In an unofficial sequel to “People Like That Get Slapped,” Ariel Helwani attempted to interview Quinton “Rampage” Jackson yesterday, and barely escaped with his life. After some warm-up insults about Helwani’s tie and shoes, Jackson realized who he was talking to, and the vibe immediately became hostile. Apparently Jackson didn’t appreciate that Helwani asked him about “Queen Mo” during a recent MMA Hour appearance — while Rampage was eating, no less — when ‘Page just wanted to discuss his UFC 130 fight against Matt Hamill. Plus, his peoples told him that Ariel had been hatin’.
Ariel offers to squash the beef at the 2:52 mark. Unfortunately, that phrase means the exact opposite in Memphis than it does everywhere else, and Jackson raises up on Ariel, who does his best to change the subject. Rampage gets upset again later when Helwani brings up nutritionist Mike Dolce, who wasn’t with Rampage for this training camp. (“I’m fighting Matt Hamill, I’m not fighting Mike Dolce. What’s Mike Dolce got to do with me winning or losing a fight?”)
The interview ends in a more cordial fashion, but Jackson clarifies that if it wasn’t for his friend Anthony Evans, who’s a friend of Ariel’s, “I probably would have smacked the shit out of you.”
In an unofficial sequel to “People Like That Get Slapped,” Ariel Helwani attempted to interview Quinton “Rampage” Jackson yesterday, and barely escaped with his life. After some warm-up insults about Helwani’s tie and shoes, Jackson realized who he was talking to, and the vibe immediately became hostile. Apparently Jackson didn’t appreciate that Helwani asked him about “Queen Mo” during a recent MMA Hour appearance — while Rampage was eating, no less — when ‘Page just wanted to discuss his UFC 130 fight against Matt Hamill. Plus, his peoples told him that Ariel had been hatin’.
Ariel offers to squash the beef at the 2:52 mark. Unfortunately, that phrase means the exact opposite in Memphis than it does everywhere else, and Jackson raises up on Ariel, who does his best to change the subject. Rampage gets upset again later when Helwani brings up nutritionist Mike Dolce, who wasn’t with Rampage for this training camp. (“I’m fighting Matt Hamill, I’m not fighting Mike Dolce. What’s Mike Dolce got to do with me winning or losing a fight?”)
The interview ends in a more cordial fashion, but Jackson clarifies that if it wasn’t for his friend Anthony Evans, who’s a friend of Ariel’s, “I probably would have smacked the shit out of you.”
Chad Mendes not waiting for title shot against Jose Aldo. Will face Rani Yahya at UFC 134. Joseph Benavidez vs. Eddie Wineland set for UFC on Versus 5. Dana White says neither Jon Jones vs..
Chad Mendes not waiting for title shot against Jose Aldo. Will face Rani Yahya at UFC 134.
Joseph Benavidez vs. Eddie Wineland set for UFC on Versus 5.
Should Quinton “Rampage” Jackson get past Matt Hamill this weekend at UFC 130, he may be the next on tap for a title-shot at Jon Jones who is currently healing a thumb injury. Both fighters.
Should Quinton “Rampage” Jackson get past Matt Hamill this weekend at UFC 130, he may be the next on tap for a title-shot at Jon Jones who is currently healing a thumb injury. Both fighters share a mutual disdain for Rashad Evans, so it will be fun for us to see how the smack talk turns if the two are scheduled to meet in October. Jones revealed the UFC‘s plans for Jackson as the next contender (or even possibly Lyoto Machida) during a radio interview with 1260 The Score
“I had to postpone my first title defense against Rashad Evans due to some torn tissues in my thumb. My last doctor’s appointment they told me I should be able to get back to full out training within the next month. I’m excited about that. I’m expected to compete against Lyoto Machida or Rampage Jackson in maybe October, mid-October.”
(So much is on the line here. Pride. A win bonus. Mostly just those two things.)
In less than two weeks, the UFC will return from its spring hibernation to present UFC 130 in Las Vegas, featuring a makeshift main event that not even the fighters themselves are that psyched about. But hey, fighting is fighting. Let’s all stay positive and consult the cold, hard data to predict how the light-heavyweight bang-up between Quinton Jackson and Matt Hamill will play out. If you see things differently, let us know in the comments section…
(So much is on the line here. Pride. A win bonus. Mostly just those two things.)
In less than two weeks, the UFC will return from its spring hibernation to present UFC 130 in Las Vegas, featuring a makeshift main event that not even the fighters themselves are that psyched about. But hey, fighting is fighting. Let’s all stay positive and consult the cold, hard data to predict how the light-heavyweight bang-up between Quinton Jackson and Matt Hamill will play out. If you see things differently, let us know in the comments section…
BETTING ODDS
Jackson: -240
Hamill: +252 Advantage: Jackson
FINISHING RATIO
Jackson: 53.8% (21 stoppage wins in 39 fights)
Hamill: 50% (6 stoppage wins in 12 fights) Advantage: Jackson
TUF EXPERIENCE
Jackson: Coached on seasons 7 and 10; his team got blown out both times, and he went on to drop decisions to both of his rival coaches (Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans)
Hamill: Was a Team Punishment member on season 3. Outpointed Mike Nickels in his preliminary match, but had to bow out of competition due to a medical suspension. Went on to TKO Jesse Forbes at the Finale show. Advantage: Hamill
MOST BULLSHIT LOSS
Jackson: Got submitted by Kazushi Sakuraba in his PRIDE debut (at PRIDE 15), after allegedly having his food poisoned
Hamill: His split-decision loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 75 Advantage: Hamill
RESULT AGAINST KEITH JARDINE
Jackson: Unanimous decision victory at UFC 96
Hamill: Majority decision victory at the TUF 11 Finale Advantage: Jackson
UFC PERFORMANCE BONUSES
Jackson: 2 Fight of the Night bonuses (against Forrest Griffin and Keith Jardine), 2 Knockout of the Night bonuses (against Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva)
Hamill: 2 Fight of the Night bonuses (against Seth Petruzelli and Keith Jardine), 1 Knockout of the Night bonus (against Mark Munoz) Advantage: Jackson
LOVES THE LADIES?
Jackson: Yes
Hamill: Yes Advantage: Even
Filed under: UFCAfter some shuffling around of the upcoming UFC 130 fight card, Rampage Jackson has gone from taking on Thiago Silva in the co-main event to fighting Matt Hamill in the main event. He’s not particularly thrilled with the change.
After some shuffling around of the upcoming UFC 130 fight card, Rampage Jackson has gone from taking on Thiago Silva in the co-main event to fighting Matt Hamill in the main event. He’s not particularly thrilled with the change.
“Thiago Silva is the type of guy I would love to fight because he has great stand up and he comes to fight most of the time, so I was looking forward to fighting a guy like that,” Jackson said on The MMA Hour. “Matt Hamill wasn’t on my radar at all. I wasn’t excited at all. But then again, not a whole lot gets me excited.”
Jackson’s comments about not being excited for the fight stand in contrast to the comments of Hamill, who said he plans to break Jackson’s will. But Jackson says that the difference between their public comments is simple: Hamill needs to convince himself that he can beat Jackson, while Jackson already knows that he can beat Hamill.
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Rankings, Light HeavyweightsThe Jon Jones Era, as you’ve surely heard, has begun: Jones is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and everyone who follows MMA agrees that he’s going to be the champion for a long, long ti…
The Jon Jones Era, as you’ve surely heard, has begun: Jones is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and everyone who follows MMA agrees that he’s going to be the champion for a long, long time.
However, the light heavyweight division is so talented that it’s been nearly impossible for anyone to hold the belt for long: Chuck Liddell lost it to Rampage Jackson, who lost it to Forrest Griffin, who lost it to Rashad Evans, who lost it to Lyoto Machida, who lost it to Shogun Rua, who lost it to Jones. We’ve had seven different champions in the last four years, so why is everyone so sure that Jones is going to hold onto the belt for so long?
The biggest reason, I think, is Jones’ age. With the exception of Evans losing to Machida, every champion I mentioned above lost the belt to someone younger than him. But there aren’t any contenders on the horizon younger than the 23-year-old Jones. Not only is Jones already the best, but he’s going to keep getting better as the rest of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts get older.
So as I list the Top 10 light heavyweights below, I’ll talk about how I’d like their chances against Jones — even though I expect Jones to reign over all of them for a long time.
After some shuffling around of the upcoming 
The Jon Jones Era, as you’ve surely heard, has begun: Jones is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and everyone who follows MMA agrees that he’s going to be the champion for a long, long time.