UFC 130 Fight Card: An Early Breakdown and Prediction for Every Fight

UFC 130 will be following a really stacked UFC 129 card with its own very stacked card.

This card contains a former WEC champion (Miguel Torres), a former interim UFC champion (Frank Mir) and a former UFC champion (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson).

These are some tough fights that shove some of these guys near the top of their respective divisions. Maynard versus Edgar III should be another great war and end with another spectacular finish. 

Here they are, an early look and predictions for UFC 130.

Preliminary Card Predictions

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: (L-R) Georges St. Pierre battles Thiago Alves during their welterweight title bout during UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Thiago Alves (18-7) vs. Rick Story (12-3)

Prediction: Thiago Alves

Miguel Torres (39-3) vs. Brad Pickett (20-5)

Prediction: Miguel Torres

Kendall Grove (12-8, 1 NC) vs. Tim Boetsch (12-4)

Prediction: Kendall Grove

Demetrious Johnson (9-1) vs. Renan Barao (25-1, 1 NC)

Prediction: Demetrious Johnson

Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago

Brian Stann (10-3)

Seven wins by knockout, two by decision, one by submission

One loss by decision, one by submission, one by knockout

Jorge Santiago (23-8)

12 wins by submission, nine by knockout, two by decision

Five losses by knockout, three by decision

Breakdown

Santiago has spent a while outside of the UFC and is making his return as the No. 7 ranked middleweight according to Sherdog.com. Now he returns against a dangerous fighter in Stann, who could spoil Santiago's return party. Santiago gets the fight to the ground and submits Stann to earn his 13th win by submission.

Prediction: Santiago by second-round submission

Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne

Stefan Struve (21-4)

14 wins by submission, five by knockout, one by disqualification, one by decision

Three losses by knockout, one by submission

Travis Browne (10-0-1)

Eight wins by knockout, one by submission, one by decision

No losses

Breakdown

Struve is an awkwardly tall and lanky heavyweight. He needs to be able to use his size advantage like Jon Jones has been able to. Browne is coming off a draw against Cheick Kongo who lost a point due to holding on to Browne's shorts. Struve has the ability to end Browne's unbeaten streak and certainly has the experience, even at the young age of 23, to put the first blemish on Browne's record.

Prediction: Struve via Unanimous Decision

Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson

Frank Mir (14-5)

Eight wins by submission, three by knockout, two by decision, one by disqualification

Five losses by knockout

Roy Nelson (15-5)

Eight wins by knockout, four by submission, three by decision

Four losses by decision, one by knockout

Breakdown

This is a tough fight for Nelson who is coming off a loss to Junior dos Santos and is facing yet another top heavyweight fighter. This is definitely one of, if not the hardest fight in Nelson's career so far and will have trouble with Mir. Mir will be able to even out each of Nelson's advantages. Mir should be able to use that Brazilian jiu-jitsu knowledge of his to beat Nelson.

Prediction: Mir by Unanimous Decision

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Matt Hamill

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (31-8)

14 wins by knockout, 10 by decision, seven by submission

Three losses by knockout, three by decision, one by submission, one by disqualification

Matt Hamill (10-2)

Six wins by knockout, three by decision, one by disqualification

One loss by knockout, one by decision

Breakdown

Rampage has the knockout power to lay out Hamill. Hamill is facing a tough opponent who should be able to neutralize his wrestling with his takedown defense and strength. This is a really tough fight for Hamill and he won't last long with Rampage throwing bombs at him.

Prediction: Rampage by second-round TKO

Frankie Edgar (C) vs. Gray Maynard

Frankie Edgar (13-1-1)

Eight wins by decision, three by submission, two by knockout

One loss by decision

Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)

Eight wins by decision, two by knockout

No losses

Breakdown

These two fighters will battle it out for a third installment of the Maynard/Edgar series. Maynard owns the only win so far as the two fought to a draw on New Year's Day. It will once again be yet another war that goes to decision but this time instead of it being a draw and Edgar remaining champion, Maynard will keep his perfect record and become the new, UFC Lightweight Champion.

Prediction: Maynard by Unanimous Decision