More Mature, Rampage Ready For Axe Murderer

[Drunken Gamer]

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is back in the U.S. after a trip across the pond to the U.K., where he’s set up shop at the Wolfslair gym alongside teammates Paul Kelly and Michael Bisping.



Jackson’s commute is hard on his family life, so he lavishes attention on his four children when he returns.



“My dad was a working man. He was in the National Guard, be gone for two weeks at a time,” Jackson said in an exclusive video interview with MMAWeekly.com. “My big boys understand; my two little babies, they don’t know. They just know, ‘daddy gone, pow, pow.’”



Jackson immediately took a liking to the Wolfslair when Bisping invited him there to train for his fight with Dan Henderson at UFC 75. Jackson successfully defended his title, but lost it in a subsequent five-round war with Forrest Griffin at UFC 86. After leaving former trainer Juanito Ibarra, he felt a move across the pond was necessary.



“The managers and stuff over there are really good, and it’s just really a good atmosphere,” he said. “The guys work really hard. I needed a change in my training and how people trained me. I’m a Werewolf, and the name of the gym is the Wolfslair. You do the math.”



Wolfslair trainers have Jackson doing things he’s never done for a fight.



“I’m swimming now,” he said. “It’s helping my cardio get a lot better. I’ve started lifting weights. What do you call it, strength and conditioning.”



Change seems to be the only constant in Jackson’s life. Only three months ago, he was riding high with a UFC belt, soaking in the perks of the position. After the Griffin loss, his world seemed to take a seismic shift; a breakup from Ibarra, a high-profile brush with the law, and training relocation to a foreign land came in rapid succession. In the middle of all this, he was offered a fight at UFC 92 with Wanderlei Silva, a man who not only beat him, but beat him badly on two separate occasions.



Heady times for anyone; let alone a person in the spotlight. Jackson says his age has made him a wiser man, and more capable against a monster like Silva.



“I think this fight will be different because I think I’m more mature now,” he said. “I’m a lot older, got a lot more experience. I fought Wanderlei both times when I was a kid, I feel like I was a kid in this sport. I got a little bit better skills now. I won’t have to fight Chuck Liddell first, and this time there won’t be so much pressure. We’re not fighting for any championship, we’re just going out there and fighting for money.”



Jackson will certainly know if his life changes have made him a better fighter when he steps into the Octagon with Silva in December. But first and foremost, he wants his fans to know that he won’t be distracted by the whirlwind around him.



“I’ve got the best people around me. I’m a child of God,” he said. “Ain’t nothing distracting me, homie. Trust me.”


http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=7334&zoneid=2

[D241]

I won't be that sad if either fighter wins, but I think there's more upside if Wanderlei wins again.

[Ash]

I'd say the 2 wins over Rampage are probably the biggest wins of Wand's career, so losing in a 3rd match would set him back a good deal, I think.

[DriveBy73]

I want Rampage to win for a couple of reasons, first of all he is my fav fighter so there is that.
Mostly though if he loses there is no telling what kind of sig Thump is gonna stick me with LOL

[Drunken Gamer]

I think Wandy will win because of the mental aspect.

[ilostmydog]

I'd like Quinton to win, but Wandy is probably in a much better place, mental and physically, coming into this fight. He certainly has a better training camp, at the very least.

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

I want Rampage to win for a couple of reasons, first of all he is my fav fighter so there is that.
Mostly though if he loses there is no telling what kind of sig Thump is gonna stick me with LOL

Aww come on, you mean to tell me youre tired of doing the DriveBy dance?

[Drunken Gamer]

Aww come on, you mean to tell me youre tired of doing the DriveBy dance?

Didn't Rampage once say that he "had enough" of Wandy and didn't want to fight him again?

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

Didn't Rampage once say that he "had enough" of Wandy and didn't want to fight him again?

I dont recall him saying that. If he did indeed say that then he sounds like a beaten man. I couldnt really blame him though. Wandy beat him twice but they were both hard, tough fights. The first fight had the BS stand up when Rampage was in control. The second fight was another great one, which Wandys cardio won.

[Cbear]

Didn't Rampage once say that he "had enough" of Wandy and didn't want to fight him again?

When the money is put on the table, he will take the fight. Wandys mental state has never been questioned and Rampage is most definitely of concern these days. I do think Rampage is a better fighter today than he was back then, though his cluelessness on what a leg kick was might not support that. I predict another major ass whuppin dealt out by Wandy.

[xxTapoutxx]

Wanderlei has rampages number

Wand TKO/KO RD 2

[gangstax2]

i hate, hate, hate this fight. it's bad for both fighters. and it isn't for a title, which is the only way a one-sided trilogy like this would make sense.

regardless, wandy by decision.

[The_Splatoon]

i hate, hate, hate this fight. it's bad for both fighters. and it isn't for a title, which is the only way a one-sided trilogy like this would make sense.

regardless, wandy by decision.

Normally I don't think any elite-level fighter should be coddled, but I agree this fight is a classic example of tons to lose, little to gain for both fighters. If Wandy wins, great, he just beat the same guy three times. If Rampage upsets him, he just beat a 1-1 guy (at least as far as the average UFC fan is concerned). On the other hand, a loss for either is a serious setback in terms of building up their rep again. Hopefully we at least get a good fight out of it.

[gangstax2]

Normally I don't think any elite-level fighter should be coddled, but I agree this fight is a classic example of tons to lose, little to gain for both fighters. If Wandy wins, great, he just beat the same guy three times. If Rampage upsets him, he just beat a 1-1 guy (at least as far as the average UFC fan is concerned). On the other hand, a loss for either is a serious setback in terms of building up their rep again. Hopefully we at least get a good fight out of it.

yeah. i'd much rather see them in the mix against bonnar (who is vastly underrated), schafer, or winner of soko/cane. schafer would be an easy win, but the other two would be legit fights against solid guys who could build their reps. if they did face off for a third time, it should only be because one is champ and the other is #1 contender. otherwise, it just seems pointless...

[BulldogWrestler]

People complain when they dont get the good fights, then when one is made people complain.

*shrugs*

[gangstax2]

People complain when they dont get the good fights, then when one is made people complain.

*shrugs*

you don't see a problem with this fight? especially in such a talent rich division? and a fight between good fighters doesn't automatically equate to being considered a good fight...

[The Juggernaut]

No ropes for Quinton to be hanging from in a death like state =[.

[Drunken Gamer]

People complain when they dont get the good fights, then when one is made people complain.

*shrugs*

Or maybe it's because we have already seen this fight two times now and feel that there is not need for a third.

[BulldogWrestler]

Well I agree with that DG. No need for a third Rampage/Wandy fight.

That said, that's not the reason everyone is raggin on this fight

[Cbear]

Or maybe it's because we have already seen this fight two times now and feel that there is not need for a third.

Not true. The current massive UFC fanbase has not seen this fight. Only the old Pride fans have. This is a fresh fight for most UFC fans.

[Drunken Gamer]

Not true. The current massive UFC fanbase has not seen this fight. Only the old Pride fans have. This is a fresh fight for most UFC fans.

Ah, but Bulldog's comment was directed to us, the posters (hardcore fans), and not the general MMA fanbase.....no?

[gangstax2]

Well I agree with that DG. No need for a third Rampage/Wandy fight.

That said, that's not the reason everyone is raggin on this fight

huh? the only person "raggin" on this fight prior to dg's post was me, and i posted the exact same reason for why i didn't like the fight. nobody else in this thread has ragged on the fight for any reason other than the one's dg and i listed...

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

Or maybe it's because we have already seen this fight two times now and feel that there is not need for a third.

Yes Wandy is 2-0 against Rampage but both were great fights and very competitive. The first had the BS stand up because Pride wanted to protect Wandy. Its not at all like seeing Fedor/Nog or Wandy/Saku. In those fights its all one sided all the way through. In the Wandy/Rampage saga both fights were close and could have gone either way. I like the fight and I like the UFC not giving top guys all cup cakes to keep them looking super human.

[gangstax2]

Yes Wandy is 2-0 against Rampage but both were great fights and very competitive. The first had the BS stand up because Pride wanted to protect Wandy. Its not at all like seeing Fedor/Nog or Wandy/Saku. In those fights its all one sided all the way through. In the Wandy/Rampage saga both fights were close and could have gone either way. I like the fight and I like the UFC not giving top guys all cup cakes to keep them looking super human.

i agree that both fights were close, and highly entertaining. the rematch is one of my all time favorites. however, the fact remains that it's 2-0 wandy, decisively. and in a division rich with talent, i'd prefer to see something like t. silva/rampage and wandy/machida. or those could be interchangeable.

there are just too many good, fresh matchups in that division to tie these guys up fighting one another again. sure, they can build the hell out of it with promos, fight clips, and trash-talking, but when all is said and done, there are plenty of better fights than this one.

i do agree about the ufc not giving their guys easy fights. which is why i referenced the above two matchups, as well as maybe fights with bonnar or soko/cane. fresh AND competitive! :wink:

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

i agree that both fights were close, and highly entertaining. the rematch is one of my all time favorites. however, the fact remains that it's 2-0 wandy, decisively. and in a division rich with talent, i'd prefer to see something like t. silva/rampage and wandy/machida. or those could be interchangeable.

there are just too many good, fresh matchups in that division to tie these guys up fighting one another again. sure, they can build the hell out of it with promos, fight clips, and trash-talking, but when all is said and done, there are plenty of better fights than this one.

i do agree about the ufc not giving their guys easy fights. which is why i referenced the above two matchups, as well as maybe fights with bonnar or soko/cane. fresh AND competitive! :wink:

I do agree we could have seen them matched against other top fighters so we can see fresh matches. Still though Im psyched to see it.

[gangstax2]

I do agree we could have seen them matched against other top fighters so we can see fresh matches. Still though Im psyched to see it.

yeah, i'm sure it'll still be fireworks. although i'd hate to see wandy 1-2, or page lose back-to-back.

still, props to them for putting together a great main card thus far. griffin/evans, rampage/wandy, and nog/mir. i'm sure they'll throw okami/lister and kongo/al turk on the undercard, but i like both of those fights as well. okami should get a title shot after blowing by lister...

[Gomi]

I don't care if it's Wandy/Page XVII in 2040 ... I am tuning it.

[niniendowarrior]

I’ve got the best people around me. I’m a child of God, Ain’t nothing distracting me, homie. Trust me.


Yeah. Not even cars in the cross road could distract you. Not even the cops for that matter. Let Wandu off the leash!

[wgrapple]

I don't care if it's Wandy/Page XVII in 2040 ... I am tuning it.

lol well said...I was thinking why not make it a best of 5 series if Rampage wins this one?

[Lord Strongo]

Didn't Rampage once say that he "had enough" of Wandy and didn't want to fight him again?


he said that after the refs pulled his limp body off the bottom ropes. wandy in the first rd by ko. wandy owns him.

[Lord Strongo]

People complain when they dont get the good fights, then when one is made people complain.

*shrugs*


i'd be upset too. his boy has paid his dues and should be fighting of of these two for a title shot.