Quinton "Rampage" Jackson Requested Rashad Evans for The Ultimate Fighter Season 10

by Nate Wilcox on May 28, 2009 4:11 PM EDT in MMA News

Jackson said he was given a choice of who he wanted to fight and picked Evans over the title shot:

"I had my mind set to fight Evans," said Jackson. "I was actually there coaching (at UFC 98) trying to get him to win the fight. I want Evans he got in my face (at UFC 96), right after my fight. That was the wrong time to get in my face."

This makes me feel a little better about the situation. Rampage has earned the right to choose who he wants to coach against based on his previous successful outing on the show. Its very gratifying to me to see Quinton emerge as a bonafide beloved star with the American fans after his initial rough welcome.

Photo via Sherdog

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I like the idea of a Rampage motivated by personal dislike of somebody. The heat and build-up for Rampage-Wandy 3 was amazing, and the actual fight could be a promo for why Rampage is more dangerous when he’s angry.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on May 28, 2009 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

Okay, so Rampage ISN’T getting (per request) the Title shot next? That all but confirms Shogun vs Machida!!

Mind = Blown…maybe.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on May 28, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

Talk about not deserving a “shitle tot”. Shogun definitely doesn’t deserve one but it should be a good fight for a couple of rounds.

by dedstrk316 on May 28, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

Seems odd that he would pass up a title shot to coach on TUF and face Rashad. Maybe he thinks he needs more time to adapt to fighting a guy like Lyoto.

I'm your huckleberry

by bigtim on May 28, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

I was wondering why Rampage didn’t go into the cage and face Machida after the fight Sat.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on May 28, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

He may be doing both

Lyoto in September and Rashad in December (champ or not) makes complete sense.

by Derek Suboticki on May 28, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s what I thought/hoped but I can’t imagine what other big fight is out there for Shogun right now?

by who me on May 28, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s also made comments that he wanted to pass up a title shot to fight Forrest too.

by bigweeze on May 28, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

People complain to much about fighters getting “passed” up. They complained about Fitch. They complain about Okami. They complained about Machida. And everybody wanted to complain about Rampage….

Good fighters will win and eventually get a title shot anyways.

by AlwaysRelaxing on May 28, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

I swear, it’s almost like Rampage doesn’t want to be champion. Like he’d rather continue his revenge tour (and cash in on the Rashad heat) than get his belt back.

by Derek Suboticki on May 28, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he just doesn’t want to fight Machida. Rashad is a fight he can definitely win and will sell better on PPV. I’d do the same thing if I were in his shoes.

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on May 28, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Rampage is one of those guys who is highly motivated by personal gripes. I’m like that too, and as much as I know it sets me back, I have a terrible time letting go of unresolved issues. I don’t necessarily seem to have the kind of heated rivalries that Rampage does, but then again, I don’t fight for a living… Just saying, I can understand it. And for a fighter, you get motivation wherever you can.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on May 28, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Rampage going for Rashad first is definately a great plan of action for him. How much would his value be if he went and fought Machida right now and lost (let alone possibly ending up like Rashad), he’ll have lost two title fights and then you know everyone and their brother will come out the woodwork calling him a gate keeper and all that crap…

I don’t know why everyone thought Rampage-Machida was a set in stone thing…just because it was on Machida’s web page? It would be foolish for the UFC to have Rampage coach against Rashad, then fight Machida and possibly lose, and possibly be injured. How many people were excited about waiting a year for Matt Hughes and Matt Serra to fight? Sure, I watched it, but I was way more interested when it was going to happen a month after the finale for that season…doing the same thing with a fight with so much potential like Rashad-Rampage…that would be throwing away money.

by Kaleb Kelchner on May 28, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions

I think everyone assumed it was Rampages next fight because he was promised the next title shot

by soadtrails on May 28, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, as soon as the word got out that Machida wouldn’t be coaching TUF I figured that went out the window as well. lol

by Kaleb Kelchner on May 28, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Rampage is crazy like a fox.

1. He gets to cash in on a heated feud between two former champs and some ‘black on black crime’.

2. He lets Shogun take the first whack at unseating Machida. If Shogun should win, Rampage has an immediate claim to the next shot AND a built in storyline with the continuation of the ‘Rampage Revenge’ tour.

By fighting Evans first, he gets two potential big money fights AND the possibility of avoiding Machida altogether.

by Steve4192 on May 28, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed. I am worried about Shogun, I loved his all out Pride crazyness but that’s not going to fly anymore. He better get serious.

by CliChe Guevara on May 28, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Crazyness?

You mean his effectiveness at destroying everyone within the PRIDE rule set?

by MMASuPreMaCy on May 28, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Or lack thereof – soccer kicks, steroids, etc

by Derek Suboticki on May 28, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Holy balls, soccer kicks were NEVER a significant weapon in Shogun’s arsenal. Yes, he had. Yes, he used them SPARINGLY.

People act like every win of Shogun’s came via soccer kick and ignore his brutal GnP stoppages of Arona and Overeem, the latter of which took place IN Vegas.

by Applejack McNeil on May 28, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

100% correct. Plus the TUF season means he can live in Vegas and have a really long camp with a few relaxing weeks at the start to prolong his post fight vacation.

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on May 28, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on May 28, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

2. He lets Shogun take the first whack at unseating Machida. If Shogun should win, Rampage has an immediate claim to the next shot AND a built in storyline with the continuation of the ‘Rampage Revenge’ tour.

Furthermore, even if Shogun loses, that’d mean Machida would have one successful defense already if he fought Rampage next, which would make Rampage vs. Machida a more marketable fight.

by Chromium on May 30, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m just happy that a season of TUF isn’t going to gum up the LHW title for 6 months.

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 28, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

Damn, this means Rampage won’t be able to prep Bisping for the Hendo fight…

by An0nymous on May 28, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

One less black mark on his training record – Bisping’s going down

by Derek Suboticki on May 28, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

(Crap, I read that as “one less black man on his training record” and almost reported you for racism. I have GOT to learn to read better. Now, to contribute…)

I think the fight is Hendo’s to loose. Bisping’s wins lately have come from either overwhelming volume striking with not a ton of power behind it, or… whatever the hell you call what he did to win against Leben. Not saying Hendo’s unbeatable; just saying I don’t see Bisping having the skill set to do it.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on May 28, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude knows he can’t beat Machida. To bad he can’t beat Evans either. Rampage is done as a threat.

by Josh H. on May 28, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

Really? Seriously?

Last five fights:
*destroyed Chuck while everyone was still terrified of him, probably starting his decline
*took out a VERY tough Hendo with a really good five round performance
*lost a razor thin decision to Forrest in a fight where it’s clear Rampage was hurt in the first and had a really crappy one dimensional game plan; he also went nuts and split with his manager afterwards, so it’s safe to say there was some extenuating circumstances there
*CRUSHED Wanderlei who, despite his declining skills, is a terrible style match-up for Rampage
*decisioned a very game Keith Jardine while knocking him down several times

So it’s… what evidence exactly that leads you to say he’s “done as a threat”? He lost to a guy who is considered among the better LHWs in the world, and if/when they rematch, I bet the odds are pretty well 50-50, if not in Rampage’s favour. Other than that, all he’s done is put people away. Seriously, Rampage is durable, has good boxing, good wrestling, ridiculous power in both hands… I’m so sick of every single frickin’ fighter getting written off for no reason other than that they aren’t on a 15-fight win streak (with every fight stopped in the first for a KO). Rampage remains one of the toughest LHW fighters anywhere. I hate to say it, but your statement is just silly regardless of whether or not Rampage does/does not defeat Machida or Evans. Let’s get some perspective here.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on May 28, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs