UFC 130 – Rampage vs. Hamill
May 28, 2011
MGM Grand Garden Arena,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Light Heavyweight
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32 – 8 – 0) defeated Matt Hamill (10 – 3 – 0) by unanimous decision. Jackson easily stuffed Hamill’s repeated takedown attempts, answering with powerful punches to the head and body. Other than leg kicks, Hamill was not able to mount any real offense against the former light heavyweight champion. Jackson, who is 4-1 in his last 5, holds his ranking at [#4]. Perhaps a rematch with [#5] Lyoto Machida would help show where both men belong among the top of the division. Hamill, who was on a 5 fight win streak prior to this bout, moves 1 spots down the ranks from [#15] to [#16]. He should look to rebound against [#9] Ryan Bader should he defeat [#26] Tito Ortiz, who are scheduled to fight at UFC 132 in July.
Heavyweight
Frank Mir (15 – 5 – 0) defeated Roy Nelson (15 – 6 – 0) by unanimous decision. Mir took down Nelson repeatedly, once with a textbook judo hip toss in the 1st round. Nelson’s gas tank failed him by the 2nd round, and Mir continued to capitalize with both strikes on the feet and superior ground control. Mir, who is 3-2 in his last 5, holds his rank at [#7]. Since the top of the heavyweight division is locked up at this point, Mir should look to face someone like [#22] Travis Browne to stay busy. Nelson, who is on a 2 fight slide (2-4 in his last 6), moves 1 spot down the ranks from [#25] to [#26]. Nelson could face [#16] Mike Russow next to try and get back on the winning track.
Heavyweight
Travis Browne (11 – 0 – 1) defeated Stefan Struve (21 – 5 – 0) by KO due to a punch at 4:11 of round 1. Struve nearly locked on a D’arce choke early in the round, but was stopped by a crushing superman punch by Browne. Struve’s body seemed to fold upon itself as he fell to the canvas, followed by two unanswered blows from Browne. Browne, who has won 9 of his 11 victories by stoppage, jumps 13 spots up the ranks from [#35] to [#22]. Browne should take a step up and face [#7] Frank Mir in his next bout. Struve, who is 2-2 in his last 4, falls 16 spots down the ranks from [#34] to [#50]. Struve will need a win in his next bout, and should look to face someone like [#54] Rob Broughton.
Welterweight
Rick Story (13 – 3 – 0) defeated Thiago Alves (18 – 8 – 0) by unanimous decision. Story used takedowns and clinch work to vex Alves throughout the fight. Alves fired back with knees and punches that at times backed Story up, but never fully stopped his forward motion. Story, who is on a 6 fight win streak , jumps 12 spots up the ranks from [#23] to [#11]. Story is making serious waves in the welterweight division, and should look to face a top contender like [#6] Josh Koscheck (who should be returning to competition in mid 2011) or [#4] John Fitch (once he returns from his injury). Alves, who is now 1-3 in his last 4, falls 5 spots down the ranks from [#12] to [#17]. A fight between Alves and [#16] Jake Ellenberger would prove telling for where both men belong in the division.
Middleweight
Brian Stann (11 – 3 – 0) defeated Jorge Santiago (23 – 9 – 0) by KO due to punches at 4:29 of round 2. Stann rocked Santiago in the 1st with a left hook that sent him crashing to the mat. Santiago was able to fight through the ground and pound that followed from Stann. Santiago’s suspect chin came into play again in the 2nd round, when he ate a right to the side of his head. Again Santiago hit the mat, and Stann finished it this time with his ground and pound. Stann, who is 5-1 in his last 6, jumps 12 spots up the ranks from [#18] to [#6]. If [*]Wanderlei Silva makes it past [#23] Chris Leben, that would be a great match to make (as Stann has requested the match personally). Santiago, who is 3-2 in his last 5 (6 of his 9 losses coming from (T)KO), moves 6 spots down the ranks from [#5] to [#11]. A bout with [#27] Dan Miller would help show if Santiago is in over his head in the deep waters of the UFC.
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