In all the excitement over Jon “Bones” Jones getting the title-shot since his fellow Jackson’s Submission Fighting teammate, Rashad Evans has pulled out of UFC 128 due to a blown knee, we didn’t think that maybe someone else turned the offer down. Well, Light Heavyweight Champion, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua says Quinton “Rampage” Jackson did just that. Rua told Tatame:
“The UFC thought in other alternatives, but it didn’t worked out. For some reason [Quinton Jackson] didn’t accept [a fight with me], I’ll have to change my training because (Jones is) a lot different from Rashad, much taller, and it’ll be a great challenge. He’s been surprising everybody in the UFC, defeated everybody with easy, and it’ll be a tough fight for me.”
Jon Jones was very confident with taking the fight on six weeks notice at the UFC 126 Post Fight Press Conference. He foremost thanked God for the opportunity and said:
“I usually spend my camp getting in shape, but I’m already in shape, [Greg Jackson] wants me to calm down. He said he can’t have me peak for six more weeks. But I’m not taking time off. Maybe physically I’ll take some time off, but I have a lot of studying to do. Six weeks is more than enough time, especially since I already have a six pack.”
Meanwhile Rampage Jackson, who defeated Lyoto Machida via Split Decision last November plans to return to the cage at UFC 130 against Thiago Silva at the end of May.