By Quinton "Rampage" Jackson/Special to Yahoo! Sports
I was told something interesting about Matt Hamill today. He’s never been knocked out or knocked down or even really hurt with a punch to the chin. I’m going to see what I can do to change that on Saturday night here in Las Vegas for UFC 130.
Hamill was stopped on a kick to the ribs by Rich Franklin, but I am talking a flat-on-his-back, arm-swung-out, sleepy-time KO. That’s what I am looking to do.
I’m looking forward to the fight. But the weight cut? Not so much. I’m hungry and I’m not looking forward to cutting, but I’ve only got a few pounds. I can’t say I am too happy, but I’m healthy and I feel good – and the day before a weigh-in, that’s as good as it gets.
This is the best “Rampage” I’ve been since I fought Wanderlei Silva the last time. I am a little upset with myself going up in weight so much after the Machida fight, but it was Thanksgiving, Christmas and then New Year’s and I enjoyed myself too much. But because of that, I couldn’t accept a fight with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the UFC World Title when Rashad Evans pulled out. I had too much weight to get rid of in six weeks and so Jon Jones got it. That upset me, and I am still angry at myself. I could have done two things at once that I want to do: Beat “Shogun” and get my UFC belt back.
But, listen, I am a lazy guy. I like video games and pizza. I dread the gym; it is something I have to do for my job. But I will train hard when I am there. I’ve been doing weights a little different and feel very strong. If Hamill’s wrestling isn’t as good as he thinks, he could get his ass slammed in the Octagon.
All I am thinking of now is beating Hamill and looking impressive and having the fans go home saying, “Did you see that?”
I did an open workout here at the MGM Grand today and the press were telling me that I looked good. I appreciate that, but I got so much more to show on Saturday night. For real. Rampage fans are going to be very happy; I think Hamill believes in his chin and will fight. He says he will “break my will” and he’s really going to regret ever saying that about me. He was really dumb saying that. Say you think you can win, that you gonna beat me, but don’t think you gonna make me want to give up – make me want to lose – because that’s not who I am.
He’s a good wrestler but I’ve beat better wrestlers – Olympic wrestlers like Dan Henderson. If Hamill does take me down (and I doubt that will happen once), I will be back up so quick my ass won’t have even touched the canvas. People’ll be like: “What happened? Was there a takedown?” I am an attacking fighter but a defensive wrestler … I use my wrestling to stop takedowns and to get back up from takedowns.
It is going to be good to fight someone who wants to have a fight again. I respect all fighters; this is a hard way to make a living, and I respect the skills of Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida. But they came to not get hit and for the “W,” not so much to have and win a fight.
I think Hamill knows he has a fight Saturday and will come to fight. He’s a tough guy. It is pretty amazing what he’s done with his life after being born deaf. A guy has to be tough to do all that. But anyone in the division I hit – anyone – will go down.
