UFC 130 Fight Card: 5 Key Questions Heading into UFC 130
There is sure to be plenty of criticism about the upcoming UFC 130 fight card.
With the lightweight title rubber match between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard scrapped due to injuries, the card doesn't really have that standout fight worthy of headlining a UFC pay-per-view.
With that said, this is still an incredible card full of exciting style match-ups.
Critics may down the card for not boasting a significant main event, but these are usually the kind of cards that end up being the most exciting. It's extremely rare that stacked cards like UFC 129 lives up to the monumental hype that it did.
We are less than two weeks away from UFC 130, which takes place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here are five key questions heading into the event.
Where is Rampage’s head at?
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The pairing of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Matt Hamill isn't a headliner fans are necessarily enthusiastic about seeing, but stylistically, it is definitely a competitive matchup.
When he's on his game, Rampage is a serious challenge to any fighter in the light heavyweight division.
Some may have questioned the decision, but Rampage's performance in his UFC 123 bout with Lyoto Machida was one of the best we've seen from him in a long time.
Instead of winging wild hooks, Rampage used his striking to close the distance and set up his wrestling and clinch work, which ultimately netted him the split-decision victory in the end.
Coming off a lackluster performance against his nemesis Rashad Evans in May 2010, people questioned Rampage's mindset. There was talk of retirement and staying in Hollywood to pursue a movie career.
The one year hiatus and distractions seemed to really effect Rampage's in-ring performance. He lost steam early, and Evans capitalized by clinch riding all the way to a unanimous decision.
Nearly a year removed from that bout, Rampage is set to headline another UFC card, and talk has once again started about pursuing acting and a pending retirement from the sport of MMA.
"I've got injuries, one or two things that bother me, but when I'm fighting, the injuries don't bother me. It's the training that gets old," Rampage said in an ESPN interview.
"I've always said I'll retire when I'm 35. I don't want to fight past 35. There are young guys coming in and doing good. I've been fighting for a long time, and it's no secret that I don't fight the same way I used to."
Rampage insists that his planned retirement and movie pursuit won't effect the outcome of his fight with Hamill at UFC 130.
Hamill is a tough light heavyweight that shouldn't be underestimated. He'll look to pressure Rampage with his striking and improved wrestling. Minus the DQ win over Jon Jones, Hamill is currently on a four-fight win streak over tough names like Tito Ortiz, Mark Munoz, Reese Andy and Keith Jardine.
For Rampage, the fight against Hamill opens up one key question. Which Rampage will we see?
Will we see the former Pride warrior from the Machida bout, or will talk of the future churn out another lackluster performance reminiscent of his grudge match with Evans?
Can Frank Mir Overcome the Matchup Problems Presented by “Big Country?”
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Frank Mir may be the favorite heading into his bout with "TUF" Season 10 winner Roy Nelson, but don't let the odds fool you.
Nelson is an extremely dangerous matchup for Mir, who often struggles against better wrestlers with good submission defense.
After being manhandled by gargantuan heavyweight Brock Lesnar, Mir beefed up his frame to contend in a division supposedly run by oversized beasts.
Mir's UFC 111 mugging at the hands of Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez's dominant victory over Lesnar smashed that theory to bits.
Technique should always trump strength and size.
While Mir's BJJ is exceptional, he still needs to patch up holes in his takedown defense.
Wrestlers dictate the action of the fight, and if Mir can't submit Nelson, he could be in for a long night. It's easy to poke fun and overlook a guy like Nelson, but he is quickly becoming a serious player in the heavyweight division.
Is Rick Story a solid test for Thiago Alves’ new diet?
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Much has been made about Thiago Alves' weight issues in the past.
At UFC 124, the former title contender looked to be in top form in his routing of welterweight slugger John "Doomsday" Howard.
It was a great way for Alves to rebound from his dreadful UFC 117 rematch with Jon Fitch, a bout he didn't even make weight for.
Still, Alves' upcoming bout with rising welterweight Rick Story bares a slight resemblance to the Fitch fight.
Story was a standout wrestler at Southern Oregon University, and his successful collegiate background has made the smooth transition into the world of MMA. At the "TUF" 12 Finale, Story earned a unanimous decision victory over welterweight prospect Johny Hendricks.
Even though Hendricks was a two-time NCAA Division I collegiate wrestling champion, Story still managed to drag the fight to the ground, but his improved striking is what stood out most. Story worked combinations to the head and body and kept Hendricks on his heels throughout the majority of the bout.
If Story is able to use his boxing to disguise his takedowns, he has a solid opportunity to walk into UFC 130 and upset Alves.
Can Alves' cardio hold up against three rounds of persistent takedowns?
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How will Jorge Santiago’s second UFC run go?
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The addition of Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago to the UFC roster is huge.
He could eventually emerge as a fresh title contender in a division crippled by Anderson Silva's dominance.
In his first UFC run, Santiago amassed a 1-2 record. He is 11-1 since his departure from the organization, and only one of those victories went the distance.
Will the second time be the charm?
Santiago meets a stiff test in hard-nosed marine Brian Stann, who has drastically improved his overall fight game since dropping to middleweight.
Stann is 4-1 in his last five bouts, with the loss coming to top-10 light heavyweight Phil Davis.
At UFC 125, he showcased improved striking, footwork, and head movement in his impressive first round TKO stoppage of Chris Leben.
While Santiago faced solid opposition outside the UFC, there is nothing quite like competing in the world's leading MMA organization that hosts world-class talent like Silva, Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami and Vitor Belfort.
It'll be interesting to see if his time away from the octagon aids him with the needed experience to become a UFC title contender.
Can Miguel Torres climb back into title contention?
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Like the Frank Mir and Roy Nelson bout, Miguel Torres' UFC 130 bout with Demetrious Johnson has tremendous upset potential.
Torres is a dangerous Muay Thai artist with black belt level BJJ, but Johnson presents some interesting problems in the wrestling department.
Despite his placement as a top-10 bantamweight, most people aren't familiar with Johnson, who is a strong wrestler with one of the most explosive shots in all of MMA.
Torres should have a significant advantage in the exchanges. He is the much taller fighter, and he boasts a technical superiority in just about every area of the striking department.
A victory over Johnson should put Torres a win or two away from a bantamweight title shot.
Can Torres climb back into title contention?
The key thing to watch in his bout with Johnson is his ability to defend takedowns. Torres has the striking to exchange with any fighter in the bantamweight division, but if he hopes to brandish UFC gold, he'll need to showcase improved takedown defense.
The top five bantamweights include Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez, Brian Bowles, Scott Jorgensen, and Urijah Faber. All of these guys are great wrestlers, and two of them have already dominated Torres. He has to find a way to adjust.
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