UFC 130 Fight Card: Top 10 Pre-Event Quotes and Questions They Raise

Sometimes the best way to get a feel for an upcoming clash of MMA fighters is to take a look at some of their best quotes leading up to the event.

When fighters reiterate the same thing we have heard a million times before, it is not necessarily a bad thing because they are probably in the right frame of mind, but it is always great when we get something fresh and original.

So what are the best quotes leading up to UFC 130?

Well there are a ton of great matchups, so let us see who is ready to bring the hammer.

UFC 130 Rampage vs Hamill: News, Results, and More... 

Travis Browne (vs. Stefan Struve)

"I'm the faster and the stronger out of the two, and I think that'll give me the ability to determine where the fight goes."    

Although the undefeated Browne admits that he is giving up a height and reach advantage for the first time in his career, he is certainly not short of confidence in terms of his physical capabilities.  

As an added question: Would Brown even want to go to the ground with Struve? 

Jorge Santiago (vs. Brian Stann)

"There's no way on May 28th that I'm losing to Brian Stann. I'm gonna knock him out or submit him."

Jorge Santiago's opponent for his anticipated return to the UFC is no cupcake. 

Santiago has been on an impressive 11-1 run outside of the UFC, but is he putting too much pressure on himself?

Brian Stann (vs Jorge Santiago)

"If I was a fighter and I had to fight me, Memorial Day weekend would be the last weekend I would EVER want to fight me."

US Marine Brian Stann illustrates how his context for motivation in this fight could not be any better.

Is it hyperbole or could Stann be even more explosive than against Chris Leben?

Stefan Struve (vs. Travis Browne)

"He's got a couple okay knockouts, but his record doesn't tell me much...He's undefeated, but his biggest test was Kongo, and for both of those guys, the fight was disappointing."

Budding heavyweight star Stefan Struve is very matter of fact in his analysis of opponent Travis Browne.

Will his strategy of letting his opponent bring the fight to him prove effective long term?

Rick Story (vs. Thiago Alves)

"I'm gonna beat Alves's ass.  I'm here to destroy him."

Rick Story is being given the biggest opportunity of his career by being matched up against welterweight stud Thiago Alves.

Is he ready for the occasion?

Thiago Alves (vs. Rick Story)

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to either knock him out or submit him...if he thinks he's going to take my punches and hold me down, he's in for a long night."

As much as he is a test for story, Alves is looking to put on another signature performance against a wrestler after disappointing outings against Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch.

Will Alves score another brilliant finish?

Roy Nelson (vs. Frank Mir)

"I have to go out there and attack and attack and attack."

Already a highly regarded heavyweight, Roy Nelson really wants to claim the championship, and he refuses to miss out on it for a lack of trying.

Can "Big Country" achieve championship caliber?

Frank Mir (vs. Roy Nelson)

"There is no malicious blood, but on the night of the fight, still will be bones trying to be broken and trying to knock people's heads off. I have to bring the most vicious version of myself to put him through the fire."

A staple of the UFC heavyweight division, former champion and perennial contender Frank Mir is not ready to allow friend Roy Nelson an easy path to the top.

Will we see the frightening and brutal version of Mir? 

Matt Hamill (vs Quinton Jackson)

"Everyone thinks that I'm not ready for Rampage. I love to be the underdog...It's hammer time"

It took some shuffling in the match-making, but Matt Hamill finally got the top ranked fighter he was promised.

Will Hamill be able to impose his will on the tank that is Quinton Jackson?

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (vs. Matt Hamill)

"Matt Hamill wants to take me down. Why would he want to stand with me?"

Seemingly nobody in their right might should want to try and stand in the pocket and trade punches with former light-heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson.

Can Jackson defend the kind of takedowns that plagued him in the fight against Rashad Evans?