Rampage Jackson's final UFC fight called off?
Rampage's last time inside the Octagon? Photo Credit: UFC.com
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UPDATE 3/15/12 - 6:10pm/ET: Rampage Jackson claims he has to have double knee surgery and his fight with Shogun Rua will have to wait. But I thought TRT made him feel like 25? C'mon son.
Via Rampage Jackson's Twitter:
2 keep it real,the Shogun fight will have 2 wait,I just found out that I have 2 get surgery on both knees,but I heal fast don't trip
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 15, 2012
ORIGINAL REPORT:
According to a report from FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" and MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (32-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and the UFC have mutually agreed to part ways, following his last fight for the organization. Jackson's opponent? None other than fellow former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC).
UFC President Dana White has confirmed the fight, although no date has been announced. Jackson has longed for a rematch with Rua, who defeated him via TKO (soccer kicks) back in April 2005, when the two fighters competed for PRIDE FC.
While both fighters are coming off of unanimous decision losses, their momentum couldn't be any more different. Jackson has lost two straight fights--a submission loss to current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones--and a three-round grinder to Ryan Bader. He came into the Bader fight overweight and looked sluggish, prompting UFC President Dana White to say he what everyone else was thinking--he looked unmotivated. Jackson didn't like those comments and his conflict with Zuffa, UFC's parent company, snowballed from there.
Rua on the other hand, may be 1-2 his last three fights, but that includes a loss to Jones after a year-long layoff, a dominant TKO win over Forrest Griffin, and a close unanimous decision loss to Dan Henderson--in what could be the greatest bout in UFC history.
As we've documented here, Jackson feels disrespected and wants out of the UFC. For better or worse, Jackson will get his wish--after he honors his contract.
