IT’S FIGHT WEEK once again and as UFC 130 touches down in Las Vegas missing one of its original main events, the overriding feeling from MMA fans is that this isn’t the most spectacular card put together.
Nevertheless, the prospect of watching the unpredictable Quinton “Rampage” Jackson take on Matt “The Hammer” Hamill, as well as an intriguing heavyweight encounter between Frank Mir and Roy “Big Country” Nelson, is more than enough to tie us over.
Does Rampage still have the hunger?
Despite being one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC for the past four years, there has always been a question over Quinton Jackson’s focus and desire. He took time out from fighting last year to appear as BA Baracus in the successful A-Team movie.
This has once again lead to questions over his commitment to the UFC. Rampage always talks a good fight, but has openly admitted in the past that he hates training and in the press conferences this week admitted that he plans to retire in 3 years, aged 35, to pursue a career in the movies.
Before that happens he faces a solid, if unspectacular opponent in Matt Hamill. The Hammer comes into this fight off the back of wins over Tito Ortiz, Keith Jardine, Mark Munoz and Reece Andy, and will always look to his wrestling to try and overcome Rampage.
In the lead up to the fight, the Hammer irked Jackson by claiming he was going to “break his will”. This will no doubt spur the Memphis native on and with Rampage’s volatile nature and explosive power I fancy him to be too strong on the feet for Hamill, and prove once again his will and desire is still there.
Roy Nelson doesn’t look like a mixed martial artist. If you haven’t seen him fight before and googled a picture of the man, the word “athlete” wouldn’t exactly spring to mind. But the winner of TUF season 10 shouldn’t be taken lightly, excuse the pun.
Having knocked out Brendon Schaub and Stefan Struve before being on the wrong end of a unanimous decision against this season’s TUF coach Junior Dos Santos, Nelson now faces the tough prospect of trying to overcome the formidable Frank Mir in his quest to reach the top of a competitive heavyweight division.
Frank Mir’s form has been erratic recently sporting a 3-2 record in his last 5 fights. His stand-up has improved considerably over his last few fights but I think Nelson’s is better and he must look to utilize his ground game if he is to win this fight. I predict we could see Roy’s now famous belly-rubbing celebration at the end of this one.
Elsewhere in the heavyweight division, Stefan Struve looks to continue his recent good form as he takes on Travis Browne. Browne is unbeaten in his MMA career sporting a 10-0-1 record, the draw coming against Cheik Congo last time out, and is slight favourite with the bookies going into this fight. Conditioning could be the key here and if that is the case my money has to be on Struve, but it could be a close back and forth battle.
Fresh off his guest appearance on this season’s TUF, Brian Stann takes on Jorge Santiago in a middleweight matchup. The Las Vegas crowd will no doubt be cheering on US Marine Stann but he must be weary of Santiago who has a solid stand-up game and is very experienced. Thiago Alves and Rick Story complete the main card which, as always, airs on ESPN.
