UFC 130: Five Fights Poised to Steal the Spotlight from Rampage vs. Hamill
Make no mistake, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt “The Hammer” Hamill are not only feeling the promotional pressure of another main event, they’re both well aware that as headliners, they’re expected to perform above and beyond all other participants. Given this specific clash of styles, it’s probably safe to assume these guys will indeed put on a show worthy of every cent invested in UFC 130.
That said, there are a few men who round out the rest of the bill who will certainly be looking to steal the show to earn a chance at more prominent broadcast placement and healthier paychecks. Those nightly bonuses never hurt.
While I expect Rampage and Hamill to put forth a furious effort, there are a few other clashes on the card that appear intriguing and certainly possess the potential to steal the show.
5. Travis Browne vs. Stefan Struve
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Look for extraordinarily long extremities to fly in flurries from these big boys.
While Browne stands at a massive 6’7”, Struve enters the cage at an unbelievable 6’11”, making this one of the biggest (literally) match-ups in UFC history.
Both have a strong tendency to bang, with Struve possessing a polished submission game as a fall-back plan that’s proven useful in the past. Who exits the cage with another win on their résumé remains to be seen, but given the past performances of both men, we could see an extremely action-packed slug-fest from these gentlemen.
4. Miguel Torres vs. Demetrious Johnson
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While this bout has flown under the promotional radar, it’s likely to be one of the most technical matches of the night. Johnson is lightning fast and as tenacious as they come, while Torres has become a calculating surgeon, slowly chopping away at foes.
The biggest x-factor of the fight comes in the form of Torres’ discipline. Demetrius will be all over Miguel, who may be the slightly slower of the two. This could lead to frustration, and while it’s never a wise idea to fight frustrated, it does indeed tend to make Miguel’s bouts far more exciting.
Keep an eye on Johnson, who will likely look to ruffle Torres’ feathers by forcing a flustering pace, at which point we may be treated to a genuine barn-burner of a fight.
3. Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson
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With Brock Lesnar sidelined indefinitely, the heavyweight picture once again appears reasonably open; beyond Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos and Shane Carwin, there are no clear-cut contenders, which leaves a whole slew of future possibilities. Mir and Nelson now have the chance to stake their claim as the No. 4 heavyweight under the UFC banner.
What’s particularly exciting about this bout is the similarities of both fighters. It’s doubtful either man will be eager to take this fight to the mat since both own lethal submission games. Frank is the more agile of the two, with a wider array of striking options, but Nelson has the mental fortitude to absorb anything Mir can throw at him. Sounds like the makings of an interesting kickboxing match.
What we’re really left with here is the ultimate chess match. While I’d traditionally look at the more technical player as the favorite, I think Roy’s ability to make a clean match dirty will greatly benefit him in this instance. Mir runs into trouble when he runs into someone he cannot hurt, and Roy Nelson will show up Saturday night intent on not being broken in any way.
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2. Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago
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Jorge Santiago has been away from the octagon for nearly five years, but that doesn’t mean he’s been inactive.
Quite the contrary, Santiago has been besting some high-caliber talent in his time away from the UFC. Victories over Trevor Prangley, Kazuo Misaki and Mamed Khalidov are impressive achievements, and anyone underestimating Santiago may get quite a surprise come fight time.
Stylistically, these two match up wonderfully; in fact, these guys practically mirror each other. I’d issue a submission edge to Santiago, but my stomach tells me Stann is the more durable of the two. When it comes to the striking game, we’re going to see two seasoned strikers with no fear of standing in the pocket, doing just that.
Yet despite my overall breakdown, what will truly end up making this fight amazing is the position the victor will leave himself in. Santiago is eager to prove he’s evolved into one of the middleweight divisions' finest, while a win for Stann means marquee names and a chance to begin a sprint for the title.
Both men want the success, and both will leave every ounce of energy they possess inside the cage to obtain it.
1. Rick Story vs. Thiago Alves
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The welterweight division is in need of new blood, and new challengers for Georges St-Pierre.
This is obviously no secret, and it’s going to be an obvious factor when the cage door swings shut behind Thiago Alves and Rick Story. Alves has risen to heights yet to be glimpsed by Rick Story, and that should be enough motivation to syphon a stellar performance from Rick. If he defeats Thiago, he’ll immediately be recognized as a new contender.
For Alves, things are a bit trickier.
According to the books, he is supposed to win this bout and take one more step toward a second title bid. But Rick Story is no slouch. What he is, is a dangerous fighter with little name recognition; a true double-edged sword for Alves. In order for Thiago to appear as fearsome as ever, he’ll need to turn Rick Story into a new piece of highlight-reel footage, and that’s not likely to be an easy task.
Expect no back-peddling in this one, as both men are left in a position where they must gain victory; one for the sake of divisional advancement, one for the sake of contemporary relevancy.
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