UFC 135 Results: Rampage Jackson Needs to Fight the UFC's Young Lions
by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 26, 2011 1:20 PM EDT
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Rampage Jackson came in motivated. He came in well trained, in great shape. He came in hungry for the win. He came in to get his belt back. But none of that mattered.
At UFC 135, Jon Jones was simply too much for Rampage, choking out the former champion after slowly picking him apart over four rounds. And so now, as the UFC looks at Rampage, they are forced to ask that same question that so many legends of the sport are facing these days. What now? The answer should be clear.
Rampage needs to be fighting the best young talent in the Light Heavyweight division, and he needs to be fighting them now.
With these legends, there is a temptation to throw them a softball in the match-making. Set them up with other legends who may be out of title contention, and provide a fun nostalgia fight. Think of Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva, or Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin 2. But what purpose do these fights serve? They don't draw well, and they don't benefit either fighter's career. This is not the model the UFC should follow with Jackson. If they want to know how best to utilize him, they should look to a fight between two of Rampage's former foes.
When Rashad Evans faced Chuck Liddell at UFC 88, Evans was undefeated, but still a rising young name, with no big signature win yet on his resume. For his part, Liddell was definitely a step removed from his prime, but coming in off the win over Wanderlei Silva, and still not far removed from his Light Heavyweight title run, he was still considered a major threat in the division. Seven minutes later, Chuck was an afterthought, and Rashad Evans was on his way to the Light Heavyweight title. That KO propelled Rashad straight to the top. Would it have had the same impact if Chuck had come in after a series of meaningless legends fights? No. Correct or not, Liddell was still seen as a legitimate contender, and Rashad putting him down meant something to the young fighter.
Rampage is now in a position to provide that same boost to the new generation of Rashads. Pair him with a Phil Davis, or Alexander Gustafsson. If the young up and comer wins, they have a huge name on their resume, and have taken a much needed step towards superstardom. And if they lose? Then they weren't ready for the very top of the card yet anyway.
This may sound harsh - a way to feed Rampage to the young lions. And, in a way, that's exactly what it is. But that still leaves the future in Rampage's hands. If he can keep these new names at bay and spoil their title aspirations, he'll move back up the ladder himself. If not, there will be new contenders filling in that spot. Everyone wins.
So what now for Rampage? Phil Davis, and the rest of the division's hungry young fighters. Make it happen Joe Silva.
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page vs gustaffsson is the perfect fight to make
i’d want to scrap gustaffsson vs matyushenko to make it happen
"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva
by milk72 on Sep 26, 2011 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This sounds genius. I’d love that fight. You’d have to keep him at co-main event status if he goes the young gun route.
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by mountaineers101 on Sep 26, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
That fight makes sense. Both Rampage and Gustafsson have in common that their last win was against Hamill. At this point, it doesn’t come across, at least to me, as being too much, too soon for Gustafsson.
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I love Vlad,
but he’s a great stepping stone to help get a young gun into a fight with someone like Rampage.
"Hi. I don't know you." - me
"Cigano punch my face...all the time." - Anderson Silva
Agreed on all points.
This is the circle of life in combat sports. I would say Phil Davis and let Gus get one more mid level guy before leapfrogging him. It’s about time that we get a new wave of faces into the division much like WW.
Sometimes, these things happen in MMA
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Sep 26, 2011 1:05 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
yea there arent nearly as many young faces at lhw as there are at ww
welterweight has ellenberger, story, hendricks, condit and macdonald
light heavyweight has jones, gustaffson and davis then noone else even remotely close to that level
"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva
After that are guys like Kyle Kingsbury and Fabio Maldonado. There are definitely a lot less prospects in the UFC Light Heavyweight Division. Getting the Strikeforce Light Heavyweights like King Mo, Mousasi, Feijao, OSP, and even Mike Kyle and Roger Gracie could give a boost to the UFC Light Heavyweight Division. I wouldn’t even mind if the UFC picks up Yoel Romero and Marcos De Lima.
Check out the C&D Channel on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Gobusiness123 for MMA reviews, predictions, analysis, and other MMA related content.
i'd like to see the SF 205ers come over ASAP
Jones will face Evans, then the winner of Rua/Hendo, then probably Machida, but during the 12-18 months it takes for that to occur, we need to get a better grasp on the up and comers of the division.
Bringing over the SF LHW cream of the crop would give us a ton of fresh faces, fresh match ups, and help shake out where everyone stands in the division.
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
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K1 Level Predictions Team Cut Man
by Snatchl on Sep 26, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I also agree
Fights like Franklin vs Liddell or Forrest vs Ortiz doesn’t move the needle in the division. I think older fighters should be fighting up and comers to usher in the next generation….assuming those up-and-comers can beat the veterans
"i hate signatures...that, and hypocrisy"
Yeah I agree with this.
I’d much rather see Lyoto and Rampage fighting up and coming guys, testing them and giving them a chance to prove themselves, than just fighting amongst the same top five or six guys, with a Tito or Rich thrown in there. But with that said, Rampage vs. Little Nog in Japan!!!
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 26, 2011 1:15 PM EDT reply actions
well i wanna watch machida fight jones before we make him fight up and comers
"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva
I'd like to see that one as well, even more than Rashad.
But Lyoto doesn’t even have a fight booked, and if they’re serious about Dan/Shogun being for the next shot, which totally sucks by the way, then there aren’t a whole lot of options for the Dragon. I’m not real excited about them pitting him against Rich or Tito again, and Forrest seems to be mentally halfway to retiring. Maybe if they continue adding in the Strikeforce LHW’s there could be some good matchups. I’d like to see Lyoto fight Feijao, Mousasi or Mo, but right now I think they’ve gotta give the younger guys a chance to move up and see where they’re at.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 26, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Machida has a ways to go before fighting for the title...
I know the internet loves the guy, but they forget, constantly, that in Dana’s mind, Lyoto is 1-3 since beating Rashad, with the lone victory coming over Randy. That, combined with asking for “Anderson Silva” money, has him pretty far out from contention and is also why he doesn’t have a fight.
by IRH on Sep 26, 2011 1:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Lyoto is 2-1-1 IMO
Beat Randy and Quinton, drew with Shogun the first time around, and got knocked out by him in the rematch.
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by ElliotMatheny on Sep 26, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Dana and Joe are the one's who opinion carries weight here...
For starters, Rampage got a title shot one fight removed from facing Machida and Shogun is in a title eliminator one fight after losing the title to Jon Jones. Machida, on the other hand, probably has two more fights before he can get another shot, if for no other reason than timing.
The preference they’ve given Shogun and Rampage should tell you all you need to know about what they think Machida’s record is.
The thing with Machida is that he just has a skillset that would probably beat most up-and-comers, and Rampage at this point is pretty much a guy who has good boxing, power, and takedown defense. In my opinion, I can see many fighters lose to Machida, and we have yet to see him against Jon Jones. Rich Franklin, Rogerio Nogueira, or Forrest Griffin would probably fit better in that role than Machida at this point.
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Yeah I agree with you,
in that Lyoto hasn’t washed out of the Jon Jones era lottery yet, it’s just that I really don’t know who they’ve got available for him to fight. I also get the impression that Dana is leaving him out in the cold. Shogun had the style, and for once, the health to beat him. To act like he’s been figured out now, and isn’t the elite fighter he was considered a year ago is crazy. He’s still one of my favorite fighters to watch. I don’t want to see him rematch Rich or Tito or something, just cause there’s no one on his level available right now. I’d actually like to see Rampage vs. Lyoto again in a five rounder, maybe in Japan, but there’s no reason Rampage would take that fight. I just want to see Lyoto avenge that loss since I disagreed with the decision.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 26, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
totally disagree with this proposal
Rampage should avenge his forrest loss and Shogun loss it would be something special for fans to see then retire, end of story.
Wasting his name for ‘young lions’ that will be disemboweled by the current king of the LHW Jungle isnt the way to go.
I am willing to test myself against the toughest fighters in the world, in front of hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans, over and over again. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I always come to fight. I've been doing this for the past fourteen years, and I have at least a few more strong years left in me. What have you done in the past fourteen years other than act like a moron on this forum and hang on Anderson's nuts? - Dan Henderson.
Agreed.
I couldn’t disagree with this article anymore.
To say Franklin/Wand or Oriz/Griffin II weren’t draws, or weren’t relevant, or weren’t anything but awesome fights for the fans is baffling. They were both main events, they boosted the winner to a bigger fight, and the crowd was loving it.
I;m sorry, but Rampage/Shogun II, Rampage/Forrest II, Rampage/Rashad II is far more interesting than Rampage/Gustafsson(so sick of hearing about this kids hype train) or Rampage/Davis.
There are plenty of fights for the young guns to fight, then to waste the precious few fights left in Rampage’s career fighting relative unknowns.
The fans want the marquee fights. If the young lions are really contenders, then they’ll keep winning, and make their name off of Forrest/Thiago/Ortiz, before they are even CONSIDERED for Rampage.
See, I thought Franklin vs. Wanderlei was totally boring and a complete waste of time. Which is the same way I felt about Franklin vs. Henderson, Franklin vs. Griffin… Different strokes for different folks as far as enjoyment goes. But relevancy? No way any of those fights mattered one bit.
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by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 26, 2011 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Classic over-reaction
MMA fans are so fickle. Rampage has a lot of gas left in the tank. If we’re going to consider the inability to figure out Jon Jones as the deathblow to a fighter’s career, get ready to lay critical waste to the entire 205 division.
Rampage would be far better suited to a Forrest rematch or a fight with King Mo in Japan.
Remember all those folks that said WEC lightweights simply wouldn't be able to hang in the UFC? Yeah.......
Why would you not want to see Davis or Gustafsson fight Rampage? He isn’t better than they are. He has proven he is at the bottom of the first tier at LHW: Losses to Forrest, Evans, Jones. He beat Jardine, Wanderlei, Hamill and cough… Machida. In my book, that is 3 losses to one win against the top of the LHW division and that Machida win was a BS split decision.
Why would you want Rampage fighting king mo? rofl. Forrest is on the verge of retiring.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
Nice that you'll cough at the Machida victory
But chalk up Forrest as a failure.
Rampage will knock out Mo in Japan and everyone will be back to sucking at the teet. This is the unfortunate reality of MMA fandom.
Remember all those folks that said WEC lightweights simply wouldn't be able to hang in the UFC? Yeah.......
by Charles Awad on Sep 26, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Machida had Rampage hurt in that third round in the fight, Rampage did not have Machida hurt. That is the tie breaker in my book.
Forrest controlled Rampage and earned that unanimous victory IMO.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
Actually
Rampage is better than Davis and Gustafsson. If Jones struggled to take down Rampage, I doubt Davis can, and we all know he’d out strike each of them.
KEMvP
"You know Joe, if Keith Jardines last name was Johnson, the nickname 'The Dean of Mean' wouldn't work at all."
I think people overestimate Rampage’s striking skills because he KO’d Liddell. He threw one punch over and over again to KO Liddell in both fights. It was a case of a perfect match up in rampage’s favor. I would not be so quick to assume he would beat Davis or Gustafsson. Since sept of 2007 Rampage has had ONE KO. That was to a head trauma case Wanderlei Silva who is getting KO’d by everyone at middleweight.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
rampage has show stopping power.
bottom line. its silly to argue otherwise.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Sep 26, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
and by everyone at middle weight you mean Chris Leben.
not bisping or Ace.
Leben throws with nothing but hatred and power. Once again you insult a knock out artists power for no good reason.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Sep 26, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Rampage has one KO in the last 4 years of fighting. You can debate his “power” all you want but he isn’t delivering it very often.
Ok, yes he was ko’ed once at mw but he was ko’ed his last 2 fights in pride and jackson and leben. You are arguing that his chin is still strong as ever?
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
its not as strong as ever.
but he has only been Koed by Vitors chain punches,CroCop’s LHK, Hendo’s H-bomb, Pages Hook, and Lebens wild ass hooks. that makes him human, not a glass jawed chump.
Rampage has like 14 KOs, plus several subs from strikes, and has dropped three of the last 6 people he has fought with a punch. ( i thought he might have killed Wand) Everyone he has fought since 2007 has been a championship level fighter. They generally are a little harder to KO. exactly what does someone have to do to have power?
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Sep 26, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You have to be joking to think Hamill and Jardine are championship level
I respect your opinion even though it's wrong.
Great – if he has gas left in the tank, then he should be able to defeat these guys, get back up the ladder, and earn another shot. Why is that a bad thing?
And a Forrest rematch – why? You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think that’s a foregone conclusion. Forrest is done. Does Rampage really need to pile on the blows. What will a win over today’s Forrest Griffin tell us about Rampage that a win over Phil Davis won’t?
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by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 26, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
That is a tough fight for Mo
Terrible matchup.
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Good
I don’t like Mo and he’s been talking shit for years.
Remember all those folks that said WEC lightweights simply wouldn't be able to hang in the UFC? Yeah.......
by Charles Awad on Sep 27, 2011 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Those fights make sense...
If you’re trying to send Davis and Gustaffson back down the ladder.
by IRH on Sep 26, 2011 1:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I think you overestimate Rampage at this point in his career. I really don’t get all the accolades he is getting for getting schooled by Jones. It is kinda funny to me. WOW Rampage looked so good bobbing his head around as Jones hit him with 90% accuracy. VERY impressive. Rumors Rampage spent tons of money on his camp and everyone jumps to the conclusion that he looks SO much better. He did not look better to me AT ALL. He looked tentative and hesitant to engage. He stood at range and just let Jones pick him apart. His feet were slow as hell and he never even attempted to close distance, throw combinations and get out. No uppercuts as Jones was attempting to tie him up. It almost looked like Page gave up within the first minute of the fight. He NEVER took the fight to Jones.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
Rampage needs a better camp.
Since he hasn’t evolved much, all the tape on him is a gold mine for a fighter like Jones.
Wolfslair improved his boxing, but he still doesn’t check leg kicks, and that will continue to be part of the blue print to unravel him for all future opponents.
Rampage is still top 5 in the division, so I’m okay with throwing him to the young lions. He might just kill them all!
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
----------------------------
I choose Snatch!
Zakree
----------------------------
K1 Level Predictions Team Cut Man
Exactly, he had no chance of winnning with the game plan( or lack thereof) he employed. I got tired of watching as never attempted any faints or fakes to close the distance.
Page v. Shogun is sweet but rematch w/ Forrest is kind of a yawner. Mo, Gust, or Davis would be competitive and pretty exciting as all of those guys can take a punch.
Your beliefs become your reality.
by Hardy's in your face on Sep 26, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Rampage doesn't need to evolve to beat Davis or Gustaffson
Gustaffson might be able to use his length to keep Rampage at bay, but he is not the most diverse striker and he hasn’t shown the ability to employ the kind of range striking that Jones did.
Phil Davis’ standup is still evolving. His wrestling is great. That’s not going to matter against a guy like Rampage. Rashad struggled to get Rampage down and he is much better at transitioning from striking to grappling. Jones is better all around and he still had trouble getting the fight on the mat.
Both of those guys are barely above Lil Nog’s level. A jump to face Rampage is going to lead to both of them getting sent back to the drawing board. Same if you make them face someone like Machida or any of the other top five or six guys in the division.
He lost to Jon Jones.
A lot of people have done/will do that. I don’t think that fans should overreact and declare him nothing more than a gatekeeper. He fought Evans tough and had him hurt at one point in the third. He won a very close fight with Machida. Those are 2 of the top 4-5 in the world at lhw, and both fights were relatively recent. Losing to the man who may be the top P4P fighter in the world doesn’t invalidate those wins. A fight against someone like Davis might make sense, but to relegate him to gatekeeper status seems like an overreaction.
by Some Guy Named Gabbo on Sep 26, 2011 1:40 PM EDT reply actions
I meant
invalidate those performances. not wins. DERP
by Some Guy Named Gabbo on Sep 26, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Gatekeeper is hard to define...
Rampage is far to good to be thought of as a tradtional gatekeeper, but he could certainly be the keeper of the top 5.
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
----------------------------
I choose Snatch!
Zakree
----------------------------
K1 Level Predictions Team Cut Man
“Rampage will become something of a high level gatekeeper…” My words may yet ring true…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 28, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
If Rampage is truly motivated he needs to change his camp.
"... All reined up in old language and old assumptions, straining to jump clean-hoofed on to a whole new track of being I only suspect is there. I can't see it, because my educated, average head is being held at the wrong angle..."
by dancingChicken on Sep 26, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
this
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
----------------------------
I choose Snatch!
Zakree
----------------------------
K1 Level Predictions Team Cut Man
Yeah.
I completely agree with this article.
The problem is…would Rampage take those fights? He strikes me as the type to only wan to fight big name fighters. I can maybe see Phil Davis but that’s it.
"Fuck your MOTHERRRRRRRR!!!!!"
by Nightmare_wears_prada on Sep 26, 2011 1:54 PM EDT reply actions
He would never take those fights
Rampage would get KOd by Gustafsson and outwrestled by Davis. -And they all know it.
Rampage striking is predictable as he’ll. He never extends his punches and never mixes up his offence. Gustafsson would pick him apart from the outside.
Just think of how good Rampage would have really been..
If he actually had & used a complete game.
I don’t enjoy one dimensional fighters. It’s just really frustrating.
"Fuck your MOTHERRRRRRRR!!!!!"
by Nightmare_wears_prada on Sep 26, 2011 1:57 PM EDT reply actions
solid wrestling , great boxing , good defensive bjj.
he is an all time great and very well rounded. Jones simply out classed him on the floor.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Sep 26, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
"Jones simply out classed him on the floor."
And at range
And in the clinch
Not to write off Quinton, but I didn’t notice him winning, or even strongly contesting that fight in any area. It’s just Jones is that good.
I honestly don’t see a serious threat to him in the whole division. By all means, give him the best 205ers there are (I’d like to see Evans, Machida and Lawal, in that order) but after that it’s probably time to see if there are any heavyweights who can handle what he brings.
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by some schmuck in texas on Sep 26, 2011 2:10 PM EDT reply actions
jones was winning all phases
i wouldnt say he was out classing page on the feet and he held his on in the tdd dept. ……. but once they went to the ground it was the Jon Bones Jones Show. Page was saved by the bell from a fucking flying triangle !!!!! Jones is crazy good.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Sep 26, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
mightmetric #s, fwiw
jones attempted 6 tds and got 2. Page attempted one and failed.
Jones outstruck Page by more than 3-1
sounds like serious outclassing to me.
http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com
by some schmuck in texas on Sep 26, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
its an opinion
Page looked like he had a chance on the feet. He got taught a lesson on the mat.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Sep 26, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
The only time I thought Page was close to hurting Jones was when he was chasing him throwing bombs that missed
I think it was mid-third round. If one of those had landed we’d be having a different conversation now.
And if I could piss gold coins I wouldn’t be working in the basement of the unemployment office.
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by some schmuck in texas on Sep 26, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Its risky
because you say you are feeding Jackson to the young lions… you might be feeding them a Water Buffalo they are not able to handle.
The Lidell/Evans fight is the example you give, but lets be honest… the fight was to propel Lidell back to the top, not propel Evans. Evan’s was the perfect wrestler who Lidell had punched a hole in time and time again. No one expected Evan’s to release that punch that would have killed a T-rex.
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Sure, but again, if Rampage takes them down, then Rampage moves up, and the young guys still have plenty of time left in their careers to rebuild. All is good.
Fights shouldn’t be about guaranteeing one guy is going to win. They should be about finding out who is best, then moving them up the ranks.
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by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 26, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
This is combat sports – which despite what your Dana Whites and your Bob Arums tell you is about the promoter making money. If a matchup is going to make money then they will book it. Thats why Page, BJ etc get shots after 2 wins and People like Fitch, Sotiropoulos, Jim Miller etc have to wait 6,7 8 wins until they get close to it.
Agreed, and I’m a bit proponent of that thinking. It’s why I said Tito Ortiz was close to a title shot earlier this summer. Money walks. But at some point you have to start giving the young guys opportunities to become the next Rampage themselves, so that they can make you money when Rampage himself is gone.
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by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 26, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree.
You are forgeting that MMA is an entertainment sport, first and foremost. The matchup that will put the most ass in th seats is all that matters. No one wants to see Rampage fight these up and comers that have zero personality. They want to see a spectacle in the cage. That is why putting him against King Mo would be the best.
Feeding him young lions is dumb...
Considering the amount of money you can make off of him with big names. For example if a PPV card had Rampage-Forrest 2, Rampage-Shogun 2, Rampage-Machida 2, or Rampage Hendo 2 it would most likely boost sales on a PPV card vs putting him against Phil Davis, Gustaffson, or Bader(just needed a third name haha).
Dana is a business man and he wants the fights everybody wants to see to make his money. But at the same time feeding rampage a young lion that might beat Rampage gives that guy a name and makes them a household name. We have seen it in the past with success but i don’t think making Rampage a gate keeper is the best option considering he is still top 5 in the division and there are still fights we all want him to be in. I mean who doesn’t want to see Rampage on the Japan card against Hendo, Shogun, or Machida.
While I'm not sure the strategy the UFC will implement with Rampage
for the remainder of his career, I have a pretty solid gut call that for his next fight, he will be fighting the loser of Henderson/Shogun next. Especially if its Shogun who loses. For all the obvious reasons plus the UFC likes to match losers with losers and winners with winners.
Is Phil Davis a young hungry lion?
I don’t think Phil Davis would describe himself like that. I understand it is a figure of speech but he definitely doesn’t fight like a “young hungry lion.”
-------- I LOVE MMA MATH! GSP > Anderson Silva > Fedor
Matt Serra <> GSP > Jake Shields > Dan Henderson > Ryo Chonan > Anderson Silva > Henderson > Fedor
I couldnt disagree more. Rampage is without any doubt top 5. He would beat forrest, lost a wrestling match to rashad, beat machida, I believe he would beat shogun as the rampage then was far below his level now, or it would at least be a close fight, would destroy bader, Davis, Franklin, title, lil nog, so I really don’t see where your coming from with this point at all.
by frandub on Sep 26, 2011 4:06 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I love both of those...
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 28, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
It would be great sure
but is there any guarantee Rampage (or any equivalent fading name for that matter) takes those fights? We’ve seen established fighters resist before.
Head conductor of the Charles Oliveira hype train.
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