Main Card:
Quinton Jackson vs. Matt Hamill
Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson
Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne
Thiago Alves vs. Rick Story
Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago
Preliminary Card on Spike TV:
Miguel Torres vs. Demetrious Johnson
Kendall Grove vs. Tim Boetsch
Preliminary Card on Facebook:
Gleison Tibau vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Michael McDonald vs. Chris Cariaso
Renan Barão vs. Cole Escovedo
UFC 130 Fight Predictions:
UFC 130 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arenda in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Matt "The Hammer" Hamill as the main event. Also fighting on the main card that night will be Frank Mir vs Roy Nelson, Stefen Struve vs Travis Browne, Thiago Silva vs Rick Story, and Brian Stann vs Jorge Santiago. (A very stacked main card considering the main event was originally supposed to be Edgar vs Maynard III, but both had to push the date back due to injury.) Now lets get to the fun part, lets talk fight predictions.
Brian Stann vs Jorge Santiago: Both fighters enter this bout undefeated in their last two fights, looking for a third victory in a row. Brian Stann last defeated heavy hitter Chris Leban by TKO in the 1st round! (Not an easy thing to do, Leban has a chin of solid brass) With that being said, Stann's obvious advantages in this fight are going to be his power and striking ability. He is also very emotionally charged for this fight since Brian Stann is a decorated Marine, and will be fighting on Memorial Day weekend. Jorge Santiago is a very, very well rounded fighter that has good striking, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, and good ground control/GnP. Santiago has notable wins over Chris Leban, Jeremy Horn, and Trevor Prangley. I foresee Santiago standing and banging with Stann at first, but ultimately trying to get him to the ground were he can better manage the power Stann's striking and power. If Santiago can get the take down he will be able to land some GnP while constantly looking for the submission. However, if Stann can keep it standing I don't think it will last longer than the 2nd round. Stann has so much power and gas in his tank that he can push the pace at 100% for all three rounds, one of which he can and will catch Jorge with a hard shot that will end it all. I predict Brian Stann by TKO or KO.
Thiago Alves vs Rick Story: Rick story called out Thiago Alves because he wants to beat a fighter that is both a high level striker and a top 5 ranked fighter in his weight class. Alves is exactly that, but be careful what you wish for... Rick Story is an AMAZING wrestler that has shown serious improvements in his striking getting a KO victory over Dustin Hazelett. But is he actually ready for Alves? My answer is no. Alves is such an accurate and devastating striker that I don't see Story's wrestling abilities preventing the inevitable barrage or punches Story will eat. However, I do see Story's conditioning helping him to out last Thiago, where he might be a more effective fighter against Alves later in the rounds. I see this fight being a back and forth battle, with Alves ultimatley coming out on top. My prediction, Thiago Alves wins by unanimous decision.
Stefan Struve vs Travis Browne: I really have not seen a lot of Travis Browne, and I am partial to Struve just cause I love watching the guy fight. (Win or lose.) Either way this fight goes I see it being an exciting fight for the fans. Both fighters are hungry to prove they are the real deal, and both fighters have all the tools to dispatch the other. The question is who will be the one that works harder for it, the fighter that wants it more. My fight prediction is Stefan Struve by Submission.
Frank Mir vs Roy Nelson: This is a very interesting fight for me, since these two have crossed paths before. Nelson defeated Mir at a Jiu-Jitsu tournament called Grapplers Quest way back before Nelson was also known as "that fat guy". I have a feeling Nelson wants to knock Mir out for two reasons: 1) He already defeated him on the ground. 2) Nelson has been dropping BOMBS on ALL his opponents lately, and is constantly looking for the knock out. The only issue I see with this is that stylistically Nelson is perfect for Mir in a striking battle. The way Nelson throws hay makers from the outside, he is going to run head first into a HARD strait left or right upper cut from Mir. I deffinatley think this fight will be a slug fest just like Roy vs Jr. My prediction, Mir by TKO.
Rampage Jackson vs Matt Hamill: The main event, Rampage vs The Hammer... Everyone says Hamill is under rated, underestimated and "can" beat Jackson. I honestly don't see how people are giving Hamill a much of a chance in this match up. Why, because he beat Tito Ortiz after Tito was already washed up and full of excuses? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not counting Hamill out... I'm just being realistic in stating Rampage is more on Jon Jones' level, and we all saw what happened to Hamill! (against a very novice Jon Jones at that) I do see some problems Hamill can pose to Rampage, but they all stem from Matt's wrestling, and Rampage is a lot better at wrestling than a lot of people give him credit for. Jackson can hang with Hamill's wrestling skills, the question we will all find out is can Hamill hang with Jackson's striking. My fight prediction for final fight of the card is Rampage by either KO or decision. Although he will be gunning for the KO all night, Hamill might have just enough in him to drag it out all three rounds.
Written by: Rudy Mogavero
Fight Night MMA
Thiago Alves vs Rick Story: Rick story called out Thiago Alves because he wants to beat a fighter that is both a high level striker and a top 5 ranked fighter in his weight class. Alves is exactly that, but be careful what you wish for... Rick Story is an AMAZING wrestler that has shown serious improvements in his striking getting a KO victory over Dustin Hazelett. But is he actually ready for Alves? My answer is no. Alves is such an accurate and devastating striker that I don't see Story's wrestling abilities preventing the inevitable barrage or punches Story will eat. However, I do see Story's conditioning helping him to out last Thiago, where he might be a more effective fighter against Alves later in the rounds. I see this fight being a back and forth battle, with Alves ultimatley coming out on top. My prediction, Thiago Alves wins by unanimous decision.
Stefan Struve vs Travis Browne: I really have not seen a lot of Travis Browne, and I am partial to Struve just cause I love watching the guy fight. (Win or lose.) Either way this fight goes I see it being an exciting fight for the fans. Both fighters are hungry to prove they are the real deal, and both fighters have all the tools to dispatch the other. The question is who will be the one that works harder for it, the fighter that wants it more. My fight prediction is Stefan Struve by Submission.
Frank Mir vs Roy Nelson: This is a very interesting fight for me, since these two have crossed paths before. Nelson defeated Mir at a Jiu-Jitsu tournament called Grapplers Quest way back before Nelson was also known as "that fat guy". I have a feeling Nelson wants to knock Mir out for two reasons: 1) He already defeated him on the ground. 2) Nelson has been dropping BOMBS on ALL his opponents lately, and is constantly looking for the knock out. The only issue I see with this is that stylistically Nelson is perfect for Mir in a striking battle. The way Nelson throws hay makers from the outside, he is going to run head first into a HARD strait left or right upper cut from Mir. I deffinatley think this fight will be a slug fest just like Roy vs Jr. My prediction, Mir by TKO.
Rampage Jackson vs Matt Hamill: The main event, Rampage vs The Hammer... Everyone says Hamill is under rated, underestimated and "can" beat Jackson. I honestly don't see how people are giving Hamill a much of a chance in this match up. Why, because he beat Tito Ortiz after Tito was already washed up and full of excuses? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not counting Hamill out... I'm just being realistic in stating Rampage is more on Jon Jones' level, and we all saw what happened to Hamill! (against a very novice Jon Jones at that) I do see some problems Hamill can pose to Rampage, but they all stem from Matt's wrestling, and Rampage is a lot better at wrestling than a lot of people give him credit for. Jackson can hang with Hamill's wrestling skills, the question we will all find out is can Hamill hang with Jackson's striking. My fight prediction for final fight of the card is Rampage by either KO or decision. Although he will be gunning for the KO all night, Hamill might have just enough in him to drag it out all three rounds.
Written by: Rudy Mogavero
Fight Night MMA
