Dana White Shocks the UFC World
By Sean Farrell
It was widely assumed that Rashad Evans would be filling in for Thiago Silva to face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130, Matt Hamill filled the void however after Silva’s UFC 125 drug test came back positive for a banned substance. The Jackson and Evans fought last May, with Evans using a wrestling-heavy strategy to score a very bland unanimous decision over his rival Jackson. UFC President Dana White explained the decision to go with Matt Hamill vs. “Rampage” Jackson to the mixed martial arts world today.
White stated today “Who wants to see that shit again?” White asked of a Rampage – Evans rematch. “Rampage-Rashad, the fucking snoozefest? I don’t want to see that fucking fight again. Matt Hamill and Rampage might not talk a bunch of shit about each other before the fight, but when have you not seen Matt Hamill fight? Matt Hamill’s going to go in there and try to beat him.”
“Rampage” rebounded from the loss to Evans by scoring a split decision victory over former champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at UFC 123 in November of 2010. The case for Hamill, The Ultimate Fighter Season 3 veteran recently scored the biggest win of his career by defeating his coach from that season, MMA veteran and former UFC poster boy Tito Ortiz, by unanimous decision at UFC 121 last October.
UFC 130 takes place on May 28, 2011 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is scheduled to be headlined by UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar defending his title against Gray Maynard, Maynard has never lost to Edgar posting a record of 1-0-1 against him.
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