Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was in dire straits.
Following his defeat to current 205-pound kingpin Jon Jones this September, Rampage’s lone desire was to grace the February event, which will mark the organization’s foray back into the Land of the Rising Sun.
UFC 144 will feature a lightweight headliner pitting Frankie Edgar against challenger Ben Henderson. Jackson was all but a shoo-in for the event, given his long and illustrious career with the now defunct Pride Fighting Championships.
However, his chances of gracing the card seemed bleak when the fan favorite tweeted that he would not be headed to the Saitama Super Arena.
Jackson retorted a short time later stating, “Guys I have the best managers n the business,this thing will work its way out, I was peed off when I 1st tweed the bad news,let’s c what’s up [sic]”
His management must be good, as Jackson will not only be prominently featured on the Japan card, but will also be taking on a big named opponent in the form of The Ultimate Fighter’s season eight winner Ryan Bader, according to UFC exec Lorenzo Fertitta.
“Darth” Bader recently snapped a two-fight skid, when he knocked out Jason Brilz last Saturday at UFC 139, cinching up the emphatic finish with a devastating right hand. It took just over one minute inside the Octagon.
Both Jackson and Bader are adept wrestlers who wield heavy punches, indicating that this battle could very well end in dramatic fashion.
The winner will likely move themselves back into the upper echelon of the division, where they will remain a win or two away at a likely shot at the light heavyweight belt sometime in the near future.
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