Jon "Bones" Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson possible for UFC 135 in September
Posted on June 3, 2011, 01:35 PM by Joey Santosus
It appears the Light Heavyweight title picture is not as unclear as it would seem. Since his destruction of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua to capture the belt in March, Jon Jones has seen his first challenger go from former teammate Rashad Evans, to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, to possibly Lyoto Machida, and now back to Jackson.
That is according to Jones himself, who tells MMAJunkie.com that the bout is all but official at this point. "I'll be fighting Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson next," Jones revealed on Thursday. "I'm not allowed to discuss the date because I didn't sign a contract, but yeah, it will be very soon."
Jackson's participation in the match-up was in question following his lopsided unanimous decision victory over Matt Hamill at last weekend's UFC 130. During the event's post-fight press conference "Rampage" disclosed that a hand-injury, originally suffered back in December, had become problematic during his most recent training camp. Though it appeared to do little to hinder his performance against Hamill, The Nevada State Athletic commission issued the former champ a medical suspension earlier this week pending clearance from an orthopedic doctor.
Sources close to the situation have told MMAMania.com that the title match has been unofficially scheduled for UFC 135 in September, but stated that "obstacles exist" in the way of it coming together. No specific details on the barriers were offered, however Jones was forced to pull out of his planned bout with Evans several weeks prior due to a hand-injury of his own and Jackson's suspension allows him to return as early as June 28th, but could keep him sidelined as long as November 25th.
UFC 135 is expected to take place September 24th from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. In addition to the Light Heavyweight title clash, a Welterweight showdown between veteran Matt Hughes and Diego Sanchez is also scheduled for the card.
Stay tuned to LowKick.com for more information as it becomes available.
Photo: UFC fighter Jon Jones celebrates his victory over Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC-Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko at the San Diego Sports Arena on August 1, 2010, in San Diego, California. Francis Specker
Comments
sry lyoto too much 2 ask 4...
This is gonna be one hell of a match up!!
there's gonna be some more black on black crime
machida a better chance of beating jones than rampage does... coz machida can avoid bein hit and ramapge cant and hes to slow aswell.
Lol, you know i thought that Rampage would have fought the loser of Rashad and Phil Davis the go for the title but then again he has higher ranked status then both
Oh I love this!
Hope Rampage knocks him out. Bring this kid down to earth and for him to realize how human everyone is. War Rampage!
This should be a great fight. Also Id say Rashad is mighty pissed off right now considering he had to beat Rampage to gain his title shot but Rampage ends up getting the shot before he does lol
It would be hilarious if rashad had to face machida again and got ko d again before a title shot.
I would be pissed
that would be awesome
jones will be favourite and rightly so...his destruction of shogun was amazing and once he gets in top position i dont see any1 escaping without being submitted or eating a lot of elbows, but rampage has a chance...his takedown defence is severely under-rated (see hammil, hendo and rashad fight...except for rashads two takedowns, which were spectacular) and hes got nukes in his hands
one thing going for rampage however is that the LHW belt is cursed haha nobody holds onto it for long
Very true, also the guy who did have success wrestling against Rampage (Rashad) is a different type of wrestler than Jones. Rashad mixed it up well and surpirsed Page with the shot, but Jones is a guy who gets his takedowns from the clinch, a spot that is hard to take Rampage down, but also a place where Page has ate some kneed before.
@partboy.
Glad too see someone on here recognizes how great Rashad takedowns were against Rampage.I tried my best to point this out to those who felt hamill could get a decision.However Jones does have the tools to get Page down.
Yeah Jones's trips from the clinch do seem to take people down with ease though. I hope Rampage knocks Jones out ... if he can avoid the unorthadox takedowns of Jones he has a reasonable chance of landing a bomb on Jones's chin.
No doubt, hopefully Jones doesn't show too much respect to Page and trys his spinning backs fists and kicks. Pages best knockouts in the UFC against Chuck n Wanderli were counters, neither were scared to trade or take risks which played into Page's game.I hope Jones does the same.
I think Bones is going to throw a shit ton of kicks at Rampage, especially them low ones...That's going to open up Bones' arsenal. I hope this isn't the case though because I would love to see Rampage back on top. If Rampage wins, think Rashad will get the next shot if he beats Mr. Wonderful? Or will Lyoto get the nod?
I dont think it would be Lyoto seeing as it was only 2 fights ago that Rampage beat him. Lyoto would prob be 2 fights away from title shot, and Rashad gets next one if he beats Davis. Thats just how I see it tho. Griffin may possibly be thrown back into title picture as well if he can beat Shogun again. Id say Rashad with next shot. Lyoto vs Griffin (if Griffin beats Shogun) for number 1 contender after the Rampage Rashad fight. But..... thats alot of ifs
I don't think rampage has a chance here. It's a bad matchup for him. He has a punchers chance and could have technical enough boxing to pit one down the middle and ko jones but I think it's pretty slim. He seems a lot less hungry. We saw what happened when machida warmed up. Jones will come out strong. This could be a retirement fight for rampage.
LMAO. you made some good point before that last sentence.RETIREMENT lol
I was not completly serious. Rampage though does not seem to want to fight much longer. He keeps saying so himself. I could see him not wanting to make another title run if he gets devastated.
The only talk Rampage has ever said was if movie making shows him more money than fighting, he'll go make money. Rampage is all about the Benjamins.
And if you hold a title, your making alot of money, so I dunno about him retiring soon
Well he also says not everybody is a randy couture and that he doesn't expect to be doing this as he gets "older".
I have doubts he can beat jones. If he comes in his best he has a better chance. He is a great inside fighter. If jones uses his reach and fights from the outside it could be bad for rampage.
I want him to win very badly. But I would also love to see machida jones.
I think a light heavy grand prix is necessary. The top 5 or 6 are very close in talent while being very different fighters. I hate waiting years to see matchups.
I would love to see jones get ko d here. Just want to point that out.
YEEES!!!. Jones is dangerous in all areas, and an active Rampage can end a fight any sec and go 5 rounds too. If jones can throw around or walk through an ACTIVE Rampage he' ll send out a huge statement. I hope this is true, this fight and the poetential of Davus or Evans next will bring the LHW division back to qhere it was few years ago
This is the best fight and possibly the most important in the LHW division a true test for both fighters in different ways. Rampage is the most durable fighter Jones has faced since Bonnar but Rampage can end the fight with a single blow. This will be Jackson's toughest fight to date and if he does not show up fully prepared and motivated he will be defeated.
Rampage Jackson by KO in round 3
I hope your prediction comes true, I've waited for him to get that title back forever.Hopefully no movie roles come up anytime soon
Hughes and Diego? Wow...Is this going to be all or nothing for Matt Hughes?
I love how people love Jones when he is "up in coming" than becomes champ and those same people wanna see him get KO'd.
Any-way I'll be rooting for Rampage but I see Jones keeping his distance til he shoots for a double, gets it, and TKO's Rampage.
im cheering for rampage. but i think jones will beat him. hes too fast for rampage!
Jones has a massive reach, he'll be able to jab Jackson at will. Don't forget leg kicks, those long legs whipping around after a few rounds will wear rampage out. I think rampage should actually take down Jones and pound on him, try to frustrate him. Never been a big fan of rampages's but i do hope he wins, but almost everything is stacked up against him.
I kinda see Rampage getting his knee kicked out on this fight cause Jones does like to kick, he has massive reach to.
Rampage doesn't deserve the shot, but it will be fun watching him get destroyed by Jones, and it will happen.
Justice will be served
It's a shame. I still don't know why Evans was cut out of his title shot.
Rampage's '07 version would be a great match up for Jones, but the 2010 and 2011 version... not so much. Jackson's heart isn't in it anymore. I'm calling it a career for Quinton. I don't mean to sound like an ungrateful fan or keyboard warrior but Rampage's last outing was complete and utter s***.
Lyoto deserves the title shot -- give it to him Dana!
I can never overlook Page, he is a talented guy who sadly has some untapped potential, even at this stage in his career. Jones is obviously the favorite, and for good reason, but Rampage has a better chance than people think. Rampages boxing is far superior and his TDD is pretty good. I think Jones standup is a little overrated to be honest, but we will find out more about it soon, as he should look to showcase his legkicks. Getting Rampage down isn't easy, but if he does, Page is probably a gonner.
I agree with some of your points Dray12. Jackson shouldn't be overlooked at all. His TDD and Wrestling are a bit underrated, and his Boxing is clearly superior to Jones...
BUT judging from what I witnessed in the Rampage-Hamill, Jackson moved around the cage like a 40 year old and his killer instinct appeared to have been long gone. I don't know, I just don't see Quinton winning the fight.