UFC 130 Media Conference Call with Quinton Jackson, Matt Hamill, Frank Mir and Roy Nelson
Written by: Penny Buffington
The fighters gave Penny Buffington executive producer of MMA2DAY Show and other members of the media statements concerning their upcoming fights taking place in just 9 days.
UFC 130 Rampage vs. Hamill in Las Vegas, Nevada May 28 will air live on PPV. After injuries, while in their perspective training camps to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, caused both to pull out of the originally planned main event lightweight title bout – pushing the co main event Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Matt “The Hammer” Hamill into the main event spot.
“Rampage” turns 33 in June and has all intentions of leaving the sport by the age of 35. One thing I want to be remembered as is one of the most exciting fighters. That is important to me.” He is a former UFC Light-Heavyweight title holder and is the first person to unify any of the UFC and Pride FC championship belts, after defeating Pride Fighting Championships Middleweight title holder Dan Henderson in 2007.
Quinton explains there has to be a life after the octagon, “Movies are something I want to get into after fighting.” Most recently Jackson starred in The A-Team as B.A. Baracus.
Right now he is concentrating on the Hamill fight not movies, “My main motivation is to win. I think Matt made a mistake when he actually said that he is going to break my will and that I am going to overlook him. That lit a fire up under my ass. It actually made me train a little bit harder just so I could break his will. So I can make sure I can outclass him.”
Jackson has a mixed martial arts Sherdog Record of 31 – 8 – 0, compared to 34 year old Hamill’s, 10 – 2 – 0 record.
Matt who has a film coming out this fall feels he is ready to fight Quinton who is ranked #4 in the top 10 World Light Heavyweight MMA Rankings released this month, “Beating Tito defiantly put me in line for a fight like this. I know I am ready for the next level. I am there!”
Interested in seeing “Hamill” the Movie? It’s playing at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Info:
http://www.matthamill.com/?p=7. There was no mention during the conference but weighing heavily on Matt Hamills mind must be the death of his great friend and mentor. He posted on his website yesterday the following:“Today is a sad day for me. Doug Blubaugh, my great friend, mentor and master since 5th grade passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident at the age of 76. It is heart wrenching for me to see him pass away. He was the greatest ambassador for Wrestling and his contributions to the sport will never be forgotten. Doug dedicated all his sweat and blood to see me become successful. To this day Doug has been influential in my life and most recently spent a week at my house sharpening up my wrestling for my last fight. Thank you Doug and farewell…..”
-Matt Hamill
The co main event for the night will be Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson. Frank and Roy have had a long standing relationship. Frank explains how he deals with fighting someone he actually likes. “At first I struggled a little bit with it mentally. I’m sure Roy in training hits more people than he does in fights. The people I train with are the people I eat dinner with afterwards and who hang out at my house. These are my friends who I hit a lot harder and a lot more often than any opponent. So that’s just the way I am looking at it now.”
32 year old Mir also said, “Roy is a tuff guy; I think that anybody that overlooks that is having a really tough night. I’m really just looking for the best fight. I really haven’t given much thought to what’s beyond it.” Frank is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion.
Nelsons spin on it, “It’s one of those things where you get paid to win. Usually you put your family first. I think that is what it comes down to, is if you can put a roof over your head for your family first.”
Frank Mir has a mixed martial arts Sherdog Record of 14 – 5 – 0, compared to 34 year old Roy “Big Country” Nelson 15 – 5 – 0.
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard will have to wait for another night but fans shouldn’t feel slighted and can still look forward to a great night of fights. For the complete fight card list please visit:
http://pennyjomma.net/?s=ufc+130+fight+card 
Matt Hamill & Penny Buffington
