UFC 152 ‘Jones vs. Belfort’ Preview

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Light Heavyweights

Matt Hamill (10-4, 9-4 UFC) vs. Roger Hollett (13-3, 0-0 UFC)

The Matchup: It has been a little more than a year since Matt Hamill announced his retirement following a loss to talented Swede Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 133. “The Ultimate Fighter 3” alumnus claimed a constant battle with injuries following his appearance on the reality show factored into his decision to hang it up, and, considering the brutal nature of his loss to Gustafsson, no one was really begging him to reconsider. Staying away can prove to be especially difficult for those who have grown accustomed to competing at a high level for the majority of their lives, however, and now “The Hammer” makes his return against a promotional debutante.

Hollett was supposed to be Hamill’s opponent at UFC 152 from the start, but contractual issues with his previous employer, Bellator Fighting Championships, forced the Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, native off the card. Vladimir Matyushenko agreed to step in for Hollett, but the Belarusian had to withdraw from the contest after tearing his Achilles’ tendon. That gave Hollett, whose UFC contract was not matched by Bellator, another opportunity at Hamill. The Canadian carries a five-fight winning streak into the bout after earning a split verdict against John Hawk in his lone Bellator appearance in November. A five-time veteran of the Maximum Fighting Championship promotion, Hollett owns 11 of his 13 career victories via knockout or submission.

Despite Hamill’s layoff, this will be the most significant test of Hollett’s career, though he does own a victory over two-time UFC veteran Victor Valimaki. While Hamill will not overwhelm anyone with his athleticism, he is heavy-handed and does a decent job mixing in kicks with his attacks. Hollett will not have much trouble closing distance against a fairly slow-footed opponent, but he will likely struggle to outmuscle the Ohioan in tie-ups and takedowns. Though he has favored more of a standup-based attack in recent fights, Hamill’s ground-and-pound is effective when he chooses to employ it. Standing and banging with Hollett, who has solid power of his own, is a more risky route to take.

The Pick: Hamill has a fair amount of wear-and-tear on his body, so it will be interesting to see if Hollett can take advantage and impose his will. Assuming he is 100 percent, Hamill’s wrestling base and experience give him a slight edge here. Look for Hamill to make a triumphant return and earn a hard-fought unanimous decision.

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