UFC 135: Rampage Jackson wins the pre-fight battle with Jon Jones
Posted on September 22, 2011, 01:11 PM by Anton Gurevich
This weekend, MMA icon Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will go to battle inside the Octagon for the 10th time in his illustrious career, this time facing the young lion Jon "Bones" Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. The fight will headline the UFC's return to Denver, Colorado, their first time since the Ultimate Ultimate event that took place back in 1995.
On September 24th, sixteen years after Ultimate Ultimate, Jackson will look to repeat Dan Severn's triumph over the much younger and skilled Oleg Taktarov in the one-night Heavyweight Tournament. But does Rampage really have the right screwdrivers in his toolbox to unscrew the UFC Light Heavyweight title off Jon Jones' waist? We'll try to answer that question.
Jackson markets himself as KO artist, often saying "I like knocking people out". Well, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has 14 KO/TKO finishes on his record, with some of them being an indispensable part of Mixed Martial Arts history. But when looking deeper into the statistics, there’s a tendency that should worry Jackson’s fans around the world; Rampage fought 9 times so far in the UFC, finishing only 3 of his opponents via KO/TKO – Chuck Liddell, Marvin Eastman, and Wanderlei Silva. In fact, Jackson’s last KO, the one over Wanderlei Silva, was back in 2008 at UFC 92. Jon Jones made his professional MMA debut in 2008.
Speaking about Jones, the Champ finished Ryan Bader, Vladimir Matyushenko, Matt Hamill, Brandon Vera, and of course Shogun Rua in his most recent appearances inside the Octagon. It’s being said millions of times, but there’s no doubt about Jon Jones being Anderson Silva-class talent, and in my humble opinion, a much better fighter than Rampage Jackson in every aspect of Mixed Martial Arts.
The only positive thing for Jackson, in my opinion, is that he has gotten really deep under Jon Jones’ skin. The mental aspect of Mixed Martial Arts is where Quinton Jackson has a huge advantage over Jon Jones. Those are his keys to victory at UFC 135. The PRIDE legend is a veteran of heated rivalries and over-the-top trash talk, which is a whole new world for the twenty-four year old Jon Jones. We can clearly see by Bones’ reaction that he’s taking the pre-fight build-up with Rampage Jackson too personally. Watching his UFC Fight Night 25 interview with Jackson is enough to understand that Jon Jones is way behind his opponent when it comes to having a thick skin.
An unfocused and reckless Jon Jones can send Rampage Jackson back in time to 2008, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Wanderlei Silva laid motionless, out cold on the canvas. Only this time it will be Jon Jones at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, with the word “former” added to his title of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Luckily for Jones, he successfully dealt with a tremendous amount of pressure during the build-up for Shogun Rua. The majority of MMA fans around the world were on Shogun Rua’s side, as Jon Jones played the “arrogant and disrespectful kid” role. Bones stepped up to the occasion, and is now the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Finally, the fight between Jon Jones and Quinton Jackson is one of the most exciting Light Heavyweight bouts in recent memory. Both are one-of-a-kind athletes, with their own strengths and weaknesses. It will be very interesting to see Jon Jones dealing with another experienced opponent, probably on his way to a Top 3 P4P status.
Comments
That new school, old school UFC135 commercial with M.O.P. pounding in the background GO H.A.A.M. BIGGER, FASTER, BETTER, STRONGER!!!!! They some fools for that one.
Hey Tjbad14, between smoking Meth, chocking out pitbull puppies , not having sex,& picking your face, how in the hell do you find time to write 250 comments a day??? Life must be k.k.k.ool huh chump
I disagree that Jones is at Anderson Silva's level or clearly better than Rampage in every aspect. I think that prior to the fight actually happening it is arguable with regards to who has the better wrestling and that may be the decisive skill in this fight. Matt Hamill is a top notch wrestler and both of these guys completely shut him down in this range.
So let me get this straight.. You are suggesting Rampage could have better wrestling then JBJ??? ...............
I am going to have to weak that just because you called him JBJ, I mean seriously man.
Yes, it is a possibility. Jones has flashier wrestling but looking at the way they both dealt with Hamill, it is possible that Rampage is on par or even more effective. Watch some of his old fights.
Rampage may not of finished everyone he has fought in the UFC, but there is no denying that he has to power to take out anyone. Besides Machida and possibly Hendo he has atleast knocked down everyone else he has fought.
Rampage couldn't even hold the non-wrestler Machida on the ground .. i doubt he will Jones.
He needs to pin Jones against the cage and then go for broke. If he tries to stand in the center ring and trade punches he will lose ... quickly.
I thought this fight was being hyped for the big FOX debut?
Jones vs Rampage ... is not on FOX. Just the cheesy fights nobody wants to watch are on FOX.
Baseball, football, and basketball are not on PPV ... not even the playoffs or championships. Heres money hungry Dana trying to PPV the world to death.
Dude, Machida is a Sumo wrestler and trains with Mark Munoz. Also, Rampage completely shut down Matt Hamill's wrestling. Rampage is a bad a$$ wrestler and if he can use that to keep this standing Bones could be in serious trouble. That said, if Bones gets on top it is over. I am calling Rampage for the W because I think he will get that one big shot he needs and his cardio will be good enough to capitalize.
Rampage doesn't try to hold people down because that's not his style, everyone knows he loves to stand and bang, he'll take the points for a quick takedown but he won't hold the fight there. You really think Rampage will lose quickly if they stand and trade in the centre of the cage (not ring). If that does happen Bones is the one who will be most at risk not Rampage. That wont happen though simply because Bones wont have the balls to do that, he's going to keep moving around the ring trying to keep Rampage at the end of his reach if anything. You obviously believe the Bones hype and are under estimating Rampage......
......funny you should mention Machida because him and Bones have a lot in common. Machida was elusive and hard to hit, like Bones, and everybody thought it was the beginning of the Machida era,.....then he got caught and the Machida hype ended as quick as it began. Nobody knows if Bones can take a good shot because nobody's hit him yet, like with Machida, so we'll see what happens when Rampage puts hands on him..........
for anyone that thinks rampage is "better" than jones and even that he is going to win, you are just as dellusional as Rampage himself. At 5 to 1 I will be in vegas laying my entire life savings on it. (which is about 2 grand) MARK THE TAPE Rampage is not going to win. It may go 5 though because Rampage doesn't want to get knocked out. And Rampage will fight the exact opposite of all the sh*t talking he's doing. It won't bother Bones.
I agree with many of the above comments that I think Jon Jones will win this fight. Given the height, The wrestling pedigree, and of course that sick reach advantage, Jon has all the tools to neutralize Rampage Jackson. Wheather or not it is another dominant, highlight reel performance remains to be seen. Styles make fights in both Boxing and MMA. Often times you think you have a barnburner on your hands and end up yawning and dissapointed.
Lets not forget that Jon Jones is elusive and has yet to really be tested to the chin by any of he his opponents that I have seen on film. Rampage hits really hard and it only takes one punch to turn the tide of a fight if not end it alltogether. The smart money is on Bones for sure, but some times a non bet is the only sure winner. Don't Blink!
In terms of betting the value is clearly on Rampage. At +425 (Jones is minus 600) Your getting a veteran, very capable fighter in Rampage and he's motivated and ready to fight. He also holds the advantage in the power dept. and will be looking for a knockout. you bet $100 on Rampage you win $400 if he (somehow) wins. With that said, Quentin won't win. Rashad won't either.
This article is pretty one sided i actually got rampage by 3rd tko
Too bad it's all about actual fighting and not all these pre-fight B.S. antics and a waste of time. Who won the pre-fight? Who gives a sh*t.
Twitter this, Twitter that, we all know who is going down when the actual fight occurs.