Should Quinton “Rampage” Jackson get past Matt Hamill this weekend at UFC 130, he may be the next on tap for a title-shot at Jon Jones who is currently healing a thumb injury. Both fighters.
Should Quinton “Rampage” Jackson get past Matt Hamill this weekend at UFC 130, he may be the next on tap for a title-shot at Jon Jones who is currently healing a thumb injury. Both fighters share a mutual disdain for Rashad Evans, so it will be fun for us to see how the smack talk turns if the two are scheduled to meet in October. Jones revealed the UFC‘s plans for Jackson as the next contender (or even possibly Lyoto Machida) during a radio interview with 1260 The Score
“I had to postpone my first title defense against Rashad Evans due to some torn tissues in my thumb. My last doctor’s appointment they told me I should be able to get back to full out training within the next month. I’m excited about that. I’m expected to compete against Lyoto Machida or Rampage Jackson in maybe October, mid-October.”
(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
Filed under: UFCAfter some shuffling around of the upcoming UFC 130 fight card, Rampage Jackson has gone from taking on Thiago Silva in the co-main event to fighting Matt Hamill in the main event. He’s not particularly thrilled with the change.
After some shuffling around of the upcoming UFC 130 fight card, Rampage Jackson has gone from taking on Thiago Silva in the co-main event to fighting Matt Hamill in the main event. He’s not particularly thrilled with the change.
“Thiago Silva is the type of guy I would love to fight because he has great stand up and he comes to fight most of the time, so I was looking forward to fighting a guy like that,” Jackson said on The MMA Hour. “Matt Hamill wasn’t on my radar at all. I wasn’t excited at all. But then again, not a whole lot gets me excited.”
Jackson’s comments about not being excited for the fight stand in contrast to the comments of Hamill, who said he plans to break Jackson’s will. But Jackson says that the difference between their public comments is simple: Hamill needs to convince himself that he can beat Jackson, while Jackson already knows that he can beat Hamill.
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Rankings, Light HeavyweightsThe Jon Jones Era, as you’ve surely heard, has begun: Jones is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and everyone who follows MMA agrees that he’s going to be the champion for a long, long ti…
The Jon Jones Era, as you’ve surely heard, has begun: Jones is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and everyone who follows MMA agrees that he’s going to be the champion for a long, long time.
However, the light heavyweight division is so talented that it’s been nearly impossible for anyone to hold the belt for long: Chuck Liddell lost it to Rampage Jackson, who lost it to Forrest Griffin, who lost it to Rashad Evans, who lost it to Lyoto Machida, who lost it to Shogun Rua, who lost it to Jones. We’ve had seven different champions in the last four years, so why is everyone so sure that Jones is going to hold onto the belt for so long?
The biggest reason, I think, is Jones’ age. With the exception of Evans losing to Machida, every champion I mentioned above lost the belt to someone younger than him. But there aren’t any contenders on the horizon younger than the 23-year-old Jones. Not only is Jones already the best, but he’s going to keep getting better as the rest of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts get older.
So as I list the Top 10 light heavyweights below, I’ll talk about how I’d like their chances against Jones — even though I expect Jones to reign over all of them for a long time.
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Light HeavyweightsThe last time I ranked the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, I wrestled with the question of who’s the No. 2 fighter in the weight class: Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson or Rashad Evans?
The last time I ranked the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, I wrestled with the question of who’s the No. 2 fighter in the weight class: Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson or Rashad Evans?
Now I have the answer: None of the above.
Jon Jones put on his fourth consecutive spectacular performance in beating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, and I can no longer put Jones below anyone other than champion Shogun Rua. With just about any other fighter of Jones’ age and experience I’d say the UFC is rushing him into a title shot in this situation, but with Jones I can’t argue: He has proven that he deserves to be considered the second-best light heavyweight in the sport.
So I’ve got Shogun and Jones, who will meet in the main event at UFC 128, at 1-2 in our light heavyweight rankings. Find out where the rest of the division stacks up below.
(If you look at the changes in Thiago Silva’s body shape over the years, you do have to wonder…)
Could Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson settle their continuing feud with a formal rematch when Sugar’s knee is healthy again? Is Th…
(If you look at the changes in Thiago Silva’s body shape over the years, you do have to wonder…)
– MMAWeekly was the first to report that UFC light-heavyweight contender Thiago Silva has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled match against Quinton Jackson at UFC 130 (May 28, Las Vegas). "Sources close to the bout" confirmed that Rashad Evans will be stepping in for the Pitbull — meaning that Evans’s first opponent since outpointing Quinton Jackson last May will be…Quinton Jackson, once again.
– However, Thiago Silva himself denied the report to Tatame, saying "I’m very healthy and looking forward to fight Rampage…Nobody called us about anything, the fight is on.” Quinton Jackson’s camp was also surprised by the report, and according to Rashad Evans’s manager, Evans hasn’t been offered the fight either.
After some shuffling around of the upcoming 
The Jon Jones Era, as you’ve surely heard, has begun: Jones is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and everyone who follows MMA agrees that he’s going to be the champion for a long, long time.
The last time I ranked the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, I wrestled with the question of who’s the No. 2 fighter in the weight class: Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson or Rashad Evans?
