Bleacher Report’s Jordy McElroy:There is sure to be plenty of criticism about the upcoming UFC 130 fight card.With the lightweight title rubber match between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard scrapped due to injuries, the card doesn’t really have that …
Bleacher Report’s Jordy McElroy:
There is sure to be plenty of criticism about the upcoming UFC 130 fight card.
With the lightweight title rubber match between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard scrapped due to injuries, the card doesn’t really have that standout fight worthy of headlining a UFC pay-per-view.
With that said, this is still an incredible card full of exciting style match-ups.
Critics may down the card for not boasting a significant main event, but these are usually the kind of cards that end up being the most exciting. It’s extremely rare that stacked cards like UFC 129 lives up to the monumental hype that it did.
We are less than two weeks away from UFC 130, which takes place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here are five key questions heading into the event.
Amidst all the changes to the UFC 130 card, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson isn’t too pleased to be headlining against Matt Hamill, to say the least. “Matt Hamill wasn’t on my radar at all,” Jackson said to Ariel Helwani on The …
Amidst all the changes to the UFC 130 card, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson isn’t too pleased to be headlining against Matt Hamill, to say the least.
“Matt Hamill wasn’t on my radar at all,” Jackson said to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I wasn’t excited at all. But then again, not a whole lot gets me excited.”
Jackson’s original opponent, Thiago Silva, was forced to withdraw from the bout after testing positive for an illegal steroid following his bout with Brandon Vera at UFC 125.
The decision left Silva suspended for a year and Jackson without an opponent.
When it was announced that Hamill was Silva’s replacement, the response didn’t necessarily generate a lot of anticipation.
In contrast to Jackson’s comments, Hamill has said he plans to break his opponent’s will—something that Jackson believes Hamill is only saying to convince himself.
“He’s just got to jive himself up so he actually thinks he can stay with me. If you’ve seen my fights over history, I don’t think my will gets broken too often for anybody to even say that,” he said.
“He’s got a while to go before he can say he can break anybody’s will.”
However, whether Jackson cares to fight Hamill or not, those are the cards he’s been dealt.
Hamill’s style might not excite Jackson, but the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion said he plans to put on a good performance for the fans.
“I just know that I plan to go out there and be very aggressive and very exciting,” Jackson said.
Since stepping in for Thiago Silva, Matt Hamill has been relishing the opportunity to face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 131.Although Hamill is not the opponent that most fans or Jackson would have expected, he said he is just fine with being an und…
Since stepping in for Thiago Silva, Matt Hamill has been relishing the opportunity to face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 131.
Although Hamill is not the opponent that most fans or Jackson would have expected, he said he is just fine with being an underdog.
“Everyone thinks I’m not ready for Rampage,” Hamill said during a UFC 130 interview, courtesy of YouTube.
Hamill has gone an impressive win streak as of late, picking up five of his last six wins over such fighters as Tito Ortiz, Mark Munoz and Keith Jardine.
After defeating Ortiz, Hamill was deserving of a formidable opponent in his next bout, and it just so happens that his next opponent is Jackson, one of the most durable figters in the UFC light heavyweight division.
No one said it would be easy, but then again no one is giving Hamill much of a chance against Jackson.
However, Hamill believes he has as good a chance as anybody, and said he will not play into his opponent’s strengths.
“Everyone knows his gameplan. He doesn’t change. He loves to strike,” Hamill said of Jackson’s style.
“I got my mind open and I’m going to go out there and fight real smart and I’m going to avoid his knockout power.”
Since holding notable victories over fighters like Ortiz and Jardine, if Hamill is able to pull off a victory over Jackson, he said he would be right in line to receive a title shot.
“He’s the one so close to being a contender. So I feel like I want to be ready to be the contender,” Hamill stated.
Chael Sonnen‘s indefinite suspension sticks; says he will retire. Jorge Masvidal vs. KJ Noons set for Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Frankie Edgar pushing off surgery for bulging discs; opts for epidural injections for pain. Shinya.
(So much is on the line here. Pride. A win bonus. Mostly just those two things.)
In less than two weeks, the UFC will return from its spring hibernation to present UFC 130 in Las Vegas, featuring a makeshift main event that not even the fighters themselves are that psyched about. But hey, fighting is fighting. Let’s all stay positive and consult the cold, hard data to predict how the light-heavyweight bang-up between Quinton Jackson and Matt Hamill will play out. If you see things differently, let us know in the comments section…
(So much is on the line here. Pride. A win bonus. Mostly just those two things.)
In less than two weeks, the UFC will return from its spring hibernation to present UFC 130 in Las Vegas, featuring a makeshift main event that not even the fighters themselves are that psyched about. But hey, fighting is fighting. Let’s all stay positive and consult the cold, hard data to predict how the light-heavyweight bang-up between Quinton Jackson and Matt Hamill will play out. If you see things differently, let us know in the comments section…
BETTING ODDS
Jackson: -240
Hamill: +252 Advantage: Jackson
FINISHING RATIO
Jackson: 53.8% (21 stoppage wins in 39 fights)
Hamill: 50% (6 stoppage wins in 12 fights) Advantage: Jackson
TUF EXPERIENCE
Jackson: Coached on seasons 7 and 10; his team got blown out both times, and he went on to drop decisions to both of his rival coaches (Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans)
Hamill: Was a Team Punishment member on season 3. Outpointed Mike Nickels in his preliminary match, but had to bow out of competition due to a medical suspension. Went on to TKO Jesse Forbes at the Finale show. Advantage: Hamill
MOST BULLSHIT LOSS
Jackson: Got submitted by Kazushi Sakuraba in his PRIDE debut (at PRIDE 15), after allegedly having his food poisoned
Hamill: His split-decision loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 75 Advantage: Hamill
RESULT AGAINST KEITH JARDINE
Jackson: Unanimous decision victory at UFC 96
Hamill: Majority decision victory at the TUF 11 Finale Advantage: Jackson
UFC PERFORMANCE BONUSES
Jackson: 2 Fight of the Night bonuses (against Forrest Griffin and Keith Jardine), 2 Knockout of the Night bonuses (against Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva)
Hamill: 2 Fight of the Night bonuses (against Seth Petruzelli and Keith Jardine), 1 Knockout of the Night bonus (against Mark Munoz) Advantage: Jackson
LOVES THE LADIES?
Jackson: Yes
Hamill: Yes Advantage: Even
UFC 130 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 28. After lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard both suffered injuries and were forced to withdraw from the card, the light heavyweight showdown between Quinton “Rampage” Jack…
UFC 130 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 28. After lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard both suffered injuries and were forced to withdraw from the card, the light heavyweight showdown between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt “Hammer” Hamill was elevated to main event status.
In this video, Jackson is shown having problems sticking to his prescribed diet, and appears none too happy after being exposed for eating the wrong foods over the previous weekend. The video also introduces Jackson’s nutritionist, the woman in charge of making his meals leading up to the fight. Jackson is also seen clowning around and having fun with his staff, as he’s known to do.
