Quinton “Rampage” Jackson could have been the next coach of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
According to both Jackson and UFC president Dana White, the organization offered “Rampage” an opportunity to be a coach opposite Chael Sonnen on TUF 17 before asking Jon Jones. Interestingly enough though, Jackson turned down the opportunity.
“Forget TUF,” Jackson told MMAFighting.com on Thursday. “I’m not interested in that.”
“I don’t want to fight Chael. He’s the kind of fighter that I don’t want to fight. He’s a boring fighter that just wants to hump people.”
White confirmed that Sonnen was very interested in coaching against Jackson, and eventually fighting him, as well.
Jackson said he told the UFC he still wants to fight Glover Teixeira next. In fact, when he found out Sonnen would not be fighting Forrest Griffin at UFC 155, he offered to fight both Teixeira and Griffin on the same night.
“I would have done it two for one,” he said. “I would have fought Glover first, and I would have fought Forrest for free, basically.”
Jackson added that he is in no rush to get back into the Octagon, as he is currently working on his music and promoting his gyms.
“I’m just enjoying life and being positive,” he said. “I trust the UFC is going to give the fans what they want to see.”
The 34-year-old Jackson said he still wants to end his MMA career by the time he hits 35 — “I know my time is short in MMA,” he said — so at this point, he’s just looking for fights that interest him. He mentioned Teixeira, Griffin and Mauricio Rua as interesting fights.
And while Jackson has been critical of the UFC, and in particular its matchmaker Joe Silva, he wished Silva the very best after his recent hernia surgery.
“I wish him a speedy recovery, even though we don’t see eye-to-eye. I wish no ill will on anybody.”