Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was a heavy favorite to beat Matt Hamill at UFC 130, and with good reason: As Jackson showed for 15 minutes in the Octagon with Hamill on Saturday night, he was simply the much better fighter, easily winning a unanimous decision.
The fight wasn't particularly entertaining, and the fans in Las Vegas booed at the end. Jackson said afterward that he had a fractured hand and wasn't able to fight the way he wanted to.
"Matt Hamill is tough, man. I tried to knock him out," Jackson said. "I apologize I wasn't able to put on the kind of fight I wanted to."
Round 1: They meet in the middle for instructions. They touch gloves. The MGM Grand reports Rampage closed as a -250 favorite to Hamill's +200 underdog. Hamill kicks first. Rampage stays outside. Hamill throws a high kick. Hamill shoots 30 seconds in, but Rampage defends well and throws a combo to push him back. Rampage now in the center. Straight left jab from Hamill misses. High kick from Hamill misses. Rampage stalks, then lands a tight right uppercut. Right kick from Hamill is checked by Rampage, and Hamill fakes a teep to try and keep some distance. Right-left from Hamill, then a kick that Rampage tries to counter off of. Rampage nearly lands a big uppercut. Two rights from Hamill are followed by two frights from Rampage. Hamill then shoots again, but Rampage defends it with a knee to the body. Hamill goes low for a takedown, but it's again not there. Rampage opens up a little with a right-left-right combo. Left jab from Hamill pushes Rampage back, and he misses a follow-up right. Hamill again has nothing in the form of a takedown, and Rampage gets a little offense on the break. With 25 seconds left, he has Hamill possibly hurt and backing up. Rampage seemed to control things a little more and the late flurry helped give him a 10-9 round on our card.
Round 2: High kick from Hamill opens things up, but Rampage has none of it and counters with enough to back Hamill up. Another sort-of shot from Hamill does nothing but lead to a clinch, and Rampage pushes him against the fence. Rampage throws a knee that lands to the body. Then another as he defends Hamill's desire for a takedown. Another awkward-looking shot from Hamill leads to more Rampage offense, and he nearly lands a huge knee to the chin. They tie up briefly, then break. The crowd grows quite restless on a night that has seen just one submission and two knockouts. They dance and feint and paw jabs for a minute with little real activity. Hamill goes in again for a takedown, but Rampage again defends. A right-left-right from Rampage is the best offense of the fight so far, but Hamill doesn't go down. Rampage follows with a big shot to the body as time winds down in the frame. MMA Fighting gives the second to Rampage, 10-9.
Round 3: Quick start with a left from Rampage. Hamill has to believe he needs to finish the fight to get a victory. He shoots, but again Rampage defends on his feet. The two trade knees and tie up. Again, the crowd grows restless. Rampage throws a left that Hamill blocks, but lands a right to the body. Hamill then ties things up on the fence as the crowd again boos. Halfway through the round, they break. Hamill misses a jab. But Rampage lands a nice left that seems to wobble Hamill for a moment. Hamill seems tired. He thinks he catches a low blow, but Herb Dean doesn't give him the stop. The crowd really boos now as Hamill throws a lazy punch. Rampage ties him up along the cage now with a minute left. They trade positions. Not much happening until Rampage throws a small late flurry, but it doesn't put Hamill down. Hamill takes a knee, and a great big beer comes flying to the cage, landing on the photographers. It's another 10-9 round for Rampage, and MMA Fighting gives him the fight 30-27.
Result: Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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