Well, after the largest UFC event in history last month in Toronto, injuries to main event fighters Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard caused a huge shuffle in direction for UFC 130. On Saturday Night, notable fan favorite and former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson steps into the cage against probably one of the bravest fighters in the world (dude can't hear anybody cheering, yet still goes out there) former amateur wrestler Matt Hamill in Las Vegas. Honestly, I still haven't come down from Cloud 9 after running the table last time around (went 4-0 in Toronto baby and 6-2 on my Sportsnet Picks)
Onto my picks :
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Matt Hamill - The main event features "Rampage" vs Hamill. Jackson looks to figure in a title shot against "Bones" Jones if he is able to secure a win, While Hamill is just looking to shock the world. Rampage is coming off a split decision victory over Lyoto Machida at UFC 123 in Detroit last November, While Hamill was able to dominate a well past his due date Tito Ortiz at UFC 121 last October.
A lot of how this fight works out is the mindset of Rampage. A focused Jackson will probably dominate Hamill, but did he take this fight lightly? If he has, Hamill will use his bread and butter to take him down and inevitably grind it out, as Rampage's ground game is more or less non existent. However, A game Rampage will stuff takedowns, look to stand up and circle and look for a knockout. I'm banking on a game Rampage to show up Saturday, and for Hamill to look silly.
The Pick : Rampage by decision.
Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson - The co-main event of the card features heavyweight contenders Frank Mir and Roy "Big Country" Nelson. Mir is coming off making Mirko "Cro Cop" look silly by having him run into his knee last September, while Nelson is coming off a unanimous decision defeat against Junior Dos Santos at UFC 117 last August. A lot has been made about the fact that this isn't the first time these 2 have met : in 2003, Nelson dominated Mir by a score of 15-2 at a Grappler's Quest tournament. Both have matured and grown in leaps and bounds in their games since then, Mir winning the UFC interim heavyweight title (and subsequently getting floored by Shane Carwin in a fight for another interim title) and Nelson winning the TUF reality show, and carve his way into the title picture with wins against Stefan Struve and Brandon Schaub before his loss to JDS.
Mir has shown he can hit very hard, and his ground game is not one to be taken lightly. He hasn't shown however how hard he can get hit, being dominated by Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin with heavy shots while Roy Nelson was able to stand and trade with probably the fighter with the best pure boxing skills in UFC and arguably MMA in Dos Santos. I expect Nelson to be able to outgrapple the former UFC heavyweight champion and make another statement, with Mir ending up going to campaign for a 3rd fight with a returning Brock Lesnar (when he does come back).
The Pick : Nelson by decision.
Jorge Santiago vs Brian Stann - A middleweight fight I'm looking forward to is the re-debut of Sengoku champion Jorge Santiago vs The All-American Hero Brian Stann. Stann was originally supposed to fight Wanderlei Silva before the Brazilian ultimately decided he didn't want to be the "bad guy" while Santiago fresh off his dominance in Japan, decided to come to greener pastures of the UFC (somehow, I also think it had a lot to do with World Victory Road's financial situation). Santiago's first spell in the UFC ended with a 2 losses in 3 fights, but since then has gone on to a 10-1 record in fights with BodogFight, Strikeforce and Sengoku, while the former WEC 205 lb kingpin Stann has impressed in fights with Chris Leben and Mike Massenzio en route to 4 wins in 6 fights inside the Octagon.
Stann will use his wrestling and have Santiago in all loads of trouble, and it will only be a matter of time before the "All-American" will leave Santiago unconscious.
The Pick : Stann by TKO.
Miguel Torres vs. Demetrious Johnson - Former WEC 135 lb. Champion Miguel Torres was originally supposed to fight Brad Pickett. An injury to Pickett caused Johnson, who was originally supposed to fight Brazilian Renan Berao on the Facebook prelims, step in and take on Torres. I expect this fight to more or less "Wrestler vs. Striker", with Torres moving around the cage and using his jab, with Johnson trying to get inside, use his wrestling to ultimately wear him down. Torres has lost a step since his reign in WEC, and I fully expect Johnson to use his strength, wear him down and have his hand raised.
The Pick : Johnson by Decision.
Well, those are my picks. Agree? Disagree? want to get back to me? leave a comment or email me at mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com
Until next time, fight fans!
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