(Photo courtesy of UFC.com. Rampage’s victory reaction gif is now after the jump.)
When the anticipated rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard was scrapped from this card, we were left with a few big names and a lot of hope. Despite a few stellar knockouts earlier in the evening, UFC 130 ended much like my date to see “No Strings Attached”: a lot of booing, a disappointing 15 minute fight, and I was out $50.
Every UFC card has to be about something, and with no gold up for grabs the storyline for this event became Quinton Jackson’s climb back up to the top of the Light Heavyweight division. Dana White declared and Rogan and Goldberg echoed that an impressive, entertaining victory over Matt Hamill would land Rampage a title fight with champ Jon Jones. Rampage secured the win, but his shot at the belt is still up in the air.
(Photo courtesy of UFC.com. Rampage’s victory reaction gif is now after the jump.)
When the anticipated rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard was scrapped from this card, we were left with a few big names and a lot of hope. Despite a few stellar knockouts earlier in the evening, UFC 130 ended much like my date to see “No Strings Attached”: a lot of booing, a disappointing 15 minute fight, and I was out $50.
Every UFC card has to be about something, and with no gold up for grabs the storyline for this event became Quinton Jackson’s climb back up to the top of the Light Heavyweight division. Dana White declared and Rogan and Goldberg echoed that an impressive, entertaining victory over Matt Hamill would land Rampage a title fight with champ Jon Jones. Rampage secured the win, but his shot at the belt is still up in the air.
(“Hold up…you mean ya’ll were watching that shit???”)
Coming off of a semi-contested and equally boring win over Lyoto Machida, Rampage’s performance last night was meant to be more than a notch in the win column. If all went according to plan, it would have provided the UFC with the type of highlight-reel footage Jackson hasn’t produced since his knock out victory over Wanderlei Silva in 2008 and had fans clamoring for a fight against Jon “Bones” Jones. But last night’s fight yielded few fireworks if any. Hamill’s mantra in the lead-up to the bout was that he would break Jackson’s will, but only a few minutes into the bout it was “The Hammer” who looked like he’d rather be anywhere than in that cage. Going 0-17 in his plodding, telegraphed takedown attempts, Hamill was unable to get the fight to the ground and understandably reluctant to stand and trade with Rampage. As for Jackson, he did deviate slightly from his hands-heavy style–incorporating knees, elbows, and even a few token kicks into his attack–but he didn’t initiate or go in for the kill against a clearly gun-shy Hamill. After the fight, Jackson put some of the blame on a fractured hand he injured back in December of last year. [Note to Quinton: we believe you and all, but you’re not supposed to talk about that kind of stuff, bruh.] . Despite the lackluster performance, Dana White has stated that pending the positive outcome of tests on Rampage’s hand, he will likely be the first challenger to Jones’s belt.
If there were any questions about Frank Mir’s place in the heavyweight division following his first-round loss to Shane Carwin and coma-inducing win over faded star Mirko Cro Cop, they remain completely unanswered. His one-sided victory over the obese Roy Nelson says less about his dedication to training than it does “Big Country’s” lack of it. The time has come to call the “Big Country” experiment a flop. The myth of his terrific cardio has been dispelled in consecutive losses to Dos Santos and Mir, where he served as a very exhausted, very durable durable punching bag for the full three rounds. The dude has a terrific chin—did he even blink when he ate those crushing elbows late in round three?–but the notion that he can walk into the Octagon with Cheeto fingers and compete with the top of the division is absurd. Fatigue reduced his vaunted ground game to rolling to his ample belly and working his way to his feet; it’s an impressive trick even without Frank Mir on top of him, but it’s not enough to compete at this level. Mir looked good taking Nelson down at will and landing some heavy shots, but it’s fair to say that “Big Country” was looking for the path of least resistance throughout the fight, even if it meant getting smashed in the face or tossed to the mat. Despite his lethargic performance, Nelson does possess power in his hands- Mir left the Octagon with a broken jaw and rib to accompany his win bonus.
As for the rest of the card, they did their part to entertain and it’s a shame that their work was soured by the last thirty minutes of cage-time. Brian Stann opened the night with big knockout over the returning Jorge Santiago in the “Fight of the Night”. UFC heavyweightTravis Browne secured his spot on a future ‘Ultimate Knockouts’ dvd by felling mighty oak Stefan Struve in spectacular fashion. Demetrius “Mighty Mouse” Johnson won a tough-to-call decision over Miguel Torres in a hyper-active fight contested largely on the ground. Top Welterweight Thiago Alves was given no room to work against Rick Story. Story kept constant pressure on Thiago, pressing him to the cage and working for takedowns. His decision victory marks his sixth straight win in the UFC. Tim Boetsch looked dominant in his first fight at Middleweight, rag-dolling Kendall Grove in a one-sided decision. This was Da Spyder’s second consecutive loss and his third in four outings. Late replacement Rafaello Oliveira was overpowered by Lightweight juggernaut Gleison Tibau. Tibau’s second round ground and pound forced Oliveira to surrender his back and tap out to a rear naked choke in the evening’s only submission.
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.
LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 130 live blog for Thiago Alves vs. Rick Story, a welterweight bout on tonight’s pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Alves (18-7, 10-4 UFC) returned to the win column at UFC 124 in December with a dominant unanimous decision win over John Howard. That victory snapped a two-fight skid with a welterweight title fight loss to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 100 and a unanimous decision loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 117 – a fight for which Alves failed to make weight for the third time in his UFC career. Working with famed fighter nutritionist Mike Dolce for this fight, Alves weighed in at 170 on the button. Story (12-3, 5-1 UFC) has won five straight fights, including a unanimous decision win over Johny Hendricks in December.
LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 130 live blog for Thiago Alves vs. Rick Story, a welterweight bout on tonight’s pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Alves (18-7, 10-4 UFC) returned to the win column at UFC 124 in December with a dominant unanimous decision win over John Howard. That victory snapped a two-fight skid with a welterweight title fight loss to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 100 and a unanimous decision loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 117 – a fight for which Alves failed to make weight for the third time in his UFC career. Working with famed fighter nutritionist Mike Dolce for this fight, Alves weighed in at 170 on the button. Story (12-3, 5-1 UFC) has won five straight fights, including a unanimous decision win over Johny Hendricks in December.
Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS – The near-lovefest that has become UFC 130 came to a partial stop Friday at the official event weigh-ins at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Main event fighters Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Hamill each weighed in at …
LAS VEGAS – The near-lovefest that has become UFC 130 came to a partial stop Friday at the official event weigh-ins at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Main event fighters Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Hamill each weighed in at 205 pounds for their bout, then engaged in the afternoon’s most intense staredown. It was a stark contrast to Wednesday’s press conference, where the two shared a couple light moments on stage even before their staredown photo op.
When the fight was booked, Jackson was vocal about not having much interest in the fight. But after Hamill said he planned to break the former light heavyweight champion’s will, Jackson took a new level of motivation. And Wednesday’s cordiality went out the window Friday in favor of a forehead-to-forehead showcase, Hamill’s hands up and Jackson’s at his sides.
Hamill told emcee Joe Rogan that the fight against Jackson will be the most important fight of his career.
“This is the biggest opportunity for me to help my career,” Hamill said. “I know from Day One he didn’t want to fight me, but I promise you one thing – it’s going to be a good fight.”
Jackson, who doesn’t have a knockout win since his UFC 92 victory over Wanderlei Silva, promised fans he’s looking for a finish against Hamill, and that Hamill’s comments about breaking his will got him amped up.
“It motivated me to train extra hard,” Jackson said. “I was already training hard ’cause it’s been a while since I knocked anyone out. But I’m ready to put on a show for you guys and get a knockout.”
Co-main event heavyweights Frank Mir and Roy Nelson, though, continued to be almost playful about their fight. The two Las Vegas residents, who share many mutual friends and sometimes train together, each weighed in at 260 pounds, and fought back smiles as they squared off.
Making his return to the UFC after an absence of four and a half years, Jorge Santiago, who most recently was Sengoku’s middleweight champion, weighed in at 185 on the nose for his middleweight fight with military hero Brian Stann. Stann was 186 on a Memorial Day weekend card that he has said will be emotional for him as a veteran. That bout opens Saturday’s pay-per-view.
And despite trouble making weight in the past, Thiago Alves weighed in at 170 pounds for his welterweight bout against Rick Story, who was also 170 and brings a five-fight winning streak into the event.
UFC 130 airs live on pay-per-view at 9 p.m. Eastern on Saturday and is preceded by a pair of fights on Spike TV at 8 p.m. In addition, three preliminary card fights will air on Facebook at 6:20 p.m.
The official weigh-in results are below:
Main Card
Quinton Jackson (205) vs. Matt Hamill (205)
Frank Mir (260) vs. Roy Nelson (260)
Stefan Struve (255) vs. Travis Browne (247)
Thiago Alves (170) vs. Rick Story (170)
Brian Stann (186) vs. Jorge Santiago (185) Spike TV Prelims
Miguel Torres (135.5) vs. Demetrious Johnson (135.5)
Kendall Grove (185) vs. Tim Boetsch (186) Facebook Prelims
Gleison Tibau (155) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (155)
Michael McDonald (136) vs. Chris Cariaso (135)
Renan Barão (135) vs. Cole Escovedo (135)
This card was plagued with pre-fight injuries. So many fights have been shuffled around here. These are my picks. Rampage vs Hamill Rampage Frank Mir vs Roy Nelson I’ve got Frank Mir in this one. Thiago Alves vs Rick Story I’ve got Alves. Struve vs Browne I’ve surprisingly got Browne here. Stann vs Santiago I’ve […]
This card was plagued with pre-fight injuries. So many fights have been shuffled around here. These are my picks.
LAS VEGAS — Watch below as welterweight Rick Story discusses his UFC 130 bout against Thiago Alves, why he called out “The Pitbull,” what he believes is Alves’ biggest weakness and what he learned from his UFC 99 loss to John Hathaway, which happens to be the last time he lost a fight.
LAS VEGAS — Watch below as welterweight Rick Story discusses his UFC 130 bout against Thiago Alves, why he called out “The Pitbull,” what he believes is Alves’ biggest weakness and what he learned from his UFC 99 loss to John Hathaway, which happens to be the last time he lost a fight.
LAS VEGAS — This is the 
LAS VEGAS – The near-lovefest that has become 
LAS VEGAS — Watch below as welterweight 