, but the fight eventually went to a decision which unanimously went in favor of Rashad.

The loss seemed to be mentally tough on Jackson, who took six months before his next fight against another former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Lyoto Machida, last November. But a second disappointing performance in a row lead fans to question whether or not Jackson still “has it.”

What’s interesting is that Jackson actually won the fight against Machida.

A win over a fighter who only had one previous loss on his career record would normally be considered a high point in many MMA fighters’ careers, but you could literally see the disappointment on Jackson’s face even as the scores were being announced. He even went so far as to say that he thought that the judges made the wrong decision in giving him the victory and that he would love to give Machida a rematch.

How weird is that?

Now with this fight against Matt Hamill, Jackson may be at a crossroads in his career. Does he put on a performance that reminds us of the Rampage of old; or does he drop further into the downward spiral that has become his recent career?

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently mentioned that he believes his next title defense will actually be against Lyoto Machida or Rampage Jackson. Of course, that’s assuming a win over Matt Hamill. Without that, the UFC obviously couldn’t justify giving Jackson a title shot…And given Hamill’s awful performance against Jones in their fight, they can’t give a title shot to him, either.

Saturday could very well be the most important night of Quinton Jackson’s mixed martial arts career. He’s back in the spotlight, a title shot may be on the line and his entire future in the sport may just up for debate if he loses.

Rampage needs this one, badly.

And quite frankly, the UFC needs it, too. 


UFC 130 Rampage vs. Hamill Fight Card: News, Previews & Predictions, Results and More!

Be sure to check out Bleacher Report’s live coverage of the big event!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

‘Career-Defining’ Moment for Matt Hamill vs. Rampage Jackson

Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS – Of all the fighters in the UFC’s reasonably stacked light heavyweight division, Matt Hamill is among the hottest.

And despite five straight wins, he doesn’t seem to mind being a little overlooked – for now. Sure, one of th…

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LAS VEGAS – Of all the fighters in the UFC’s reasonably stacked light heavyweight division, Matt Hamill is among the hottest.

And despite five straight wins, he doesn’t seem to mind being a little overlooked – for now. Sure, one of those wins was a disqualification victory against Jon Jones, Jones’ only loss, on a technicality in a fight he was dominating. But Hamill has been asking for the kind of fights that will move him from middle-of-the-pack fighter to top contender.

Against Quinton Jackson on Saturday in the main event of UFC 130, a win would quickly elevate him in the division. Jackson is a nearly 3/1 favorite, but that doesn’t bother Hamill (10-2, 9-2 UFC).

“I’ve probably been the underdog for the last five fights,” Hamill said at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference at the MGM Grand. “I love to be the underdog.”

A closer look at Hamill’s history with the oddsmakers reveals that this is only the fourth time he’s been an underdog in the UFC – and the first three were against his Season 3 housemate on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Michael Bisping, Rich Franklin and Jon Jones. Along with Jackson, underdog status is understandable for all those fights.

But Hamill’s point is not lost – he’s kicked around in the middle of the division, and he’s ready to make the leap. Count UFC president Dana White as someone who has noticed.

“Obviously Rampage Jackson is one of the best in the world at 205 pounds,” White said. “This is a huge fight for Matt Hamill. He’s had some good wins – he beat (Keith) Jardine, (Mark) Munoz, Tito (Ortiz). A win over Rampage would be huge. This is one of those career-defining moments for Matt Hamill should he be able to pull off the win on Saturday night.”

Considering White also said a win by Rampage puts him “in the mix for a title shot,” a Hamill upset could disrupt a potential title fight between Jackson and Jones.

But Hamill last week alluded to the stair-step mentality he has taken in his career. His dominant unanimous decision win at UFC 121 last fall over Ortiz, his coach on Season 3 of TUF, is what he believes pushed him to the level that has him a shot against Jackson, a former light heavyweight champ, on Saturday.

“It’s going to help me improve my career,” Hamill said through his translator. “Beating Tito definitely put me in line to get some big fights like this, and I knew I was ready for the next level. I’m just really glad I’m here.”

It was a fight that Jackson initially didn’t want much to do with, and Hamill said he understood why and didn’t blame him – that Jackson should be taking on fighters in the Top 5. But when Hamill said his goal was to break Jackson’s will, Jackson emerged from the land of apathy and got into the fight.




“I think Matt made a mistake when he actually said that he’s going to break my will and that I’m going to overlook him,” Jackson said. “It actually lit a fire up under my ass and made me try a little bit harder just so I can break his will – so I can make sure I outclass him. That’s why I worked a lot on my wrestling, a lot extra on my cardio and extra on getting up off my back just in case he does take me down.”

That’s just where Hamill plans on taking the fight, saying he believes Jackson has become too reliant upon his standup game through the years and less focused on his wrestling. “That’s why I want him,” Hamill said.

Six straight wins in the light heavyweight division, a feat matched right now only by Phil Davis thanks to Jones’ DQ loss, would be enough to put the upper echelon of the class on notice. Forget questions about Jackson’s motivation for the fight. Hamill has his own motivation.

“I figured Rampage would be eying Rashad Evans or a rematch with Forrest Griffin or what have you,” Hamill said. “I thought that Rampage would believe that this match is not in his league. But it’s my next chance to prove that I am in his league.”

 

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