In the main event of Saturday’s UFC 130, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson squares off with Matt “The Hammer” Hamill.
A win for Rampage is expected to put him in line for a title shot while a win for Hamill will thrust him into the top contender discussion.
Here is a look what each fighter brings to the cage:
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (31-8) – Rampage is still one of the most intimidating fighters in all of MMA. His powerful hands are still amongst the best in the division and he always is a threat for a one-punch knockout. Jackson has under-rated grappling skills, but he has been susceptible to the takedown recently. Where Jackson struggles is against opponents that have diverse striking, mainly leg kicks, and have explosive takedowns. Jackson can win this fight by keeping it standing and out-striking Hamill.
Matt Hamill (10-2) – Hamill has quietly worked his way up the light heavyweight division. He is on a five-fight win streak with decision wins over Tito Ortiz and Keith Jardine in his last two bouts. Hamill is primarily a wrestler, but he has improved his striking over the last few years and shows good movement when on his feet. It will be tough for Jackson to land a clean shot on Hamill if he continues to use the footwork he has in recent bouts. Where Hamill needs to take this fight is to the ground, where he can control Rampage and earn a decision. I don’t look for Hamill to earn a KO or a submission, but I think he has a better chance of winning than many think.
Who Will Win: I think this will really be a competitive fight and really test both fighter’s will. I expect Jackson to have to fight off his back during periods of this fight and I also expect Hamill to have to recover from a stiff punch from Jackson. Ultimately, I think Hamill will be a little too cautious in his first PPV main event bout, and that will cost him a decision in the long run to the more aggressive Jackson.
