Almost every MMA fan is looking forward to an exciting and redemptive main event–after what many found to be a rather unsatisfying one in UFC 129.
As a reward, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson claims “lack of excitement” over his upcoming fight versus Matt Hamill for the UFC 130 headliner (Rampage Jackson Not Excited With Matt Hamill for UFC 130 by Michael David Smith, May 17, 2011).
To account for this unpopular statement, he clarifies that, “Some MMA fans, they don’t hear something they want to hear and they jump all over you. If they really get to know me, I’m not really excited about anybody I fight. It’s my job; it’s my career. I don’t get excited anymore. I got almost 40 fights. I don’t get excited about anybody I fight.” (UFC 130 Fight Card: Rampage Jackson Talks Matt Hamill Fight on Conference Call by Sean Smith, May 20, 2011).
Maybe his long and storied MMA career is beginning to bore him and he’s now seriously contemplating on his budding movie career.
Or, if we interpret his above statement in a more positive light, he is now a true fight veteran and has become a cold-blooded murderer inside the Octagon. (Regardless if there are those who think he got away with murder versus Lyoto Machida.)
He is unfazed by any opponent, no matter how formidable. Nothing can shake his equanimity, whatever the odds.
Speaking of cinematic and cold-bloodedness in an already cinematic and, well, seemingly cold-blooded sport, my imagination conjures the following scene:
Quinton Jackson coolly enters the Octagon amid the heavy booing of the crowd. The referee gives Jackson and Hamill their last pointers in the middle of the Octagon, as the former UFC champion stares at his opponent with an expressionless look on his face.
The fight begins and with just 10 seconds into the round, Rampage lands a powerful right straight flush into Hamill’s left jaw, knocking the New Yorker out cold.
Uncharacteristically, Jackson doesn’t howl or raise his arms in victory. The blank countenance remains.
Joe Rogan climbs into the Octagon for the customary post-fight interview, but Jackson walks past him and swaggers back to his locker room with his posse, as the agitated crowd fills the arena with a deafening cacophony of cheers and boos.
The cheers for the fast finish, the boos for the wanton display of arrogance.
A cowboy villain entering a bar and shooting everyone in sight, then exits unhurriedly and nonchalantly mounts his horse, post-massacre.
Wisps of smoke arise from the still-warm twin revolvers tucked in opposite holsters attached to his belt, as he rides into the sunset as the original motion picture soundtrack of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly wafts through the desert air.
The problem with watching too many Westerns, lately.
UFC 130: Fight Card, News, Predictions, Results, and More!
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