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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
UFC 130: RAMPAGE VS. HAMILL
MAY 28, 2011
LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
=====SPIKE TV PRELIMINARY CARD=====
- Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg welcome everyone to the prelim broadcast before running down the fights scheduled for tonight's pay-per-view card. After giving the hard sell to the pay-per-view event, they turn to the first fight of the broadcast.
FIGHT ONE: KENDALL GROVE VS. TIM BOETSCH (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: They each circle each other to feel out the range and Boetsch lands the first leg kick. Boetsch shot in for the takedown but got stuffed initially. He stayed on Grove, however, and muscled him down against the cage. He then backed off and let Grove stand back up. Grove moved in and landed a straight kick to the body. Boetsch landed a looping left and got into the clinch. He dropped for a double leg against the cage and completed the takedown into side control. Boetsch landed a few short strikes but Grove got him into his guard. Grove went for an armbar and nearly locked it on but Boetsch popped out. Grove on his back landed some kicks to the front leg of a standing Boetsch before Steve Mazzagatti allowed Grove to stand. Boetsch got right back into the clinch on the cage. Grove grabbed for a guillotine attempt but Boetsch got his head out. Grove landed some more knees to the body and added in some punches as well. Boetsch landed a knee strike. Grove briefly feigned a takedown but kept himself in the clinch and pressed Boetsch to the cage. They jockeyed for position on the cage. Grove landed a couple of hard knees to the body. Grove got separation near the end of the round and they traded strikes.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Boetsch. Grove got in some good strikes in the clinch and had a near submission attempt, but Boetsch had two really good takedowns, some decent positional advantage on the ground and a few strikes of his own on the feet. Close round but he edged it.
ROUND TWO: Grove came forward and landed a leg kick early. He kept Boetsch's back to the cage and threw a few punches. He got in close and Boetsch clinched him again and pressed him to the cage. Grove got double undercooks, though and turned Boetsch around. Boetsch got in an uppercut in the clinch but Grove gave one back to him. They traded knees to the body. Boetsch then tripped Grove up in a nice takedown. He tried to get into side control and landed a few hard short elbows as Grove tried to gain half guard. Boetsch passed to side control. Boetsch went for the crucifix but Grove rolled over to his knees. He then used that position to get back to his feet but Boetsch immediately took him back down into side control. Boetsch locked up an arm and Grove used the cage to roll around. Grove got to his knees again and got to his feet and Boetsch landed a hard knee on the way up. They clinched against the cage again and Boetsch dropped for a double leg. Grove landed a few elbows to the side of Boetsch, but the takedown was completed. Grove tried to throw his legs up for a triangle choke and then rolled out and got to his feet. Grove threw a high kick that was blocked as the round came to an end.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Boetsch. Much clearer round for Boetsch there. Grove wasn't able to do anything from his back and got beat up a little bit on the ground. Very good round for Boetsch.
ROUND THREE: Boetsch immediately shot in for a single leg and he completed it. Grove tried to fight and got to his feet but Boetsch drove him to the cage in the clinch. Grove landed a knee to the body and turned Boetsch around. Boetsch pulled off a really nice throw against the cage and into side control. Grove got to his knees and Boetsch landed some hard knees to the side. Ouch. Grove stood up. Boetsch threw a knee to the body. Grove got separation and then stuffed a single leg attempt. Boetsch is getting tired here, but he completed another takedown. Grove attempted to set up a triangle again, but Boetsch shook it off. Grove tried a takedown of his own that failed, and then Boetsch took him down once more. He nearly got into side control, but Grove pulled him into guard. He tried to throw his legs up again, but was only able to get to his feet. He took Boetsch down with 40 seconds left but Boetsch went for a front headlock and took the dominant position against the cage. Grove just held on as Boetsch landed some more strikes as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Boetsch. He was much too strong for Grove in this fight. He overpowered him, took him down and exhausted him on the ground. Very good performance for Boetsch, but I don't think it necessarily says anything about where he's at in the division at this point. But he had a very good performance here tonight.
WINNER: Boetsch via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
POST FIGHT: Boetsch said he had been thinking of dropping to middleweight for awhile, and Phil Davis affirmed that position when he beat him in his last fight at 205 lbs. He said he's looking to make a run in the division and said his coach had him ready for Grove in this one.
STAR RATING: (**) There were some fun moments in there, but Grove wasn't really able to do a ton and Boetsch dominated the action in a grinding affair. Not a bad fight at all, but not one that needs to be sought out by any means.
FIGHT TWO: MIGUEL TORRES VS. DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON (BANTAMWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Johnson landed a hard leg kick early. Torres tried to stalk and Johnson moved quickly on the outside. Johnson got in close and Torres tried to take him down. Johnson then took him down, but Torres swept him and got into Johnson's half guard. Very nice. Torres nearly passed to mount but Johnson kept him in half guard. Torres patiently worked and got into side control nicely. He then again nearly made the pass to mount but Johnson regained half guard. Johnson tried to scramble but Torres kept him on his back and nearly grabbed a choke. Johnson got to butterfly guard. Torres again passed into side control. Johnson reversed position and got into side control himself. Torres threw his legs up for a sweep and grabbed for a heel hook. Johnson went for on of his own. Torres backed off and threw a high up kick and somersaulted back, where Johnson took his back. Torres turned and pulled guard. He landed some hard elbows from his back. Torres nearly swept him from the bottom and nearly got the triangle in. Johnson got out and after a scramble Torres went for a choke. Johnson got out as the round came to an end. Awesome first round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Torres. What a great start to this fight. Torres was so active from his back when he was there and spent more time in top position. Good round, but that was his.
ROUND TWO: Johnson landed the leg kick again to start the round. He rushed in with a short combination. Torres walked him down but Johnson rushed in. Johnson took him down against the cage. Torres landed some heel strikes to Johnson's back. Torres got his legs up and almost got the triangle again, but Johnson defended and Torres got to his feet. Johnson took him down again. Torres landed some hard elbows from his back. Torres swept him, but Johnson swept again. Torres went for a reverse triangle and Johnson could be in trouble here. Johnson got out. Torres got Johnson back into his guard and landed some hard elbows again. Torres nearly swept him again and landed a heel to the back. Torres turned to go for a kimura. Torres tried to kick off the cage to scramble and Johnson stayed on him. Johnson hasn't done anything from the top. Johnson tried to spin and Torres almost got a leg. He threw his legs up but Johnson moved to side control. Torres rolled and scrambled again. He got half guard back. Torres held control of him as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Torres. That was how you win a round off your back. That said, the judges probably won't give it to him because Johnson was on top, which is ridiculous, but that's how these things are.
ROUND THREE: Torres came forward. Johnson dropped for the takedown and got it, but Torres immediately went for a submission. He's got a triangle attempt, but Johnson kept his arm in and defended well, getting to Torres' guard. Johnson passed to side control, but Torres captured his leg and got back to guard. With Johnson being on top, Torres may need to finish this, and he needs to know that. Johnson tried to trap an arm and Torres scrambled to his knee. Johnson landed a hard strike. Torres got back to guard. He swept beautifully into the full mount. Man was that an awesome sweep. Torres had the mount flattened out. Johnson got out of it but Torres stayed on top in his guard. Torres passed to half guard. Torres landed a few strikes and then went for the guillotine. Johnson got out and Torres went for it again. They got to their feet with 15 seconds and Johnson tried to rush him. Torres held him in the clinch and Johnson took him down but Torres grabbed for a guillotine as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Torres. The scores are going to be all over the place with this fight, but Torres was constantly working for position and submissions throughout, and had a huge sweep in that round to the best position of the round, as well as a few submission attempts. But who knows what the judges were watching.
WINNER: Johnson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (***+) The fight was awesome, the scores not so much. I vehemently disagree with that decision. I'm not surprised by it, but it's terrible nonetheless. Johnson didn't do anything with his position in this fight, and was constantly on the defensive. Rough blow for Torres, and that cost him a title shot.
-Dana White and Joe Rogan give the hard sell for the pay-per-view event.
=====PAY-PER-VIEW BOUTS=====
- A confident Rampage Jackson says he's going to knock out Matt Hamill tonight. Rogan and Goldberg welcome those joining for the pay-per-view, and then we get to a great matchup for the first fight on the pay-per-view card.
FIGHT THREE: BRIAN STANN VS. JORGE SANTIAGO (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Stann took the center and pressed in, landing the first short combination and ending with a leg kick. He landed another leg kick. He landed another and Santiago landed his first strike in a body kick. Stann countered a pressing Santiago with a nice combo. He pressed in with a leg kick. Santiago already cut Stann with a punch under the left eye. Could have been a missed headbutt. Santiago landed a kick to the leg. Stann gave one back. Santiago tried to land a right and ate a counter. Stann landed a really hard leg kick that almost knocked Santiago over. Santiago threw a high kick that grazed Stann. Stann landed another hard combo. He pressed in with the leg kick again. He's working that really well right now. "U.S.A" chants start up from the crowd. Stann rushed in and dropped Santiago with a huge left. Santiago tried to recover but Stann landed some big strikes as he dropped into his guard. Santiago is hurt as Stann landed another big right on the cage. Stann landed a hard short forearm and Santiago grabbed a hold of him to try to recover. Stann landed another right, and a left. Stann postured up and landed a few more, but Santiago has recovered in the guard. He used the fence to gain space but Stann blasted him with a few more shots and stood up. Santiago got to his feet and survived to the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Stann. Good first round for Stann. Santiago held on and showed off his toughness after getting dropped, but Stann hurt him badly there in the last two minutes of that round.
ROUND TWO: Stann landed a couple of leg kicks early. Santiago shot in for a single leg but Stann held it off on the cage. Stann got separation. Stann with a hard leg kick. He knocked Santiago off balance with another hard leg kick. He took a body kick from Santiago and ate a right. Stann threw an overhand right that barely missed its target. Santiago shot in but was immediately stuffed. Stann landed a right as he separated. Stann landed another hard leg kick. He got in a short combination. He rocked Santiago with an uppercut. Santiago landed a spinning back fist, but Stann was fine and countered nicely. Stann caught a leg kick and looked to throw a punch but let the leg go. Stann got in a nice right. Stann landed another hard leg kick. Stann threw a kick to the body, then landed a nice straight left. He pressed in with another combo. Santiago went for a flying knee but got pushed off. Stann tried to press in with a combo but Santiago avoided the strikes. Stann with another hard leg kick. He got one in to the body. He dropped Santiago with a huge right and started dropping bombs. Santiago couldn't defend and briefly went out and the fight was stopped. Huge win for Stann.
WINNER: Stann via TKO at 4:29 of the second round
POST FIGHT: Stann said he used this as a symbol and told all watching to recognize those that have given their lives for the country. Stann gave Santiago a lot of respect and thanked him for giving him the honor of taking this fight.
STAR RATING: (**+) Very good performance from Stann. He didn't fear Santiago's power at all in that fight, and kept the pressure on throughout. After nearly finishing it in the first, he found his strike in the second and got the job done. Santiago is still a very good fighter, but his chin against powerful punchers is still his major weakness, and it went against him in this one.
RAMIFICATIONS: This puts Stann into the upper echelon of the division, and he should get a shot at one of the top guys in his next fight. Granted, a lot of them are locked up in fights, with Anderson Silva meeting Yushin Okami, Michael Bisping in a gig on TUF, Chael Sonnen being suspended, and Nate Marquardt dropping to welterweight. But if Sonnen can get licensed after June 29, that wouldn't be a bad fight to put together next at all for both. Outside of that, the winner of Mark Munoz vs. Demian Maia would be next on my list.
FIGHT FOUR: THIAGO ALVES VS. RICK STORY (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Story immediately pressed forward and landed a left. Alves got in a nice right. Story shot in and got a takedown, but Alves got back up to his feet. Story landed some knees to Alves' thigh as he held a body lock on the cage. Story took Alves' back on the feet and landed a few more knees. More knees to the leg of Alves. Story kept on the takedown attempt but Alves got back to his feet. Alves then took Story down and they both got to their feet again. Story landed a left and shot in for the takedown. He stomped on Alves' foot against the cage in the clinch. He dropped down for a single leg but Alves defended well. They were separated from the clinch. Story landed a body punch. He got in a left that was partially blocked. Alves went to throw a knee and Story grabbed the clinch again and pressed him to the cage. Story dropped for a takedown attempt again but got stuffed. He landed a knee to the body and they turned each other around a couple of times on the cage. Story backed off and they started trading punches against the cage. Alved then got a body lock briefly and Story turned him back around. Alves got separation with 30 seconds left. They started trading punches. Story's landing some good strikes in here. Alves started connecting on some good strikes and Story clinched and shot for a takedown but didn't complete it as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Story. He'll need to be careful with trading punches, because he ate a few really big shots near the end of the round, but that was a good start for Story.
ROUND TWO: Alves landed a nice elf kick early. Story moved forward and Alves popped in. Story landed a kick to the body and shot in for a takedown. He got Alves down briefly and then took his back standing. Alves nicely got himself turned around, but again his back was on the cage. He got separation and took the center. He landed a punch. He got in a body kick as Story shot in again. He completed the takedown into half guard. Alves got back up to his feet. He then got double undercooks and took Story down into half guard. Story exploded out and got back to his feet in the clinch. Nice work there. Story isn't doing much in the clinch, but he's keeping Alves' back on the cage and not letting him do anything. Alves got a little space but Story came right back and regained the clinch. He's succeeding in frustrating Alves, but not much is happening and they are separated again. Alves needs to do something drastic. He landed a straight right and slipped after a head kick attempt. Story walked him down again and got him to the cage with a single leg attempt. The crowd booed. Story dragged Alves down. Alves again got to his feet. Alves separated again and threw a head kick. He landed a few punches in combination before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Story. I don't know what Alves is doing, but he's allowing himself to get backed up into the cage and Story is flustering him in the clinch. He's having some success with his strikes, but he can't keep the fight there at this point.
ROUND THREE: Alves got in a short combo early. Story tried to press him back and Alves landed a right. Alves cracked him with a knee to the jaw. He got in a right. He landed another right, ate some body punches and hit Story with a left hook. Story shot in again and pressed in for the clinch. Alves got separation again. Alves landed a hard straight right and another right in the pocket. Story walked him down. Alves needs to go for broke here. He got in a nice punch as Story hit him in the body. Story shot in again for a single leg. Alves held off the takedown. Alves went for the trip but Story got loose. Alves hit Story with a hard left hook. He got in a right. Story landed a body punch and grabbed for the single again. Alves just cannot stay off the cage in this fight. Alves backed off after turning Story around. Alves landed a hard right and a left again. He's running out of time though. He landed the left again. Alves with another right and Story goes for the clinch. Tick, tick, tick for Alves. Alves with another hard right. He landed a knee to the jaw and Story dropped for a takedown. Alves is just running out of time and Story's chin has been ridiculous. Alves landed a head kick. He landed a knee and Story pressed him in. They traded punches again to the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Alves. If he could have gotten a knockdown that could have been a 10-8, as he was cracking Story with punches, knees and kicks the whole round. But it was too little too late, he dug himself a massive hole in the first two rounds and it's going to cost him the fight. Good night for Story.
WINNER: Story via unanimous decisino (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
POST FIGHT: Alves was somehow shocked by the decision, even though he did nothing in the first two rounds. Story said he felt great and said Alves is tough as hell. He said he wants to prove he belongs in the top of the division.
STAR RATING: (**+) The third round brought things up, as both were landing some excellent strikes, mostly coming from Alves, but there wasn't much to the first two rounds. This is a huge win for Story, and a very big disappointment for Alves. He was the much better striker in the third, but for some reason had no sense of urgency to him in the last frame and must have thought he somehow won one of those first two rounds. Not a good overall fight for him, but a big step up the ladder for Story in his sixth straight win.
RAMIFICATIONS: This is a big blow to Alves and his status in the division now that he's lost three of four fights. Story had a good performance through two rounds and showed off one hell of a chin in the third, and he'll get himself another big matchup his next time out. A fight with Jake Ellenberger could be a fantastic test for both fighters.
FIGHT FIVE: STEFAN STRUVE VS. TRAVIS BROWNE (HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Browne lands a leg kick early and Struve responds with one of his own. They trade kicks again. Struve comes in with a jumping strike and Browne ducks away. Struve presses Browne to the cage. Browne got in a short forearm and turned him around. They got separated as Struve was holding him still. Browne got in with an overhand right. He landed a leg kick and pushed Struve back. Struve through a straight kick to the face but it didn't land. Browne landed a leg kick as he pressed in. Struve tried to walk him down and threw a kick to the body. Browne caught it and let him go. Brown threw a low kick and Struve checked it. Browne got in close, grabbed a body lock and threw Struve to the ground into half guard. Browne pushed Struve to the cage, but Struve tripped him up as he tried to back away and nearly locked in a choke. He tried another one but Browne got out and stood up. He backed away after a couple of kicks to allow Struve to stand. Browne pressed in and landed a few strikes. Struve tried to jump into him with a knee and Browne landed a superman punch right to the jaw that knocked went through Struve's jaw and sent him crashing to the mat. He landed a couple more on the ground and the fight is all over.
WINNER: Browne via KO at 4:11 of the first round.
POST FIGHT: Browne said that's what he trains every day. He broke down in talking about his family and giving them credit for getting him here.
STAR RATING: (***) You will never see a more perfectly delivered and placed superman punch than what Brown just threw. That was vicious, and had Struve's 6'11" frame bending over backwards before hitting the ground. Just an awesome, highlight-reel KO and easy front-runner for KO of the night.
RAMIFICATIONS: Browne is still undefeated with his draw against Cheick Kongo, and though I don't know what his ceiling is right now, he's got the power to do damage to a lot of guys, and his height gives him some advantages as well. Struve, though he's had a ton of fights for his age and he remains a young guy, has just taken so much punishment and has been knocked out a number of times already in his career. He's simply not going to be any higher than the low-to-mid-tier in the heavyweight division unless he somehow drastically improves his striking defense. That was a brutal knockout loss.
FIGHT SIX: FRANK MIR VS. ROY NELSON (HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Mir took the center as Nelson circled and covered up. Nelson rushed in with a right and drove Mir to the cage. Mir turned him around and dropped for a single leg. Nelson held him off and Mir landed some knees in the clinch. Nelson turned him around on the cage and pressed him in. Nelson landed a left in the clinch and Mir landed a knee to the body. As they separated Mir got in a big knee to Nelson's head. Nelson came in swinging and Mir went for the knee. Mir threw a head kick that was blocked and Nelson cracked him with a right that spun him around. Nelson got in for the clinch and pressed Mir to the cage. Mir got in a nice knee to the head, and another. He's battering Nelson with these knees. Brutal knees from Mir on the cage here. Nelson got the clinch back and pressed Mir to the cage again. Mir landed a nice right in the clinch. Mir landed some knees to the body. Nelson threw one of his own. Nelson separated and just missed a big right. He landed one and then an uppercut. He threw a head kick and another right. Mir landed a few knees and a nice straight left. Nelson grabbed the clinch again. Mir pulled off a beautiful throw and got right into the full mount. Nelson gave up his back but got to his feet. Mir took his back standing. Nelson pushed in with the clinch and drove Mir to the cage with double undercooks. He landed a knee as the round ended. Great start to the fight.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Mir. Really good round. Both landed some big strikes, but Mir's series of knees in the clinch did the most damage in the round. And that throw was awesome.
ROUND TWO: Nelson landed a hard two punch combo right off the bat. MIr landed a body punch and tried to close the distance, but Nelson held him off with a short combo. Mir landed a body kick and pressed in for the clinch. He dropped for a single leg and took Nelson down into half guard. Mir postured up and landed an elbow. He tried to pass to mount and Nelson gave up his back, but he got to his feet. They dirty boxed in the clinch, with Mir landing a nice right. He landed the knee again. Mir dropped for the takedown and again completed it. Nelson's looking tired here. Nelson got to his feet again as Mir had his back, but Nelson turned him around on the cage. He grabbed a body lock but let it go and separated. Mir landed a hard kick to the body and a knee. Nelson landed a right and pressed in for a weak takedown attempt. He's exhausted here. Nelson lands a right in the clinch but then they stall. The crowd boos the slowed down action and they get separated with ten seconds left. They clinch up and the round ends. Both are tiring, but Nelson is really exhausted here.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Mir. He's in full control of the fight heading into the third. Nelson is tiring, and Mir is doing a good job of mixing up his strikes and throwing in some takedowns.
ROUND THREE: Mir got in close and landed a nice knee before backing out. Nelson doesn't look like he's got anything left in the tank. Mir landed a nice straight kick to the body. Mir landed a body kick and a big knee, then clinched and pressed Nelson to the cage. Mir landed a few punches and shot in for the takedown. Mir landed some short forearms in the half guard. Mir passed but Nelson got half guard back. He trapped an arm, but Nelson scrambled and got back to his feet. Mir got in a knee. Nelson landed a short uppercut. Mir dropped for a double and took Nelson down again. Mir got in some short strikes in the guard. Nelson scrambled and again got back to his feet with less than two minutes left. Mir again dropped for the double leg and took Nelson down once again. Mir landed a hard elbow, and another. He again landed another big forearm/elbow to the downed Nelson. Nelson scrambled to his knees and then got to his feet again with 25 seconds left. Mir grabbed for a single leg and then held onto the double before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Mir. Good performance for Mir. He didn't allow Nelson to do much of anything down the stretch, and he dominated the action for much of the fight.
WINNER: Mir via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
POST FIGHT: Mir was in disbelief over Nelson's tough chin and how many times he kneed him in the chin. He said he promised his daughter last night that he wasn't losing. He said next up for him is to keep getting better and keep improving.
STAR RATING: (**+) After an excellent first round, things really slowed down in the second and third. Nelson exhausted himself in the first, and just had no answer for Mir's clinch game and takedowns throughout.
RAMIFICATIONS: Mir moves himself right back into the mix of things in the ever fluctuating heavyweight division. This was a needed win, and he'll take on another one of the top contenders in the division in his next fight. For Nelson, with his second straight loss it's clear he's not going to be an elite fighter in this division. He's got that one punch knockout power, and a good ground game, but against bigger, stronger, harder hitting guys, he's just not going to have a ton of success.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT SEVEN: QUINTON "RAMPAGE" JACKSON VS. MATT HAMILL (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Hamill threw a leg kick early. He tossed in a head kick but Jackson blocked it. Jackson tried to walk in and Hamill threw a couple of punches. Hamill shot in and Rampage stuffed it and landed a couple of strikes on the way out. Hamill got in a straight left as Rampage pressed in. Hamill threw the head kick again but Jackson backed off. Hamill threw a nice leg kick and landed a punch but Jackson hit him with a hard right. Hamill pressed in and got hit with a counter. Hamill landed another leg kick. Jackson landed a hard left hook as Hamill stepped in. Hamill with another leg kick. Hamill again landed the leg kick. Jackson pressed after another leg kick and landed a short uppercut. Jackson checked a kick and landed a short combo. He stuffed another takedown attempt. Rampage stuffed another takedown attempt and landed a right. Jackson got in with a short combo. Rampage backed away from the jab. He checked a leg kick. Rampage missed a punch and Hamill shot but got stuffed again. Hamill tried to clinch. Jackson hurt Hamill on the cage with a punch. He's landing short combos and Hamill backed away. Hamill's bleeding from the lip as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Rampage. Hamill is going to have a long night if he can't get a takedown here, and Rampage is going to start opening up with his strikes.
ROUND TWO: Hamill went for the headlock. Rampage blocked it and countered with a combo. Rampage walked him down and Hamill shot in. Jackson stuffed it again and landed a knee in the clinch. He got a nice knee to the midsection and an uppercut in the clinch before Hamill separated. Hamill shot for a single and Jackson stuffed it, landed a nice combo and pressed Hamill to the cage again. Hamill landed a jab. Jackson isn't looking to engage in the offense here and is doing a lot of countering. The crowd boos the lack of action as they're circling. Rampage landed a left hook. Hamill scored with a jab. Neither is throwing anything here and the crowd doesn't like it. Hamill landed another jab. He landed a leg kick. Jackson stuffed another takedown attempt and landed a short combo. Hamill again tried to push in but Jackson stuffed him. Rampage rocked him with a left but Hamill had his wits about him to grab for a takedown. Jackson punished him with a couple of body shots and stuffed another takedown. He landed a hard knee to the body in the clinch as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Rampage. Hamill looks out-classed in there, which isn't surprising in this fight. Jackson is scoring big with his strikes and honestly should have already finished this fight, but he's playing cautious here for some reason.
ROUND THREE: Jackson moved forward. He landed a counter left as Hamill tried to move in. Rampage missed a big right. Hamill shot in and Rampage again stuffed it. Hamill landed a couple of knees in the clinch and pressed Rampage to the cage. He landed a short uppercut as he separated. He landed a leg kick. Hamill landed a left. Rampage landed a hard combo to the body. He stuffed another takedown and Hamill grabbed the clinch. Jackson landed a knee to the body. Hamill dropped for a double leg and got shrugged off. Jackson landed a combo and stalked. He landed a hard short elbow and a nice left hook. He threw a leg kick, shrugged off a takedown attempt and landed a left hook. He landed a short combo and he's looking tired now. The crowd boos. He landed a hard knee in the clinch and pressed Hamill to the cage. Hamill turned him around but couldn't do anything in the clinch. Rampage landed a huge knee to the body. He landed a nice combo and Hamill grabbed a clinch. He landed another knee tot he body and pressed in for a short strike as the round ended. Jackson shrugged his shoulders as he walked to his corner.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Rampage. He hurt Hamill with a bunch of body strikes, but he was really hesitant throughout this fight for some reason. He was doing a lot of damage in spurts during the fight, and really was in no danger at any point in this fight. He completely had Hamill out-classed, but honestly this was a bit disappointing, and may not make him an immediate title challenger.
WINNER: Jackson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
POST FIGHT: He smiled at the fact that he didn't get taken down. He said Matt Hamill is tough. He apologized for not putting on the fight that he wanted to. He said he tried to knock him out, but revealed he had a fractured hand into the fight. He said he did what he could but gave Hamill credit for being tough. He gave himself a 5 on a scale of 1-10 for his performance tonight. He said he tried to do some new things in the fight, and even landed a couple of kicks of his own.
STAR RATING: (**) It wasn't a great fight. Jackson had some good moments, and completely outclassed Hamill in this fight, but he never really pushed for the knockout even when he had Hamill hurting. Now, if he really did come into the fight with a fractured hand then this performance makes more sense, but it wasn't a fight that's going to make people get really excited about him challenging for the title.
RAMIFICATIONS: Hamill loses nothing from this fight. He stepped in against a former champion and someone well above him in the rankings, and found out precisely why Rampage is above him on the ladder. Jackson's wrestling defense is excellent and he held off every single takedown attempt. If his hand can heal in time for October he'll likely still get the title fight, but it lost some luster after another less than stellar fight.
-They air Gleison Tibau's victory over Charles Oliveira from the preliminary card.
-Rogan and Goldberg run down the results from tonight and let everyone know about next week's Ultimate Fighter Finale.
Thanks again everyone for joining us tonight for our live pay-per-view coverage. Make sure to stick with us throughout the week as we examine the fallout from this card, along with a look ahead to next week's Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale and more!
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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