Rampage Jackson vs Ryan Bader set for UFC 144 in Japan
Posted on November 24, 2011, 05:48 PM by Trent ReinsmithA few days after he thought he was not going to get a chance to fight in Japan, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was given a fight on the UFC 144 fight card at the Saitama Super Arena on February 26th. ESPN.com is reporting that Jackson will not face Stephan Bonnar, as was rumored, he will instead meet Ryan "Darth" Bader on February 26 in what is most likely to serve as the co-main event attraction of the night:
"The former light heavyweight champion will meet Ryan Bader at UFC 144. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the matchup to ESPN.com."
Jackson made it clear to the UFC that he wanted to fight on the card when the UFC returned to Japan, immediately requesting a spot on the card after his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135. Jackson had previously fought in Japan as a member of the PRIDE organization, earning his superstar status after the famous "wars" with Wanderlei Silva, Ricardo Arona, Chuck Liddell, Igor Vovchanchyn and many others.
His opponent, Bader, is coming off a first round knockout victory over Jason Brilz at UFC 139, currently holding a professional Mixed Martial Arts record of 13-2 (6 KO/TKO victories).
UFC 144 fight card:
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson
Ryan Bader vs. Quinton Jackson
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields
Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis
Tim Boetsch vs. Yushin Okami
Hatsu Hioki and Bart Palaszewski
Steve Cantwell vs. Riki Fukuda
Further Reading: Yoshihiro Akiyama to face Jake Shields in Japan
Comments
this cards sick so far. i wonder why theyre giving cantwell another shot...
why not, he has one loss in the ufc i think
I thought he had like 3 losses....Rampage vs Bader will be sick Im going with Rampage via decision
I have Rampage to win this also but I am calling a brutal KO. If Tito can rock that chin Jackson is going to crush it.
He's 1 and 4 with the UFC with a 7 and 5 overall record. It is kinda odd that he's still with the promotion.
There's also Mark Hunt vs Kongo
Japanese will love that
I wanted to see Bonnar, that would have been a war. Hope Rampages takedown defence is sharp, doubt Bader will want to throw leather with him.
He shrugged off a couple of Jones' take downs.
helll yeaa this gonna be a good fight
rampage all day baby, get in line for the title shot hommie
for sure rampage has this but what will it get him his style just doesnt work aganst the top fighters in his division huge fan of his he fights same style i do and where about the same age its one of those thnigs where ya cant teach a old dog new tricks hate to says this but after he wins this fight hes gonna be another gatekeeper but whats wrong with that love the guy and watchnig him fight got to earn a leaving soemwhere only wish i could get as far as he has in fighting would say sport but its not a sport you can ask someone to play a game of football for sport but ya cant ask a guy to play a game of fight lol
earn a living i mean
Akiyama always fighting good opponents, this gonna be interesting to see him fight against jake shields
My toughts on that card:
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Very good, fast-paced fight. Will be an intense one. Edgar has the advantage on the ground I think. Close standup. Top Prediction: Edgar via 3rd RD TKO. (After a couple of good strikes well-placed and a good wrestling display by Edgar)
Ryan Bader vs. Quinton Jackson: Rampage has to win this one, Bader too. The loser will likely never be able to get a title shot. But it's a very nice match-up for those who like powerful wrestling and bomb-throwers. Top Prediction: Rampage via UD or late KO. (After Rampage stopping Bader's TD and beating him with strikes the way he did to Hamill)
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Judoka vs American Jiu-jitsu fighter. I give a little egde to Shields in the standup but I really have no idea about how it'll go on the ground. Top Prediction: Shields 2nd RD Submission or UD. (After striking advantage and beating Sexyama on the ground too, by remaining on top)
Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis: Very interesting. Will Pettis prove he deserves to be called an elite lightweight and Is Joe Lauzon able to submit Pettis, who has an offensive still on the ground. Standup goes to Pettis, ground goes to Lauzon. Styles make fights. Top Prediction: Pettis via UD. (After avoiding ground and winning the standup).
Tim Boetsch vs. Yushin Okami: Two very strong middleweight. I see Okami outstriking Boetsch with his usual precision and power. On the ground, as they are two powerful middleweights, I think it'll be very interesting but still thereI think Okami will be able to win. Top Prediction: Yushin Okami via 2nd RD TKO. (After winning the standup and taking Boetsch down and pummeling him with clean and precise strikes.)
Hatsu Hioki and Bart Palaszewski: Standup winner will be Bartimus while I believe Hioki will be able to use his submissions on the ground. I think bartimus will be able to impress even more by defeating Hioki. Top Prediction: Bartimus via 3rd RD TKO. (After stopping Hioki's TD and avoiding the ground)
Steve Cantwell vs. Riki Fukuda: Not much to say about it. They both really need a win and I hope they'll both fight hard for it. Top Prediction: Riki Fukuda via UD. (After having an edge in the standup and remaining on top in wrestling)
FOTN: Frankie Edgar vs Benson Henderson
KOTN: Rampage? Why not? =)
SOTN: Jake Shields
Very nice card, good to see the UFC brings big fights to Japan. Love it!
You really think that Shields have better stand up then Sexyama? In stand up Akiyama will have edge in speed, power and technique. He just always fights with that brawler-style.
But rampage looks like 60% compared to his pride days, his last view fights didnt look that good, he fight like james toney these days
shields is so bad on his feet that when he went to bully beat down he was the first mma fighter that nearly got KOd by the bully. he moves like frankenstein or something like that...
if rampage "shows up" bader is getting knocked the **** out!!! excpeciallu after seeing tito drop him
but also sick sick card. pettis vs lauson, akyama vs shields and edgar vs henderson very very interesting
Rampage sucks? Oh wow, please go away from this site and never return. So stand up fighter must submit someone or do something else to be great fighter?
How about Shinya Aoki? He doest have any KO´s.
Cain Velasquez doesnt have any subs in his record, so he sucks, right?
All he is saying that Rampage is too one dimensional. You don't have to get your Xtreme Couture panties in a knot.
Awww give him a break guys. He's just trying to get noticed. I bet he's having a go at stand up. He must be the opposite to Joe Rogan :D
damn you look like a hardass in your picture, let Rampage make it!!!
wizdom if you think rampage sucks go look at his record and who he has fought and beat.... enough said
thought it was gonna be Shogun vs. Rampage... sorry, for me this is a boring fight.
Dont count bader out anything can happen , but this card is super sickkkk.
I got rampage by decision...
Weather its bonnar or bayder rampage by ko easy pick. I might put som $$$$$$ on this one.
I got Rampage by Brutal Murder....
Ben Henderson by TKO or Sub
Yoshihiro Akiyama probably DC
Anthony Pettis by TKO
Yushin Okami by TKO
I hope Page schools the youngster and has a triumphant return to Japan. I like Bader but his skillset isn't there quite yet. War Page in true pride form
I hope Doucheader gets KTFO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rampage loves fighting in Japan. This should be a decent fight. I would have rather seen him fight Bonnar. I just think that would have been more exciting because of Bonnar's "Meat and Potatoes" style of fighting. He grinds it out in his fights, whether it is standup or on the ground.