Fourteen years ago, Rashad Evans used a smothering wrestling game to beat ‘Rampage’ Jackson at UFC 114. Now they’re talking about doing it again on November 8th with ONE.
Quinton Jackson is still out there trying to wheel and deal his way into another fight, this time against Rashad Evans.
“Rampage” hasn’t fought since a lethargic loss to Fedor Emelianenko in 2019 where he looked overweight and under-motivated. He’s spent the last five years trying to fight Shannon Briggs in boxing or his old TUF punching bag Darrill “Titties” Schoonover in MMA, but no one has been willing to foot the bill.
Now he’s got a new fight he’s pitching, and ONE Championship might be interested.
“I saw [Evans] not too long ago,” Jackson said on a new episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. “Him and I are talking about doing a boxing match against each other in November. We’re trying to get that going.”
Does that mean the Shannon Briggs boxing match is dead after a June 8th date fell apart?
“He’s still trying, but I lost my faith in Shannon,” said Jackson. “I don’t know if he’s going to get it done. He talks a good game. I hope he get it done. If he ever gets it done, I’ll be game to fight him, but right now, I guess my first boxing match is going to be against Rashad. I need to get that win back.”
ONE Championship has an important Atlanta card on November 8th and a throwback fight like “Rampage” vs. Evans would certainly draw attention. Would the fight be any good? Jackson is 46 and Rashad is 44. Their first fight required multiple resets due to stalling and was widely panned after all the hype and build-up of an entire Ultimate Fighter season.
But it sold, and that’s the most important consideration.
Keep in mind, though, that “Rampage” hasn’t been able to secure a bag to fight for five years. Price tag too high? Demands too wild? Regarding the Briggs fight, Jackson declared “The guys that were putting it on, they ended up being f—ing scam artists.”
MMA Mania had previously reported how the promoters in question, Quantum Sports & Media (QSM) World, have been accused of taking $250,000 from a promoter to help throw a concert in Dubai featuring Drake and Travis Scott and then cutting contact.
What do you think, Maniacs? Any interest in seeing Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson box in 2024?