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[carbondioxide830]

Fresh off a dominating win over Brandon Vera at UFC 125, light heavyweight Thiago Silva (15-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) next will fight former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (31-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a UFC 130 bout expected to have a major impact on the title picture.

Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) verbal agreements are in place for the fight.

UFC 130 takes place May 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Jackson vs. Silva likely will be part of the pay-per-view main card, possibly in a headlining or co-headlining spot.

Despite fighting for the first time in a year due to injuries, Silva looked sharp in a lopsided unanimous-decision win over Vera this past week. Silva dominated the fight on the mat with frequent takedowns, a smothering top game, and ground and pound that ultimately broke his opponent's nose. In the end, the judges awarded the Brazilian the decision via scores of 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27.

Prior to the victory, Silva opened his career with a 13-0 mark but then went 1-2 with losses to former champs Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans and a knockout win over Keith Jardine.

Jackson, meanwhile, recently got back into the title picture and rebounded from his own loss to Evans with a close split-decision victory over Machida in November's UFC 123 headliner. It was his third win in the four fights since he lost his belt to Forrest Griffin in 2008. The former PRIDE star's other recent victories came over Wanderlei Silva (knockout) and Jardine (decision).

source: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Thiago Silva targeted for UFC 130 | MMAjunkie.com

[Leucoethiops]

Page, all day long baby.

[Sakara=Excitement]

Hopefully Page slaps Thiago around...fucking beautiful. Guarantee you that Thiago wont stand with Page the same way he didnt want to stand with Vera

[Xanatos]

Originally Posted by Sakara=Excitement

Hopefully Page slaps Thiago around...fucking beautiful. Guarantee you that Thiago wont stand with Page the same way he didnt want to stand with Vera

I hope not, this is not the fight that I want to go to the ground.

[IceCold48]

Originally Posted by Sakara=Excitement

Hopefully Page slaps Thiago around...fucking beautiful. Guarantee you that Thiago wont stand with Page the same way he didnt want to stand with Vera

rampage tdd>>>>>>>>>one dimensional vera

thiago's takedowns arent even that good rampage will dictate where this fight goes and he will win it any which way he chooses.

[optimusjoel]

Rampage wont be able to counter with thiago, itll only take a few connections for Page to get hurt. Also Rampage's TDD is not as good as it use to be, I can see Silva pounding the fight out.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Originally Posted by IceCold48

rampage tdd>>>>>>>>>one dimensional vera

thiago's takedowns arent even that good rampage will dictate where this fight goes and he will win it any which way he chooses.

While I don't think Rampage will be able to necessarily dictate how he'll win, I think Rampage can seriously keep this standing because as you said, Thiago's takedowns aren't anything special and in turn, if he fights smart, I have Rampage heavily favoured.

Thiago really didn't impress me all too much vs. Vera because he fought safe and I don't believe for a second that Silva will be able to approach 'Page in the same way, because as said about, 'Page's got way better TDD.

I see this fight possibly devolving quite quickly into a shootout if Silva has his way and then it's a tossup, but if Rampage is able to articulately keep his distance and use his crisp strikes, I think he can dictate and control Silva.

For me, it all has to do with how committed and consistent Rampage comes into this fight, coupled with how he combats the Muay Thai of Silva. If he's "on point", I'll take Rampage via decision due to superior boxing.....as long as he can check those brutal legkicks. If he doesn't stick to his gameplan and fight smart, I think he eats legkicks and think he's in danger in the clinch.

Should be a great fight

[end it with a left]

Thiago trips more than shoots so he may be able to get Page down that being said I still think Rampage will win this fight

[singhc]

GREAT FIGHTT..... how about we put this on the Toronto card and place Couture/Machida in ufc130

[IceCold48]

Originally Posted by singhc

GREAT FIGHTT..... how about we put this on the Toronto card and place Couture/Machida in ufc130

and the point of that would be...?