Will Rampage Jackson steal the title shot away from Rashad Evans?
Posted on May 30, 2011, 09:19 AM by Anton Gurevich
Rampage Jackson's victory over Matt Hamill opened new options for Jon Jones in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. Only two weeks ago, Rashad Evans was the only possible contender for Jon Jones' title. But now, when Evans moved one step back to face Phil Davis (at UFC 133), it looks like Rampage could steal what belonged to "Suga" since UFC 114.
Rashad Evans made the biggest mistake of his MMA career when he decided to retire after UFC 114. While Rashad Evans was waiting for Shogun Rua to recover from his knee injury, not only that Jon Jones captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Title, but the man who "Suga" beat to get his title shot, Rampage Jackson, defeated two top contenders in Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill.
Even with victory over Quinton Jackson and an amazing record in the UFC Light Heavyweight division, Rashad Evans now finds himself at least two fights away from fighting for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. MMA Math betrays the former Greg Jackson fighter, who will have to prove his worth against a very dangerous opponent in Phil Davis at UFC 133. But then again, Phil Davis is 3-0 since Rashad Evans' last fight, and will surely find himself one step ahead if victorious on August 6th
Only a few weeks ago, I was interviewing the Bellator Middleweight Tournament Winner Alexander Shlemenko, a 27 year old fighter with a record of 39-7. Shlemenko told me that as a professional Mixed Martial Artist, he simply can't afford to fight three times a year (Shlemenko fought six times back in 2010, and two times already in 2011)
Yes, the situation in the UFC is a little bit different. To say the least, ZUFFA fighters make more money than their colleagues in Bellator, and Rashad Evans can do well fighting even two times a year.
But it's not all about the money. Shlemenko, and many other MMA fighters who fight at least three times a year, are always in shape (ring rust is real, ask Rampage), and are always competitive when it comes to rankings and their position in terms of title contention.
UFC's 205 division is stacked with top class talent, with fighters like Forrest Griffin, Alexander Gustafsson and Vladimir Matyushenko also being "in the mix" for a shot at the title. You can't afford having a year-long layoff while your opponents are staying busy. And that's exactly why Rampage is ahead when it comes to challenging Jon Jones for his belt.
Rampage Jackson is a great fighter, and he proved yesterday why he's still one of the best Light Heavyweights on the planet. Stylistically, Jackson-Jones is a better match-up than the one including Evans. Jones already fought great wrestlers in Jake O'Brien, Vladimir Matyushenko, Matt Hamill and Ryan Bader. Of course Rashad Evans is a better wrestler than any of the mentioned above fighters, but still, he has very little to offer against Jones when it comes to striking.
Rampage on the other hand, is a heavy hitter with great striking arsenal, who will go forward to knock Jon Jones clean out. It will be very interesting to see how Jon Jones does against a tough-as-nails fighter, with great takedown defense and extremely heavy hands.
Photo: UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson during the weigh in before UFC 114 on May 28, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Francis Specker
Comments
Two things that Rashad brings to the table that Rampage does not is great cardio and speed/explosiveness.
To be honest i only see Machida defeating Jones. Hes got pretty solid TDD, Great BJJ if it hits the floor, he is fast powerful and is a countpuncher plus he has shown already he can easily go 5 rounds.
Machida fought 5 rounds one time. He faded at the end of the fight, lost the last two rounds, and barely walked away with a decision that many feel he didn't deserve... So please tell me how he made it look easy?
Rampage does not bring explosiveness to the table? Why don't you talk to Ricardo Arona, Chuck Liddell, and Wanderlei Silva about that one.
Finally, Rampage is a lot faster than people give him credit for. He is aggressive in that he moves forward, but he still prefers to counter, and he is pretty damn good at it. Good counter striking takes timing and also speed. Rampage won a decision against Machida, a fighter who proved much too fast for Rashad.
You have a point with the cardio thing. Rashad may have a slight speed advantage. The explosiveness comment is laughable.
Who will receive their death sentence first??? I love Rampage and think Rashad is a hell of a fighter, but theres no way either one of them will beat Bones.
Agreed. Love Rampage, but any fighter getting in the octagon with Jones' will have to be weary of his size, range, not to mention throws, takedowns and unorthodox striking.
Nt falling for the hype. JJ is good but he aint the god of the LHW div. I can see Rampage taking a dec or KOn JJ if he fights that fight like the Hamill fight. During exchanges he waited back waiting to stuff the td. Even if he hurt Hamill he still hung back cause he didnt wana get sucked in. Rampage has a legit shot just saying.
Definitely agree with SHAKE. Rampage has a shot against any LHW. Its hard to beat Rampage unless you have extremely good wrestling. Yea Jones has that but anyone can get knocked out.
Why did Rampage loose to rashad? because Rashad is faster n is a better wrestler, well Jones is way faster than Rampage with better wrestling. I love Rampage but his weakness is quick fighters with great wrestling alla Jon Jones.
Jones vs Hamill total devastation, Rampage vs Hamill boring!, Joes vs Rampage...total devastation, easy fight for Jones. rampage cant handle the length or the wrestling. jones will make Rampage look worse than Griffin did, finish him inside of 2 rounds! Evans next the Machida
I also feel he lost due to being sidetracked from the fight scene. Everyone had Rampage beating Rashad before the fight if both showed up. Only 1 guy showed up that fight.
I suppose but Jones is just destroying guys like hamil and Shogun, Rampage got his shit handed to him last time he fought Shogun and decisioned Hamil. I think Rampage is top 3 in the LHW division, but Jones is just a man amongst boys he is not losing ne time soon.
Point taken, Rampage has sick knockout power and I don't think there are many chins, including JJ's, that can withstand a hook from either one of Rampage's hands. Rampage vs Jones, make it happen UFC!
Hahaha Rashad decided to retire! Damn that's funny! I would love for Rampage to get the next shot. I doubt Rampage would beat Bones but who knows. I don't think Jones' chin could take a shot from Rampage.
Hahaha Rashad decided to retire! Damn that's funny! I would love for Rampage to get the next shot. I doubt Rampage would beat Bones but who knows. I don't think Jones' chin could take a shot from Rampage.
In fairness Rampage was ment to get a title shot when he beat Jardine before he even fought Rashad but then got injured...and now he has won two fights since losing to Rashad while Rashad hasnt done anything except move camp
So rashad can win because he'll take em down and cover him like a wet blanket, and his dance moves will keep JJ at bay.
Rashad has the weakest jaw in the business since Andrei Arlovski.
I have to say, even if I think you're wrong, it's refreshing to hear someone say that about somebody besides Michael Bisping.
Still like to see King Mo and Rampage square off ... Mo has talked alot of smack about Rampage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1iBGHC8xw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mJf2OpGePs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz3fRhALysU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPYLhYJP5EA&NR=1
its queen mo, fool
I like Jon Jones as much as the next but he beat a dude after double knee surgery and it took him 3 rds, He is still yet to face a big time threat i believe!
Every time Jones fights someone everyone is on here saying this is the guy for this or that, Jones has never faced anyone then afterwards you all run and make excuses. RUA was ready to fight or he wouldn't have got in the ring, he said himself Jones is the BEST fighter he has ever faced, Yep a quote from Shogun himself, a MMA legend, you know the guy who took offense to Jon Jones Champion 2011. He was ready to fight, motivated, just outclassed in every aspect. Now we will hear Rampage is a devastating striker...couldn't finish Hamill who isn't even a top 15 fighter. Evans is to good of wrestler, see list of wrestlers Jones has disposed of easily, Evans is a one-trick pony! Machida poses the biggest mystery due to he runs more than he fights, i think Jones will handle him striking or on the Mat, whichever he chooses.Never faced a big time threat, the guy is a freak, he makes guys you people thought were good look really bad, then you make excuses, keep em comin, JBJ is young, strong,taleneted, and hungry, won't be beat by these chumps
I like Jones too I think he is a great fighter. But I still have this feeling that Rua was not in great shape going in that fight with Jones also keep in mind that it was Rua's first fight after a 10 month lay off and Jones was just coming off a win against Bader. I'm not discounting Jones achievement at all just stating facts.
If Evans beats Davis then it should be Suga still the No. 1 contender BUT if Davis beats Evans then I think he needs one more fight against a top contender like Lyotto or Griffin or Rampage or Rua etc. The LHW division is so stacked that any given combination of the top contenders fighting for the title is worthy of the MAIN event not the co Main event.
The ufc needs tournaments. Fans want it. It would be great for deciding who actually deserves the title rather than a match maker deciding who they think will pull in the most money.
Tournaments would allow many chances for new champs and create some great march ups that other wise take years to make.
Ufc fighters (not blaming them) fight so infrequently that some fighters never fight each other Like chuck liddel Lyoto machida etc.
As far as giving fans what they want they are failing now. Grateful for everything Dana has done but I feel a stagnation occurring. It could very well have the same fate as boxing if a fighter union never happens. Or matchmakers decide what is best.
Belator even though it has far less deep talent is becoming more interesting to watch. Or at least we are able to view more matchups and ultimately the more people that spar and fight will evolve the sport the fastest.
But we will have 2 or 3 years before we see the top 5 lhw fight each other by that time there will be new ones.
Im pulling for Rampage if this fight happens Jon Jones is gonna get his first real challenge whether its Rampage or Machida
Sadly, the way Jones looked during the Rua fight, starting to gas after about two rounds, I think one of the people who could beat him is someone he's already beaten and has no chance of fighting him at the moment. Dear God, this is going to get me flamed. Stephan Bonnar.
Bonnar is almost impossible to finish, has great defense off of his back, good Jiu-Jitsu, looks better than ever lately and doesn't gas out. Now granted, most of what I said there goes double for Lyoto Machida, so interpret that how you will. Just saying that it wouldn't necessarily have to be a fighter with all better tools than Jones. They just need to have the right ones. And I think Bonnar or Machida could both beat Jones by outlasting him.
It's funny I have been thinking the same thing about Bonnar. From the fight that i saw he was the toughest challenge in JJ's career, and you could see JJ fading later on in a fight. But if i had to pick, i say Rashad in a man to beat JJ, due to his knowledge. I also think JJ is quite young and not as mature as he presents himself, Rashad will talk him up well and mess with his head.
You know Rampage is so underestimated its not even funny...People expect him to KO every opponent in the ring, myself included. When I saw the fight against hammill, i was even dissapointed that he didnt get the KO. But in seeing it again, I clearly saw a way more improved rampage in both td defence and striking, landslides ahead of both his previous 2 outings. People who dont believe in ring rust should compare rampage performance against evans and now against hammill...night and day, yes different fighters, but still this rampage, though not the best i've seen, is a rampage that can dethrone jones, and has a way better chance of doing it over both machida and evans. He has KO power and the vicious combos that hammill took showed that hammill has an iron chin...there were times he was a mere punch away from being ko-ed. Has Jones chin even been tested yet? Nope. And look at how small his jaw is. I have no problem saying that rampage has the best chance against jones if he can keep the fight standing.
You know Rampage is so underestimated its not even funny...People expect him to KO every opponent in the ring, myself included. When I saw the fight against hammill, i was even dissapointed that he didnt get the KO. But in seeing it again, I clearly saw a way more improved rampage in both td defence and striking, landslides ahead of both his previous 2 outings. People who dont believe in ring rust should compare rampage performance against evans and now against hammill...night and day, yes different fighters, but still this rampage, though not the best i've seen, is a rampage that can dethrone jones, and has a way better chance of doing it over both machida and evans. He has KO power and the vicious combos that hammill took showed that hammill has an iron chin...there were times he was a mere punch away from being ko-ed. Has Jones chin even been tested yet? Nope. And look at how small his jaw is. I have no problem saying that rampage has the best chance against jones if he can keep the fight standing.