Report: Rampage, Silva to Collide at UFC 130
Sherdog.com Staff Jan 8, 2011
A blockbuster light heavyweight matchup between former champion
Quinton
“Rampage” Jackson (Pictured) and American Top Team’s Thiago
Silva appears to be in the works for UFC 130 on May 28 at the
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Jackson-Silva figures to fill a prominent slot at the event, which will air live on pay-per-view. MMAJunkie.com was first to report the proposed matchup.
Long viewed as one of MMA’s most menacing figures, Jackson last appeared at UFC 123 in November, when he eked out a controversial split decision over Lyoto Machida at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich. The 32-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native has won nine of his past 11 fights and has not been finished in nearly six years. Victories against former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson, Brazilian icon Wanderlei Silva, UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell (twice) and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland anchor Jackson’s impressive resume. He has delivered nearly half (14) of his 31 career wins by knockout or technical knockout.
Silva routed Brandon Vera en route to a unanimous decision at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day. It was the Brazilian’s first appearance in nearly a year, having been kept out of the cage by a back injury. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, the 28-year-old Silva holds other notable wins against Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout Keith Jardine and Dream veteran Tatsuya Mizuno. He has secured 10 first-round finishes among his 15 victories.
Other matchups rumored but not yet confirmed for UFC 130 include a showdown pairing former heavyweight champion Frank Mir with “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 winner Roy Nelson, a welterweight tilt pitting Thiago Alves against Rick Story and a heavyweight duel between the 6-foot-11 Stefan Struve and the unbeaten Travis Browne.
The Jackson-Silva figures to fill a prominent slot at the event, which will air live on pay-per-view. MMAJunkie.com was first to report the proposed matchup.
Long viewed as one of MMA’s most menacing figures, Jackson last appeared at UFC 123 in November, when he eked out a controversial split decision over Lyoto Machida at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich. The 32-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native has won nine of his past 11 fights and has not been finished in nearly six years. Victories against former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson, Brazilian icon Wanderlei Silva, UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell (twice) and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland anchor Jackson’s impressive resume. He has delivered nearly half (14) of his 31 career wins by knockout or technical knockout.
Silva routed Brandon Vera en route to a unanimous decision at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day. It was the Brazilian’s first appearance in nearly a year, having been kept out of the cage by a back injury. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, the 28-year-old Silva holds other notable wins against Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout Keith Jardine and Dream veteran Tatsuya Mizuno. He has secured 10 first-round finishes among his 15 victories.
Other matchups rumored but not yet confirmed for UFC 130 include a showdown pairing former heavyweight champion Frank Mir with “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 winner Roy Nelson, a welterweight tilt pitting Thiago Alves against Rick Story and a heavyweight duel between the 6-foot-11 Stefan Struve and the unbeaten Travis Browne.
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