Think back to the summer of 2009. Rumors were swirling about the Ultimate Fighting Championship bringing its December pay per view, UFC 107, to the city of Memphis for its first UFC event.
The original main event set was to be an epic battle between the city’s native son, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Rashad Evans. Tempers were high during the entire 10th season of the show and fight fans were anticipating an all-out brawl.
The brilliant idea would undoubtedly sell out in minutes and be watched by millions around the world.
However, as quickly as the rumors emerged, they disappeared, as Rampage decided instead to take a movie role to play B.A. Baracus in the summer blockbuster “A-Team,” a role Rampage has always longed to play.
Jackson would later announce his retirement from MMA so that he could focus on his acting career.
Jackson has since returned to the octagon, signing a three fight deal and has gone 1-1 since. He and Evans would finally meet to settle their differences, but Jackson came out on the losing end in a fight that UFC President Dana White referred to as a “snoozefest.”
Jackson would then fight former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in Detroit, Michigan and narrowly squeak out the decision victory.
Now, as Jackson focuses on his next opponent, wrestler and TUF alum Matt Hamill at UFC 130, the idea of his retirement from MMA has once again come about.
According to Five Knuckles, Rampage has said that when he gets that next big movie role, that will spell the end to his career in MMA.
“Honestly, I’ve been known for keeping it real and I have to keep it real,” Jackson said. “As soon as movies start paying me more than I make to fight, I’m gone. It don’t hurt to make movies. It don’t hurt that bad. Everyday I train. Everyday I’m like, ‘Man, I can’t wait until I get another big movie.'”
Jackson would go on to say that he, unlike Randy Couture, has no plans of fighting until he is 40. He also does not want to come work for the UFC office after he is done fighting, like legend Chuck Liddell, who was forced into retirement by UFC President Dana White.
“I’m not coming to work inside the UFC office when I retire. That’s not me,” Jackson said. “I’m an entertainer, I like making people laugh. I like doing movies, action moves and stuff like that. I might even try to be a comedian one day, who knows?
When asked about what the fans would think, Jackson stated that some fans are being selfish with wanting him to continue to fight.
The fans, according to Jackson, do not realize that he has four kids that he still needs to put through college and working in Hollywood would not only pay more, but it would also be less physically demanding.
Jackson talked about how he does not want to lead the fans on and make them think that he is going to be in MMA for another 10 or so years, but wants them to have a good time while he is still around.
“I’m just here to fight people,” Jackson said. “I’m here to just make you laugh and give you exciting fights. I’m not cocky like these other guys. I’m not a big arrogant fighter and stuff like that.”
Although this is not the first time fight fans have heard this song and dance from Rampage, it seems that his days inside the octagon are numbered.
However, a win over Hamill would put him right back in title contention, and a date with current champ Jon Jones may keep Jackson around for a little longer.
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