UFC 135 Press Conference: Verbal jabs lead to intense Jones, Rampage staredown
Posted on September 21, 2011, 02:57 PM by Joey SantosusUFC President Dana White, alongside several of the event's biggest stars, were in attendance today at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado for the UFC 135 Pre-Fight Press Conference. The stacked card will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight title clash between division Champion Jon "Bones" Jones and challenger Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, while Hall-of-Famer Matt Hughes squares off with AKA product Josh Koscheck in the co-main event. Also featured will be a Heavyweight showdown between rapidly-rising prospect Travis Browne and the U.K.'s Rob Broughton, as well as Lightweight tilt pitting Nick Diaz against "The Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi.
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights (via MMAMania.com):
Dana White: Rampage has been here for a long time. He's fought all the best in the world. I think one of the things that people always talked about in the past was his lack of motivation, but to say that this would be the biggest upset in UFC history is insane.
Quinton Jackson: I'm glad Jon Jones is underestimating me. He'll be very surprised on Saturday... I think this is the best camp of my career because I was very motivated. Muscle Farm had a great facility. It was state of the art. I haven't been this motivated in a long time.
Jon Jones: I'm positive that I've never stated that Rampage doesn't have the tools to beat me. Never did I say that in any interviews. He's a unified Champion and has knocked out some of the best in the world. I'm not underestimating Rampage at all. That would be a very, very ignorant thing for me to do, to underestimate somebody with such a great status.
Jon Jones: I think a big part of getting knocked out, it comes more and more with the older guys in the sport. Your ability to take punches goes away. I have a fresh chin. I have a fresh passion and a fresh heart and I think that's gonna get me out of a lot of things. I have a passion to not wanna get hit and because of how serious I take this sport, that's why my chin hasn't been tested. I put a lot of time in evading and movements. (Rampage interrupts: And running!)
Quinton Jackson: Jon Jones can think whatever he wants to think. He can talk all he wants. He hasn't fought anybody. Shogun is the toughest guy he fought and he was rusty. Let Jon do all his talking, I'll do my talking in the Octagon. We'll see how the old man goes down. He's never been in the championship rounds and I have.
For Complete UFC 135 Pre-Fight Press Conference Gallery, visit CombatLifestyle.com
Comments
the first "full eyes" staredown for jones, lol
That's right! The grown man is affecting his actions :-D ... This fight SHOULD be pretty live! I just want to see a good battle.
to me rampage starts sounding a lot more c ocky that jones...his statement about not being co cky but confident is bs in my book. I'm pretty sure he's gonna get destroyed by bones on saturday.
thanks, I agree. not that I don't find rampage entertaining or have no respect for his achievements. he's done a lot for the sports, is a great fighter. but people don't give jones enough credit. there is a saying: "people will dislike you for you qualities not for your mistakes".
that's what seems to happen.
Damn, the perspective in that photo makes Rampage look like a midget!
Rampage is going to have gravity and Jones working against him.
Its alot harder to throw punches up than down all night long.
Jones wing-span means Rampage is going to have to take him down or stick him against the cage and hold him there. No way he wins a slug-fest in the middle of the ring (IMO).
I hope Rampage walks in howling and looking mean then pulls off the upset.
Hold him against the cage is right. He should have had Randy Couture train him.
Rampage trying to avoid being destroyed in the first round by saying jones dont have the balls to go five rounds? Pretty funny, Jones could possibly never go the distance and thats a good thing, just like not being hit is a good thing and not have to check if you have a chin.
You may look like a samouraï going into wars but thats not the point of the sport. The point is finish as quick as you can and untouched.
i would like rampage to win but I dont see how he will be able to do that...
you don't see it because jones hasn't lost yet. use a little imagination.
Rampage is crapping his pants.
All this is is fight promotion from Rampage. Punchers chance that's it.
Yeah I'm sure a lot of it is just hype from Rampage... they have an awkwardly friendly hatred for each other haha
Couldn't have said it better Nick.
man this thing is getting big UFC is blowin up cant wait for saturday nite wanna see rampage get finished,,, cause it WILL HAPPEN