Dana White's Comments Suggest Rampage Jackson Will Fight Rashad Evans

by Michael Rome on Dec 30, 2008 5:21 PM EST in News Comment 24 comments

There's a bit of debate over who should get the next shot at Rashad Evans' Light Heavyweight title. The two clear candidates are Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida. Strong arguments can be made for both, but Dana White's comments since UFC 92 strongly suggest Rampage Jackson will get the next title shot.

Strictly Fighting caught up with Dana White after the presser and at the end of the interview, he makes it pretty clear Rampage is ready for a shot:

Yesterday, on the Carmichael Dave show, a Sacramento-based radio program Dana White appears on occasionally, Dana was presented with his preference for Rashad's next defense, and he made it pretty clear he favors a Rampage title shot:

To be honest with you, I'd love to see Rashad vs. Rampage, I think it would be a fun fight.

Dana also seemed very unconcerned with Rampage's legal issues, suggesting there is more to the legal story we don't know. Perhaps a plea deal in the works?

I think Machida has to win two fights to get his shot. I think he is a heavy favorite against Thiago, and then will have to get a win over a top level guy like Shogun, Wanderlei, or Forrest to get his shot.

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I hate to nitpick…but they should at least say Rashad’s name correctly…Rasheed? lol. Jackson vs. Evans is the fight that should happen barring any legal troubles for Rampage. I agree Machida is 2 wins away and one of those wins needs to be over someone top 5.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Dec 30, 2008 5:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah between his soothing “we’re best friends” approach and mispronouncing Rashad’s name that guy has it all covered.

by Michael Rome on Dec 30, 2008 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by mmalogic on Dec 30, 2008 7:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

They just made a very strong case on why I’ll never go to that site…

by NextAndersonSilva on Dec 30, 2008 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know,

how in the hell can you claim to know MMA & call the guy who just beat Forrest “Rasheed” three times in an interview?

by dnevil001 on Dec 31, 2008 8:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Machida has to win two fights to get his shot. I think he is a heavy favorite against Thiago, and then will have to get a win over a top level guy like Shogun, Wanderlei, or Forrest to get his shot.

Too bad he was scheduled to fight Forrest twice, and Forrest backed out twice. Too bad he was scheduled to fight Shogun but Forrest took it away from him.

Machida has been avoided more than my ex-girlfriend when she’s drinking.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Dec 30, 2008 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Barring Rampage not settling his legal situation amicably and Machida putting on the performcance of a lifetime… Rampage will be next.

This should be an interesting fight…

Rampage already has the advantage as Rashad has lately been starting his fights with being 1 round down…

He doesnt start fighting until round 2… and mostly gets into gear in round 3.

by mmalogic on Dec 30, 2008 7:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think he may have lost R1 to Chuck on purpose in order to get Chuck to chase him around with his hands down.

by Ubernoober on Dec 30, 2008 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No one loses rounds on purpose. He just was biding time. Trying to find the rhythm. That’s all it was.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Dec 30, 2008 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s just funny to think that while he’s not trying to lose rounds, his winning strategy entails losing rounds.

Some people try to discredit him because of this, but I think he sets himself in a very nice position for the second half of the fight by doing this.

by bigweeze on Dec 30, 2008 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lyoto has the same strategy except he doesnt lose rounds in implementing it… though unlike evans he hasnt been finishing fights.

by mmalogic on Dec 30, 2008 10:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s a very interesting fight, perhaps the toughest for Rashad.

How good is Quinton’s wrestling these days? I remember being surprised when he stuffed everything Randleman tried. He is going to come into the Octagon about 15 pounds heavier than Rashad too, he won’t be that easy to take down. He also showed against Dan Henderson that he can hang with top level wrestlers and more.

I think Jackson has a lot more power than Evans does, and better boxing. The key for Rashad, I think, is to try to use his speed, land combinations, and get in and out quickly. He doesn’t have the reach advantage Forrest did though. On quick consideration I think Quinton wins this fight, he is VERY tough to finish.

by Michael Rome on Dec 30, 2008 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree completely,

I just hope that when Rampage knocks “Rasheed” out he stands over him, kisses his fingers & grabs his cock!

by dnevil001 on Dec 31, 2008 8:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Machida has to win two fights to get his shot. I think he is a heavy favorite against Thiago, and then will have to get a win over a top level guy like Shogun, Wanderlei, or Forrest to get his shot.

Agreed. I would also argue that he needs a KO or submission win in there as well. He won’t sell tickets if he’s decisioning everyone to death.

by pud333 on Dec 30, 2008 7:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think two more wins where he is promoted in countdowns as well as another 6 months or so of replaying some of his wins on Unleashed will at least create enough buzz around him to have significant interest.

I kinda like Forrest/Machida as a number one contender’s match in the Summer.

by Michael Rome on Dec 30, 2008 8:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you sure Forrest is actually going to fight him this time instead of pulling out?

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Dec 30, 2008 8:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You seem to really be hung up on Forrest not wanting to fight Machida. A lot of people don’t want to fight Machida. There’s not a lot of upside. He’s clearly a tough fight. Win or lose though, you’re fighting a relative unknown. And win or lose, the fight likely isn’t going to be entertaining for a lot of viewers.

Forrest was and is a big name in the UFC. What did he have to gain from fighting Machida?

by ricker2005 on Dec 30, 2008 9:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It was scheduled for UFC 70. Forrest came back at UFC 72 to fight … wait for it … Hector Ramirez. What did he have to gain from fighting Ramirez? He was fighting a relative unknown. And the fight was not entertaining.

Forrest needs to quit ducking Machida.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Dec 30, 2008 9:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gimme a break, he skipped Machida to fight the consensus number 1 at 205 in the world at the time. He didn’t want a boring-ass fight.

by Michael Rome on Dec 31, 2008 1:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What did he gain from fighting Hector Ramirez at UFC 72? How about a crowd in Northern Ireland for a guy who is all about his Irish heritage?

by ricker2005 on Dec 31, 2008 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You may want to review your facts.

Forrest signed to fight Machida at UFC 70, which was Forrest’s comeback fight after the Jardine loss. He had to pull out due to a staph infection. Machida chose to fight at UFC 70 anyway, against David Heath, and couldn’t put Heath away (won by decision). Forrest then fights 2 months later at UFC 72 once he’s healed.

Forrest then signs to fight #1 ranked LHW Shogun later that year at UFC 76. Shogun had been wrecking people in PRIDE and this was his first UFC fight. Forrest was supposed to put over Shogun.

Griffin isn’t afraid to fight anyone. Like most fighters however, he prefers exciting to watch and face guys who are likewise exciting.

by Hardcharger on Dec 31, 2008 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If machida stops thiago his next fight will be for the belt.

by mmalogic on Dec 30, 2008 10:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I think that if Machida beats Thiago in his next fight he’ll be the next for the belt. He’s waited his time. I can’t think of anyone else besides Rampage who could get a shot at the belt next in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. It’s a pretty deep division, but, there’s not a whole lot on talent going down in the lower ranks to get up to the top.

The question is, if Machida is the next in line after his fight. Who does Rampage fight in the meanwhile? Personally, I’d like to see a rematch with Forrest. Or possibly a fight with Shogun. We’ll have to see how Coleman vs. Shogun to find out really.

by bloodmoney on Dec 31, 2008 10:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs