According to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Jon Jones’ current reign as UFC light heavyweight champion only exists because of him.
Following his win over Chuck Liddell in 2007, Jackson would go to unify the light heavyweight title against Dan Henderson and become the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion. It’s a moment that not only holds significance in Jackson’s career, but in mixed martial arts history, too, and he said he’s using it as motivation to defeat the 24-year-old Jones at UFC 135.
“One thing people don’t really know about me is how proud I was of becoming the first ever unified champion of PRIDE and the UFC,” Jackson wrote in a Yahoo! Sports blog special.
“That belt is the unified PRIDE and UFC world title, and that belt exists because of me beating Chuck Liddell and Dan Henderson in two straight fights to win the UFC and then PRIDE titles.”
But the moment wouldn’t last long, as Jackson would lose the title to Forrest Griffin the following year. Since then, Jackson has been climbing his way through the rankings to reclaim the title.
It’s a loss that has eaten away at Jackson ever since, but he understands how much value the title has and how significant it was to unify the UFC and PRIDE titles, which is why he has rededicated himself to a career he no longer felt he wanted to pursue.
“That’s why I want my belt back so bad. It’s my belt,” he wrote.
“So it does kinda bug me that people think I’m not taking this fight in Denver next against Jones seriously. It’s dead serious, heart attack serious to me. I want that belt back.”
Jackson has always reminded the media that he was the underdog in his last title bout, and at UFC 135, he’ll find himself in the same situation against Jones. The only difference is that Jackson was already a feared, dominant competitor.
MMA is always evolving, but maybe Jackson is trying to catch up to a sport that has likely passed him by. Once surrounded by fame and fortune, which he admits he didn’t appreciate, Jackson finds himself desperately chasing a dream that is slowly fading in front of him.
Call it desperation or motivation, but Jackson has found a reason to try and remain relevant, and he will do whatever it takes to recapture the light heavyweight crown.
It might be too little, too late, but “Rampage” has intentions of entering the Octagon and defying the odds one more time.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com