UFC 130 is in the history books but let’s take a look at some of the winners and losers to analyze how their performance on Saturday night may affect their future.
Rampage Jackson defeats Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson
did exactly what he had to do to thwart any chance Matt Hamill had of upsetting
the former Light Heavyweight champion. Jackson’s
camp engineered a winning game plan which saw Jackson
repeatedly stuff Hamill’s takedowns and pay him back with a few well placed
knees and punches as a consequence.
By the time the bell for round 3
had rung, Hamill was already defeated.
Discouraged by his inability to take Rampage to the ground, Hamill
realized it was going to be five more minutes of pain unless Jackson
got careless and something miraculous occurred.
Miracles were not meant to be for Hamill on this night as Rampage
Jackson thoroughly dominated the well rounded wrestler and squelched any plans
that Hamill may have had to wrangle a rematch with the current UFC Light
Heavyweight champ, Jon Bones Jones.
Mir defeats Nelson
Unless you’re an unabashed Roy
Nelson fan, you had to see this one coming.
Frank Mir used his superior ground game to dominate Nelson and avoid the
thunderous hands from Big Country. Couch
potatoes everywhere marvel at Nelson’s ability to look so bad but fight so
good. His cardio never seems to be an
issue but it was last night against Frank Mir.
By the time the 2nd round came around, Nelson looked gassed
and it was only on sheer will and determination that he survived Round 3.
This was a bit of a no win fight
for Frank Mir. Had he lost, the
consequences would have been dire and it would have seen him spiral out of
contention for a shot at the heavyweight strap.
However, his victory merely confirmed he is in the mix of top tier
heavyweights but would do nothing to catapult his chances immediately.
Travis Browne KO’s Stefan Struve
Stefan Struve almost came away on
the right side of this ledger with a sudden anaconda choke that almost put
Travis Browne to sleep but Browne was able to break free and get the fight
standing. As the big men exchange
punches, Browne sees an opening and in highlight reel form, blasts the towering
Dutchman with a perfectly timed Superman punch and watches the “Skyscraper”
crash to the canvas. Browne puts another
notch on his holster with a sensational knockout while Struve puts a few icepacks
on his face.
In other UFC 130 action
Renan “Barao” Pegado
defeats Cole Escovedo by Unanimous Decision
Michael McDonald defeats Chris Cariaso by split
decision
Gleison Tibau defeats Rafaello Oliviera by rear
naked choke in Round 2
Tim Boetsch defeats Kendall Grove by Unanimous
Decision
Demetrious Johnson defeats Miguel Torres by
Unanimous Decision
Brian Stann defeats Jorge Santiago by TKO in Round 2
Rick Story defeats Thiago Alves by Unanimous
Decision
To read all of SBR's UFC betting picks for 130 click here.