It’s a big holiday weekend so we get a big holiday UFC card. After a couple injuries destroyed our big holiday headlining fight (Edgar – Maynard III), we’re left with movie star and former title holder Rampage Jackson trying to sell the show. If you can accept that, there’s a pretty good card to watch.
Rampage Jackson (31-8, 6-2 UFC) vs. Matt Hamill (10-2, 9-2 UFC)
Rampage hasn’t fought since November, which in the grand scheme of things isn’t that long ago. Rampage lost to Rashad Evans a year ago and Rashad is still waiting for his fight. Hamill hasn’t fought since winning a decision over Tito Ortiz in October. Hamill remains one of those raw fighters who can take a beating. Can he beat Rampage? Sure. I’m guessing the plan is for Rampage to knock out Hamill as he constantly walks forward like Kick-Puncher.
Frank Mir (14-5, 12-5 UFC) vs. Roy Nelson (15-5, 2-1 UFC)
These guys are friends and businessmen. They’re ready to put it all aside and hit each other and try to submit each other. This is the kind of thing that all fighters need to look at and appreciate so that the “I’m not going to fight my teammate” stuff ends. After Nelson took a 15-minute beating from Junior dos Santos he may have taken the title of most durable fighter in the UFC. Not many people can take that kind of an ass-whooping. I really like both of these guys and I’m not sure who I think will win or who I want to pull for. Probably Roy Nelson who has a bigger upside (…?) at this point in his career.
Travis Browne (10-0-1, 1-0-1 UFC) vs. Stefan Struve (21-4, 5-2 UFC)
Stefan Struve is really tall. He’s like a giraffe. A giraffe that always has awesome fights. His only two loses? Quick first round KO’s at the hands of Roy Nelson and Juior dos Santos. His wins? Two subs, 1 decision and two straight KO wins coming into this fight. Browne was close to losing his last fight, but Dirty Cheick Kongo grabbed his shorts until a point was deducted. This will be a good test for Browne as it seems like Struve is right up there, but not quite at the top level. He beats fools he’s supposed to beat
Jorge Santiago (23-8, 1-2 UFC) vs. Brian Stann (10-3, 4-2 UFC)
On Memorial Day weekend, you have to feature your former Marine. Brian Stann is undefeated since moving to middleweight and is coming off a surprising TKO victory over Chris Leben on New Year’s. Santiago spent a few months in the UFC back in 2006 when he lost to Leben and Alan Belcher. Since then he’s gone 11-1 and become the Sengoku middleweight champion. Expect lots of “U-S-A!” chants.
Thiago Alves (18-7, 10-4 UFC) vs. Rick Story (12-3, 5-1 UFC)
This fight was set for the preliminary card, but with Edgar and Maynard going down this one got bumped to the main card and even found its way into the promotional materials. This is the toughest fight of Rick Story’s career, but it also seems like an eternity since Alves as the monster that earned a title shot at UFC 100. Alves hasn’t finished anyone since Matt Hughes in 2008.
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Demetrious Johnson vs. Miguel Torres
Tim Boetsch vs. Kendall Grove
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook.com)
Bart Palaszewski vs. Gleison Tibau
Chris Cariaso vs. Michael McDonald
Renan Barao vs. Cole Escovedo