Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is back in the UFC…for now, at least. He’s also once again in the win column.
Facing Brazilian slugger Fabio Maldonado at UFC 186, Jackson pressed the action early, pushing his foe to the cage and slinging heavy hands with reckless abandon. While Maldonado pulled together some offense as the fight wore on, he had little answer to Jackson’s pressure. The result was a clear-cut unanimous decision in favor of the former champ (to the tune of 29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
While a four-fight winning streak would usually prompt questions regarding his place in the rankings and whether or not he is angling for a run at the title, things are very different for Rampage. His ongoing legal dispute with Bellator makes it unclear where his fighting future will take place and whether the next cage he fights in will be octagonal or circular.
So why not look at a few different potential opponents for Rampage across both promotions?
Linton Vassell
Bellator‘s light heavyweight division is not particularly deep these days, but for what they lack in numbers, they make up in interesting European strikers. Any of them would be an interesting opponent for Jackson, but for where they are in the division and in their careers, the best option overall would likely be Linton Vassell.
Vassell, for those who missed him, earned a surprising shot at then-light heavyweight-champion Emanuel Newton in 2014 on the heels of a solid nine-fight winning streak. Vassell would prove himself to be a formidable fighter by repeatedly threatening Newton early in the fight, but he would be forced to tap to a fifth-round rear-naked choke. He has since bounced back with a knockout over Pride and UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.
This would be the kind of fight Rampage has traditionally angled for, and it’s one that works out as a win-win for Bellator. A happy, winning Jackson is one that is more likely to stick around and, even if he loses and/or leaves, giving a bit of “the rub” to a long-term asset like Vassell is a wise move.
Ovince Saint Preux
Unlike Bellator, the UFC has a few different ways they can approach promoting a fight with Rampage. The UFC can either bend to his wishes and give him winnable fights against people that aren’t “cowards” (or, as everyone else calls them, wrestlers) or they can take the pro wrestling approach and try to build up a younger fighter at his expense.
Ovince Saint Preux is the kind of fighter who could use a fight against somebody like Jackson. Strikeforce’s pet project has been solid in the UFC thus far, amassing a 6-1 record with his most recent wins being emphatic knockouts of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Patrick Cummins. However, while OSP has been impressive in the cage thus far, fans have yet to catch on to him.
A fight with Jackson would be the biggest of Saint Preux‘s life and could build his brand in a huge way. It would also be fun to see how Jackson attempts to diminish OSP‘s skills after he loses a contest that mostly takes place standing.
Mark Hunt
This might sound a little bit crazy, or it might sound like a fan dream match…but hear me out! Ol‘ Rampage is still staring down dozens of Viacom-owned lawyers but, quite frankly, that isn’t the UFC’s problem. According to MMAFighting.com‘s Luke Thomas, the reversal of the preliminary injunction opens the door to a return if Rampage is willing to have a relatively quick turnaround:
Attorneys contacted by MMA Fighting were split on opinion about Rampage’s future. Some viewed judge Kennedy’s decision as proof that Bellator‘s case against Rampage just got significantly stronger in terms of damages. Others believe once Saturday passes, Bellator still has a larger case against Rampage, but nothing to stop him from competing again in the short run. Bellator will have to file another preliminary injunction to halt any subsequent UFC fight, but if one fight’s already been allowed, is there really any additional harm in two or three more?
The UFC, still searching for ways to get fans to tune in, would be wise to try to get as much out of Jackson as they can. The light heavyweight division is booked solid at this time, with few viable opponents outside Saint Preux. The heavyweight division, however, has more than a few interesting possibilities, in particular UFC Fight Night 65 main eventer Mark Hunt.
Hunt faces Stipe Miocic in a couple weeks and, if Rampage gets a clean bill of health in his post-fight evaluation and Hunt can leave Adelaide, Australia unscathed, the timing would be pretty much perfect. The bout would be fun, easy for fans to get behind and would be a strong Fight Night main event or pay-per-view co-headline.
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