Matt Hamill Now Expected to Face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130

The times they are a-changing.

Bob Dylan said it in a song, and now it stands true for the MMA matchmaking business as well. Just days after reports surfaced that Thiago Silva was set to be pulled from his bout against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and former champion Rashad Evans was slated to take the spot, the fight has changed again.

MMAWeekly.com has confirmed with sources close to the negotiations that former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor Matt Hamill has been contacted and agreed to face Jackson at the UFC 130 card in May.

British site MMABay was the first to mention the possibility of the fight, and MMAWeekly.com has confirmed with sources close to the bout that Hamill has been agreed to face Jackson, and at this point at least verbal agreements are in order.

Originally, Rashad Evans was poised to take the fight against Jackson in May, but it appears the UFC changed their mind about the match-up and opted to go another direction. Sources close to Evans have indicated that he is indeed out of the running for the fight against Jackson.

Speculation about Hamill’s involvement started on Thursday when a scheduled fight between he and Phil Davis was yanked from the UFC’s website for the UFC 129 fight card in Toronto. Davis and Hamill were a featured bout on the card, but it mysteriously disappeared.

Now it appears everyone knows why.

For his part, Thiago Silva has stated on numerous sites that he has received no indication that he is out of the bout against Jackson for May 28, but with a pending drug test result still coming back from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, it appears the UFC may not want to take any chances in waiting.

Damon Martin is the lead staff writer and radio host for MMAWeekly.com.

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