Reminiscing Rampage

As Quinton Jackson awaits his performance at UFC 144 this weekend, he speaks to Ariel Helwani about his career and memories from his days in Japan. They walk the streets of Japan as Rampage explains the difference in American and Japanese society.

Rampage will fight Ryan Bader on Saturday night and he plans to make it interesting. He stated earlier this week that he’s going into this fight to put on a great show for the fans whether he wins or not. His most recent fight was a loss against light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. In an attempt to win the belt one last time, he became the most skilled he has ever been. He fights much smarter than he did early in his career which is common in veterans of the sport. After his loss to Jon it appears he will continue to fight for the fans and put on the best show he can.

As he nears the end of his career, I believe he realizes a title isn’t likely but he can still end his career on a high note. I honestly wouldn’t be shocked if he retired after a win on Saturday in Japan. He still has a few fights in him but the movie business pays better and he’s not getting any younger. I’m a fan of his and I hope he doesn’t, but it seems like a retirement situation.

He claims to be unconcerned about winning or losing this fight but he will nevertheless win it thoroughly. Rampage has fought three wrestlers in his last four fights and has significantly improved his take-down defense along the way. He stuffed all of Hamill’s take-down attempts and almost all of Evans’ and Jones’. Ryan understands that Rampage can drop him. He claims that he doesn’t plan on trading punches with Jackson which leads me to believe he will press Quinton against the cage and attempt to take the fight to the ground. Unfortunately for him, Rampage has finely tuned the skills needed to nullify Bader’s game-plan against the best wrestlers in the division. While Ryan is known for his wrestling, he is not close to the level of Jon Jones. Rampage should have the ability to keep this fight standing and away from the fence where he can not only put on a great show but also win.

  1. I give you mad props Nate. You’re the truth! Thanks for supporting the movement and going into detail. The fight game is one of the best things ever besides the bullshit politics behind it. That boy Rampage was a beast at one point. I remember when he picked Ricardo Arona off the ground and slammed him right on the mat for the Win. That was epic! That showed how strong Rampage Jackson truly is especially picking up a man that weigh 205 pounds of dead weight like that… We need more people on the site to get into the fights more for real.

      1. You welcome bro! Also training in it or just fighting in the sport period make you have a better understanding. Most folks come through and only comment from a viewers standpoint saying ridiculous statements, a lot of times I have to overlook that. They don’t realize how hard it is in that bitch especially the punishment. It take mad guts and balls to do this stuff. For me doing Boxing/Muay Thai for a long time made me appreciate it a lot and when I did Jiu Jitsu for a little bit I definitely had more respect for it. I tried to use my muscles and strength the very first time and damn I got tired as fuck doing that until I learn to use leverage. I’m not too good with Jiu Jitsu yet I haven’t practice in it long enough but I plan on to soon. I did Capoeira also which is harder than it looks and it build the legs up so much man. It’s kinda like dancing but instead you’re doing round house kicks, spin kicks, walking on your hands and so forth. Shit was fun. I’ll do that shit right after a long day of Crossfit training, Muay Thai, and Boxing all in that same day. That was in 09 damn I miss that time period. Right now I’m just a Boxer and I plan on getting back involved with the other arts soon, I miss that shit, and just the results I get period. Anyway good shit! I can talk about fighting all damn day.

  2. I been a fan of Rampage ever since I saw him my first fight of him hopefully after this he will go out on his own instead of him fighting anybody who look his way.

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