UFC 130---Sum of the Parts

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Say “UFC 130” down at your local pub and you’ll see a lot of stifled yawns. It’s likely not possible for Dana to have every card be a stellar one. Having said that, sometimes it’s the sleeper cards that have the best fights. So humor me, let me try to pique your interest.

The headliner is Rampage vs Matt Hamil. Rampage’s losses to Griffin and  Evans have overshadowed his wins against Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and The Dragon, causing the fan fav to lose luster. In Hamil’s case, he has won a string of fights (excluding the Bones disqualification) against Ortiz, Jardine, Munoz and Reese Andy. His last loss was to Bisping, a fight many thought he’d won. Hamil’s lack of appeal comes, I think, as a result of his thorough beatdown from Bones before the latter was DQed for illegal elbows. Rampage vs Hamil is a fight that could get interesting, if for no other reason that it will be a stand up battle and both men bring power and  exciting performances.

Frank Mir is fighting Big Country Nelson. Once again, both fighters are off the fan’s radar, but recently Mir has really only lost to the two big men, Lesnar and Carwin, and has impressive wins over Big Nog, Kongo (whom Cain couldn’t finish), and Cro Cop (who is, admittedly, finished). Thus, Mir deserves more attention and respect than he’s garnered. Nelson recently beat Shaub and Struve ---impressive wins---and went the distance with future heavyweight champ dos Santos---also impressive. Mir has the advantage over Nelson on the ground, but not by much. Nelson has stellar boxing (for MMA) and Mir has great kickboxing skills, as well as power from all four limbs that could stymie Nelson. Again, it is the stand up that intrigues me here, and where I think the fight will start and end.

Stefan Struve vs Travis Browne is a little shaky for me. Struve has way more wins than losses, is very young and has great potential. Browne, while 10-0-1, has yet to fight competition in Struve’s class. This is one where you can order wings and chat with the waitress, but you may end up regretting missing Struve’s comeback, or the lightening fast KO punch he packs in his lunch kit.

In addition to those fights, Thiago Alves is pitted against Rick Story, Brian Stann is fighting Jose Santiago, and Miguel Torres is up against Demetrious Johnson. Miguel Torres especially interests me. Since beginning to train with GSP, his game seems to be quickly transforming for the better, and it is only a matter of time for him to be fighting for a belt.

It’s hard to say what won’t be good about these fights or why they spell b-o-r-i-n-g for so many fans. Styles can make fights (or not), and all these fighters possess skills that could make their bouts fight of the night. However, I think I’ve figured out the snooze factor here:

It’s a question of the whole being less than the sum of the parts, like Tuesday’s B team down at the local strip parlor, or any political party.  But unless you have to appease the better half by not watching a UFC for once, get your Guiness, your pound of garlic wings and hunker down. You never know just how good it’ll be.

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By Renko Styranka
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer