Tag: Ryan Bader

Rampage Jackson Says He Used Testosterone Replacement Therapy Prior to UFC 144

In an attempt to regain his position within the light heavyweight division, in turn, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson delivered an uninspiring performance against Ryan Bader at UFC 144.Jackson said a knee injury had hindered his performance last weekend and h…

In an attempt to regain his position within the light heavyweight division, in turn, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson delivered an uninspiring performance against Ryan Bader at UFC 144.

Jackson said a knee injury had hindered his performance last weekend and he was prescribed Testosterone Replacement Therapy by his doctor to help treat the injury. 

It was the first time the 33-year-old had experimented with the drug, and while he said it was effective, it did also contribute to his weight gain which caused him to miss the 205-pound weight limit by six pounds.

“I started hitting it up pretty good, I still gotta take care of my knee but I feel like a 25-year-old again … I got stronger, lifting weights,” Jackson told FightersOnly.com. 

Jackson was aware of other fighters’ usage of TRT as a performance-enhancing drug and he was hesitant on taking it. Ultimately, Jackson decided to oblige and not back out of his non-title bout with Bader, for the sake of the Japanese fans.

“So I spoke to the UFC and they were like, ‘Yeah, a lot of fighters are probably doing it but not telling anyone.’ Me, I keep it real, I am not doing anything wrong,” he said. “I feel young again. I’m happy I did the testosterone, I wish I had known about it sooner.”

Jackson has now dropped back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, but he said he has no intention to retire anytime soon.

It is unsure of where Jackson’s future lies in the light heavyweight division, but a rumored matchup involving Mauricio “Shogun” Rua might just be the one bout that motivates Jackson to prolong his career.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Power Ranking the Top 10 MMA Fighters Who Came from Arizona State

Home to one of the best collegiate wrestling programs in the country, Arizona State University has turned into a hub for future mixed martial artists.Most recently, NCAA wrestling champion and former Sun Devil Bubba Jenkins made the jump from amat…

Home to one of the best collegiate wrestling programs in the country, Arizona State University has turned into a hub for future mixed martial artists.

Most recently, NCAA wrestling champion and former Sun Devil Bubba Jenkins made the jump from amateur wrestling to professional MMA. Despite his outstanding accomplishments in collegiate athletics, Jenkins is nowhere near reaching the level of success that many of his fellow Arizona State alumni have in MMA.

Since Dan Severn became the first Arizona State alum to step into a cage in December 1994, former Sun Devils have generated 54 wins inside the Octagon, one UFC championship, two Pride championships, one Strikeforce championship, one UFC superfight title, one The Ultimate Fighter title and five early-UFC tournament titles.

Here are the 10 former Arizona State students most responsible for the university’s reputation for cultivating elite mixed martial artists.

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Quote of the Day: Mauricio Rua Wants A Rematch With…Rampage Jackson?


(If it isn’t my old nemesis, “The Knee.” Come to finish me off, have you?)

Well this is interesting. Coming off a razor thin decision loss in a Fight of the Year candidate match with Dan Henderson at UFC 139, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is looking to get back in the 205 lb mix. With many of the division’s elite already tied up in their own fights, the former UFC Light Heavyweight champ finds himself in a difficult position in terms of matchmaking. But according to Rua, there is one specific fight he has his eyes set on, and it’s not the one you would think. Here’s what he recently told Tatame.com:

The fight against Rampage will happen eventually. It’s inevitable and UFC knows it. He won’t retire before fighting me and neither am I (laughs).


(If it isn’t my old nemesis, “The Knee.” Come to finish me off, have you?)

Well this is interesting. Coming off a razor thin decision loss in a Fight of the Year candidate match with Dan Henderson at UFC 139, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is looking to get back in the 205 lb mix. With many of the division’s elite already tied up with their own fights, the former UFC Light Heavyweight champ finds himself in a difficult position in terms of matchmaking. But according to Rua, there is one specific fight he has his eyes set on, and it’s not the one you would think. Here’s what he recently told Tatame.com:

The fight against Rampage will happen eventually. It’s inevitable and UFC knows it. He won’t retire before fighting me and neither am I (laughs).

As we all know, these two first met back at Pride FC – Total Elimination 2005. Shogun thoroughly dominated Page with a mix of muay Thai knees and soccer kicks, mercilessly finishing him off at 4:47 into the first round.


(Rampage/Rua 1. Fight starts at the 3 minute mark.) 

Other names like Phil Davis, Rich Franklin, and Ryan Bader, who most recently trumped Rampage via UD at UFC 144, were also mentioned as possible future opponents for Rua, but after giving his record a quick once over, it becomes evident why he’s angling for a rematch with Jackson. Simply put, Rua in a rematch scenario is basically money in the bank. In his UFC career, Rua has had three rematches against Mark Coleman, Forrest Griffin, and Lyoto Machida. He won all of those fights by way of (T)KO. Add to that the fact that Rua/Rampage could easily co-headline any PPV card out there, and it’s pretty obvious why he would want this rematch. Granted, he lost to all of those opponents the first time around, whereas he beat Rampage, but you get what we’re saying.

And quite frankly, we’re all for this rematch. Rampage, to put it lightly, looked like shit against Bader. Sure, there are some outside injuries to blame, but just as much of the blame could be placed on Jackson’s lack of motivation. Bader was not an opponent that meant much to Page, and it showed. A Rua rematch, on the other hand, is a fight that Quinton would undoubtedly want to vindicate himself with. Needless to say, if he can’t get amped for that fight, then Jackson has truly run his course in the UFC.

And you guys remember the last time Rampage was seeking vindication, right?

We do.

-J. Jones

Rampage Jackson Not Considering Retirement, Still Sees a Future in the UFC

Following his disappointing performance against Ryan Bader at UFC 144, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s future was uncertain.The former PRIDE FC star was eager to fight in Japan but he came up short in the process against Bader, who outwrestled Jackson for …

Following his disappointing performance against Ryan Bader at UFC 144, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s future was uncertain.

The former PRIDE FC star was eager to fight in Japan but he came up short in the process against Bader, who outwrestled Jackson for a majority of the bout. Jackson also entered his bout overweight, as he missed the weight cut the day before.

But despite the loss, Jackson is still adamant on fighting in the UFC.

“See, I know I’m getting to the end of my career, because I say I don’t want to fight past 35, but, honestly, before I hurt my knee you guys should have seen how I was training,” Jackson told reporters during a UFC 144 post-fight press conference. 

“I think I’ve got a lot of years (left). I’m ready to put on more shows. I heal up fast, I’m like a werewolf. I wasn’t even supposed to fight here, so I’ll be back really soon.”

In regards to a future opponent for Jackson, names have ranged from Dan Henderson to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Rua was an opponent that Jackson had originally intended on facing in Japan, prior to facing Bader in the co-main event.

The loss to Bader gives Jackson the first back-to-back losses in his career and is now 7-4 inside the Octagon, and holds a professional record of 32-10 overall.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 144 Results: If Rampage Jackson’s Heart Isn’t in it He Needs to Walk Away

Albeit Quinton “Rampage” Jackson tried his damndest to upend Ryan “Darth” Bader at UFC 144 that doesn’t necessarily suggest his heart is still in sport of MMA, and if that’s the case, the former light heavyweight tit…

Albeit Quinton “Rampage” Jackson tried his damndest to upend Ryan “Darth” Bader at UFC 144 that doesn’t necessarily suggest his heart is still in sport of MMA, and if that’s the case, the former light heavyweight titlist needs to walk away.

Due to an injury incurred prior to the fight, Rampage entered the co-main event six pounds over the limit. Whether that had anything to do with his poor performance is neither here nor there (though he says it did), the fact remains, that for some time now, Rampage’s mind has been elsewhere.

In 2010, he starred in the movie A-Team when there was money to be made in the Octagon. Rampage has also completed the filming of Fire with Fire and at present has another in post-production (Duel of Legends). This could easily suggest a future change in vocation for the former Pride star.

In addition, Rampage has intimated that he’s bored with professional mixed martial arts, and as such hinted at lacing up his gloves in the art of the sweet science.

Furthermore, Jackson is almost 34, and has contested in 42 fights. Now that wouldn’t be much of problem, save for the fact that in the last five years, seven of his nine outings have gone to decision—some of them grueling encounters. Which begs the question, has the fight game finally taken its toll on him?

Rampage says he wants to continue fighting, though saying it is one thing, and actually believing it is another. If it’s the latter, then now is the time for the Memphis native to walk away.

 

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 144: What We Learned About Ryan Bader

At UFC 144, Ryan Bader scored unarguably the biggest win of his career.Before the sold-out crowd at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Bader defeated former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson over the course of three rounds, taking an uncontested de…

At UFC 144, Ryan Bader scored unarguably the biggest win of his career.

Before the sold-out crowd at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Bader defeated former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson over the course of three rounds, taking an uncontested decision win against a formidable and world-renowned opponent.

Now, Bader has now asserted himself once again as a top contender in the light heavyweight division with that pivotal performance and will likely be just a few wins away from a shot at the title. 

 

Ryan Bader/Laron Zaugg for MMAWeekly.com

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