UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill, is it the fight you want to see?
Posted on February 16, 2011, 02:48 AM by Ryan VenturaQuinton “Rampage” Jackson is a bonafide superstar. Not only in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, but in movies, television, and of course video games. Everyone and your grandma is familiar with the name. Many of his career defining moments are etched into our minds. His slam to Ricardo Arona in PRIDE, his wars with Wanderlei Silva, and his brutal destruction of Chuck Liddell in the UFC are wonderful memories.
Jackson went on a hiatus shortly after filming the tenth season of the Ultimate Fighter, to pursue career interests outside of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Eventually, he was forced to come back to fulfill his contractual obligations with the promotion (he ended up signing a six fight extension). After nearly a year of hostility brewing between the two fighters, Quinton Jackson finally met “Sugar” Rashad Evans at UFC 114 in an event that didn't live up to any of it's hype. Jackson's last minute preparation at his training camp was his downfall in that fight. It was clear, this wasn't the same Rampage we watched in PRIDE, this wasn't the same Rampage that became a fan favorite in the UFC. Rashad earned a title shot against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jackson's career went into limbo.
What was next for him? He didn't seem motivated in his last bout, but he was given a chance to redeem himself against Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at UFC 123. A committed Rampage beat the Dragon in a very close match. To get one step closer to the Light Heavyweight title picture, the UFC originally booked a very dangerous Thiago Silva to test Jackson at UFC 130. However, with Thiago possibly failing his drug test from UFC 125, the promotion had to find a replacement. There was a moment when it looked like Jackson would face his rival Rashad Evans in a rematch. However with Rashad suffering from injury and pulling out of his title match with Shogun, the UFC turned to Matt Hamill.....
Matt Hamill? With all due respect to him, he isn't exactly a marquee name in the world of MMA. He is a very game opponent and is a threat for many Light Heavyweights, but when it came to the big fights he always came up short. Jonathan Snowden from BloodyElbow.com perfectly explained my point of view:
“Hamill is no world beater. Every time he's stepped up in class, he's been sent scurrying in defeat. He lost to Michael Bisping, a blown up middleweight, in England. He was overwhelmed by Rich Franklin, another undersized light heavyweight, in Atlanta in 2008. Although technically a win, he was so badly outgunned by Jon Jones that there was legitimate fear for his safety and well being.”
I'm not counting Matt Hamill out. He may not be as big of a name as Quinton Jackson, but he could prove to be a very good test for Rampage. We saw what Rashad did to Jackson using his wrestling. I believe Hamill could very well do the same thing. This match may not be what any of us wanted to see, but there actually is a lot at stake in this bout. Hamill has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. If Rampage losses what will become of him? Mentally is his heart and mind still in the fight? In order for Jackson to once again become a legitimate threat in the Light Heavyweight division, he needs to become the Rampage we grew up watching. He needs to show not only the public, but himself that he is still one of the most dangerous men to ever step into a ring or cage. It's going to be interesting to hear the stories developing for both fighters going into UFC 130.
Picture: CombatLifeStyle.com
Comments
I'll watch Rampage fight anyone!
Rampage is going to destroy Hamill first round Knockout, Hell yeah! Who doesn't won't to see Rampage kick some ASs!
Hamill will definately try and make the fight boring by taking it to the ground that's all his got against Rampage...good thing Rampage has takedown defence but he better work hard at it in camp...so pissed off Silva Rampage woulda been such an awesome fight now Rampage gets a no name brand like Hamill how embaressing Rampage deserves better! And no, not has been Griffin neither
me too!
I think this is a great time for a Rampage vs Forrest rematch!!.. What do u think Lowkickers?..
Forrest fights nearly the same guys all the time. Wana see some originals and hold off on the rematches.
i like rampage talks some scrap but great chap and he very funny
Meh...you could do worse for sure, it won't be a hugging match
nope
It actually does do something for Rampage it keeps him active I love Rampage but get worried when he doesn't fight often he's not the kind of guy that can be inactive and come back sharp. It was only a week ago that he said he was at 250 pounds which is huge for a guy who doesn't enjoy training let alone cut weight and he recenlt said he doesn't want to fight Hamill. Yes Rampage should knock out out Hamill but it wouldn'tbe the first time he's beaten an underdog. Rampage worst enemy is himself I just hope he stays motivated and trains har if he does Rampge v Evans 2 won't be too far away.
disagree, but rampage does need this win to keep him in title picture, for Hamill this is HUGE for him, if he beats rampage he has just made a name for himself and a spot on the light heavyweight top 10.
Oops i meant it wouldn't be the first time he's been beaten by an underdog. If page is in shape and moivated he should win by TKO.
the way Rampage is fighting as of late I wouldn't be surprised if Hamil wins this. Hamil would have to go back to his wrestling to do it... but he's got ok hands and an iron chin it's possible.
Hamill is a dump truck, he's the feel good story of the UFC. If I was Page I would decline this fight cause it's an insult.
Rampage is like Bj Penn you never know which version is gonna show up on fight night. But in this case i dont think Rampage is gonna have to be at his best to win this fight
Agree with the Penn comparison.
Give Hamill some credit. He is stronger than Rampage and has World class wrestling. If Hamill utilizes his wrestling like he should then it could be a long night for Rampage. What I mean by that is that all too often Hamill will stand and trade with a better striker (Franklin), when he should be utilizing his ground and pound. Hamill is a threat to anyone in the division, and if Rampage takes him lightly, he just might go home with another loss.
Well said.
Sorry but I'm not having that world class term being used here, please don't use that term to describe Hamills wrestling it's not world class in terms of actual wrestling which is the Olympics and not world class in ''MMA TERMS' either'. BUT you are right if Rampage takes him lightly and Hamills uses a good game plan whihc for me would be to use ALOT of leg kicks, tieing Rampage up in the clinch and take him down then we could see an upset. Although Hamill hasn't been to interested in using his wrestling lately, i'm sure his camp will realise what a huge opportunity this is for him and will try to execute a game plan to win by decision. For me though it depends on what Rampage shows up.
Thats how Forrest pulle dout the decision. Leg and head kicks to keep him off rythm and also to injure that power right. Clinch to close the gap and not alow him to get power generated. With rampage if hes not motivated to rip off heads then hes easy to plan for and easy to grind out a win.
only a blind man or the so called judges at the fight thinks biping beat hammill. Honestly most of the fight was pretty one sided
I remember thinking the same thing.
@glocopera
That fight is the only time where I have ever questioned the integrity of the decisions in the UFC coz I usually only question the mma intellegence of the judges. I like Bisping and defend him on here often but when you look at the favourable match making he gets compared to say Jardnie and Vera have got recently, that decision against Hamill stinks even more imo.
yeah he definetly did not win that fight. Funny that it was the first UFC in England too.
it wasn't UFC was in England years b4
First of all let me say I agree with the guy way up there that said he would watch Rampage fight anyone. I mean its Rampage man! I agree with rcv's assesment of the fight. This will be tough for Rampage. Dealing with another wrestler is probably what he doesn't want to do but that's what he gets now. I think Rampage has a lot to prove to himself against wrestlers after the Rashad fight. Hopefully he can stop the takedowns and keep the fight on the feet. It could be easy for Rampage to take this lightly but I hope he doesn't. I personally am looking forward to this fight and I hope Rampage can pull off this win and work his way towards another title fight.
"He lost to Michael Bisping, a blown up middleweight"... NO NO NO!!! officially yeah he lost. BUT we ALL know he really won that fight. If wasnt not held in England and wasnt judged by bias judges in England where Bisping is from and lives then the judges would have got it right!!! Hamill got cheated!!!... non the less Rampage will smash Hamill... just getting the record straight
I don't wanna see that fight. Period.
they've deliberately picked someone who chokes when he steps up..
rampage gets special treatment from dana quite often and this is another 'gift' for him to build him back up
that said.. i will laugh my testicles off if matt hamill wins, page would be fuuucked
He doesn't choke. I mean seriously. Look who the losses are to.
this article says hamil lost to bisping, how can you use that as an argument? he completly destroyed bisping, i dont give a f*ck what the judges say.
I think this is a great time for a Rampage vs Forrest rematch!!.. What do u think Lowkickers?..
I'm actually all for that fight. Not only would it do numbers, I think that would be an even better match for Rampage to redeem himself.
a big step down in competition. a win over Silva would have probably gotten him a title shot, a win over hammil probably wont
He was offered the title shot remember?
yea but come on 6 weeks isnt enough time to get ready for a title shot, let alone a fight against shogun
Yea true. It would if he kept his butt in fighting shape haha.
yeh its to bad i woulda have like to see rampage fight silva, if he beat hamill he gains nothing, unless its a vicious KO thats fun to watch other then that this is a pointless fight for rampage
If Silva did steroids they should cancel the way they cut Brandon Vera, and bring him back for one more chance at least.
If Silva did steroids they should cancel the way they cut Brandon Vera, and bring him back for one more chance at least.
They cut Vera for his lack of motivation to the sport he's been gun shy recently and its been awhile since he pulled the trigger on anyone
Honestly, Vera has became a liability in his last 2 fights. No offense to him but I would have cut him too. He just had his orbital broke in 3 places and got a plate in his face, and now his nose is on the side of his face.
IMO he needs to work his way because, if for no other reason to ensure his health and well being.
I wanted to see Rampage vs Rashad rematch way more but this should be a pretty good fight. I'm gonna pick Hamill by decision.
Im a hamill fan hes always been underrated!
No disrespect to Hammil, but he isn't in Rampage's league yet (ie. top 5 LHW). This is a rushed fight for Hammil, and I was really looking forward to hm fighting Davis in Toronto. Now I get to see ,... Brilz? Screw that!
dont u guys want to see another knock out from rampage? Come on!!
K= plz
I guess Rampage still feels like he didn't perform vs Machida and wants an easier fight to build himself up again.
Rampage vs Hamill live stream UFC 130 Fighting online in HD Awesome.
Main card
* Light Heavyweight bout: United States Quinton Jackson vs. United States Matt Hamill
* Heavyweight bout: United States Frank Mir vs. United States Roy Nelson
* Welterweight bout: Brazil Thiago Alves vs. United States Rick Story
* Heavyweight bout: Netherlands Stefan Struve vs. United States Travis Browne
* Middleweight bout: United States Brian Stann vs. Brazil Jorge Santiago
http://www.sportstvhomage.com/2011/05/rampage-vs-hamill-live-stream-ufc-130-fighting-online-in-hd-awesome/
http://www.sportstvhomage.com/2011/05/rampage-vs-hamill-live-stream-ufc-130-fighting-online-in-hd-awesome/
http://www.sportstvhomage.com/2011/05/rampage-vs-hamill-live-stream-ufc-130-fighting-online-in-hd-awesome/