Rampage/Rashad Not a Done Deal Yet + More Notes from the UFC 96 Press Conference
('You...just ruined my vacation, Frank Mir.')
Despite the heat generated by the post-fight face-off between "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans, the proposed title bout for UFC 98 in May isn't guaranteed just yet. Dana White was upfront about the possibility that injury or simple fatigue could keep Jackson out of the fight, in which case Lyoto Machida would get the title shot.
Injuries or not, Rampage didn't exactly sound thrilled about fighting again in just a little over two months.
"I want my belt back, but I got to talk to manager and talk some things though. Then I’ll tell Dana what’s up," he said.
If he does take the title fight, Jackson acknowledged that it would ruin plans he had for some time off, saying that after being told of the Evans fight as a replacement for Frank Mir/Brock Lesnar at UFC 98 he immediately thought, "most likely my black ass is going to be up in the mountains training again in like two weeks.”
He also said he'd had plans to take an island getaway with a female Asian friend yet to be determined but now "all of that shattered because somebody got they damn knee ‘scoped.”
- In other news to come out of the press conference, White seemed very impressed with Shane Carwin's performance, saying, "Beating Gonzaga and beating him the way he did, I don’t think there’s anyone he can’t fight in the UFC."
- White said Mark Munoz was doing fine after the initial scare following his knockout loss to Matt Hamill, but said, "Pete Sell is the one I’m worried about," adding that he sent Sell to the hospital.
- On the subject of the bizarre fight between Sell and Matt Brown, White said, "I couldn't believe what I was seeing," with regards to referee Yves Lavigne allowing the bout to continue. He said was hurt his arm banging on the side of the Octagon and screaming for the fight to be stopped -- a first for him.
- As for the referee troubles on the night, White said: "I hate dogging refs because I know they have a hard job. ...There’s a few guys out there who are good and a lot of guys who aren’t."
- When asked about nixing Tamdan McCrory's music choice, White copped to it and explained, "I let them all pick their music and then I go back and change it if I don’t like it." One choice he originally wanted to change was Matt Hamill's entrance to "Hang On, Sloopy," but he decided to allow it when someone explained the significance for Ohio State fans. See? I'm not the only one who didn't know that.
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Stevia Addict Says:
Black on Black crime is PPV Gold
Anonymous Says:
Give Lyoto the shot.
deserves it more.
rampages performance tonight was not title shot worthy.
Machida's was.
TUF Guy Says:
fuck you
riccc Says:
face-off between rampage/rashad was the funniest thing i ever saw
Anonymous Says:
Yves needs to get fucking fired and Rashad made an ass out of himself.
SARS Says:
Yves Lavigne has to be the worst ref...we could put him in the Mazzaghatti area as terrible refs...should just let Herb Dean ref every fight
SARS Says:
btw Lyoto is getting screwed if he doesnt get a title shot
armfarmer Says:
I'm really really pissed about the matt brown fight. Only because Yves is going to get his ass chewed out, which is going to make all the other refs prefer to stop a fight too early as opposed to too late. Fuck early stoppages I'd rather see a fight end decisively and a fighter get beat up a little bit than see another kos/paulo bullshit call. Maybe Paulo would have finished him, maybe not, but now we'll never know and the ww rankings are fucked up because of a fluky win. Just using that as an example, I hate all early stoppages no matter who it is.
armfarmer Says:
Just to clarify, I'm by no means saying Yves called that fight early. No way in hell, way late.
Donnie Jessup Says:
Wait... Rampage and Rashad are different guys??
Anonymous Says:
that's gotta be the stupidest thing I've ever heard how about we get in a cage and I kick your white ass
Zombie Rock Says:
"Black on black crime." lololololololoololooloool
Jesus fuckin christ. I damn near choked to death laughing. The UFC HAS to use that sub title.
UFC (whatever #)
Black on Black Crime
"Two men enter, one man Yves!"
Anonymous Says:
out of all the fights that were ended early why did they let that one go on?
Aussiejosh Says:
The Rampage Evans face off looked so staged i thought i was watching the WWC at one point, and was just waiting for Brock to run in to the cage and smash a chair on the back of someones head!
I feel sorry for Rampage. He pulled off the win but did look very tierd! its like Dana is trying to burn him out!
I love Rampage! But Lyoto should be the next one fighting Evens, Then Rampage should fight the winner of that fight!
Derp Says:
Yeah Machida should get a shot he's been beating nothing but top ten fighters since he's come to the UFC. Okay well not Tito. And not Sokoudjou. And well not David Heath, Sam Hoger and Nakamura but you get what I'm saying. TOTALLY should be next in line.
Contro1Denied Says:
@Zombie Rock
ahah HAHAHA
lmao
Anonymous Says:
@Derp,
lets not mention,
rich franklin, bj penn, stephan bonnar, and thiago silva.
and is elusiveness is nothing to be ignored.
you are just ignorant and a hater
Wandering Wade Says:
Rampage needs a rest. Evans would KO a fatigued Rampage with ease. Let Machida get the title shot. What's the worst that could happen? He ends up having a Chuck Liddell Length Title run?
KEMPO666 Says:
Shut-the-fuck-up Donnie.
Goose Says:
If Lyoto fights first and wins (we all know he will), then who is there really that can beat him? Let the two black guys fight for the pay per view numbers, then let the best LH earn his belt, and ruin any chance for pay per view gold with his run and hide, oops here I am I just knocked your ass out, Anderson Silva is my bff ass. God, so boring, so good.
Anonymous Says:
Epic Fail....nice try though...
joe Says:
at zombie: haha tht ws pretty damn funny. Lyoto can beat both of them easy. Lets just hope he keeps his newfound ko capabilities so those dumbasses who cant understand his style can shut up.
Kieth Jardine Says:
I'm very herky-jerky, I'm very unorthodox.
Anonymous Says:
I must say, I am not a Evans fan.. but if any style is going to beat Lyoto's, its going to be someone that can control him on the ground and not let him get away... Evans has the best chance in the Lhw division to beat Lyoto.. and Rampage is a fighter that i like but I don't see him beating Lyoto 1/10 times...
Mike Goldberg Says:
And heeeeere weeee go!
jardine with some leg kicks. Rampage with a few counter strikes... Um...
and its allllll ooover! Quinton... Rampage jackson.... Has done it, again Joe!
Wyatt Says:
I don't know what Rashad thought was going to happen during the stare down, Rampage works on his shit talking more than his damned ground game. Rogan trying not to laugh is hilarious!
Speaking of bad refs, go watch the post fight of Matt Hamill, check out Mirgliotta in the background talking to Buffer and they are talking about the KO like their at the water cooler at work and making fun of the guy. Classy
Dmonicideals Says:
When Rashad said "You get knocked out in teh 1st round" I almost fell out of my chair laughing. That is gonna be a badass fight, and a long ass night for Page.
Rault Says:
As much as I would love to see Jackson "Rampage" throughout the streets of Orange County again I really think he should take the vacation.
Nipples Says:
Pete Sell is one of those guys that has no business on a main card. Scott Smith should be that guy. That said, I love to see Pete get F'd up.
Wait... Rampage and Rashad are different guys??
There not the same guys? They look a lot alike.
Haywood Jablomie Says:
Damn...rampage needs some lotion on his hands ASAP. Someone get GSP
Rashad Evans Says:
I don't know if you guys know this, but Keith Jardine and I are really good friends. I think it's important to talk about how good of friends we are, rather than actually talking about the fight that is happening right in front of me, because I'm such good friends with Keith.
Fedor a million ankles Says:
If BJ Penn Penn can take a year off to beat his tiny meat on a tropical island, then Rampage can take a little breather before he fights for the title.
Rest well Rampage, you deserve it.
JiMMA Says:
Zombie Rock: GOLD, son! GOLD!
Give that man a T-Shirt.
Wondertongue Says:
Rampage doesn't deserve the shot. Why does he? Because he is "Rampage"? WHO GIVES A FUCK!!! You deserve a shot on your performances. Lets look at his last 3. Loss to Forest, knock out of a "once was great" fighter, and last nights. Doesn't deserve it!!! Ok lets look at Lyotos last 3. Win, win and a knock out win. Screw Rampage!! He can have the winner of Rashad and Lyoto. That is what the title fight should be!!!!!
ItburnswhenIpee Says:
Carwin won the fight, but he didn't beat Gonzaga. Gonzaga's lack of respect lost the fight for him.
aweirdpoet Says:
"Hang on Sloopy" is the official rock song of the state of Ohio. While it is cool that Ohio has an official rock song, they probably could have picked a little better.
Criminally Negligent Says:
Machida deserves the title shot more than Rampage anyway but if the belt is offered to Rampage, unless he's hurt, there is no reason why he can't take that fight. Real champions will fight anyone, anytime, anywhere and won't postpone a title fight to take a vacation with some broad.
TUF Guy Says:
If Page doesn't step in and fight Rashad.... I WILL!
Judge Holden Says:
Did anyone else thought it was funny that Evans said "...I'm gonna dig into that ass!"
Personally I thought it was fucking hilarious.
Judge Holden Says:
THINK it was funny. Sorry, marijuana impairs my typing.
Darkside Says:
Don't say that, Rashad...
Anonymous Says:
i agree with burnswhenIpee ,gonzaga threw some very sloppy punches and let his guard down in the process ,and instead of taking carwin down he shouldve kept throwing punches when he had carwin hurt .carwin is just big ,heavy handed,and fast with his wrestling technique .He doesnt particularly look all that technichal ,or quick with his stand up .I honestly think hes a bit over rated ,gonzaga wins 8 out 10 times i honestly believe that
Anonymous Says:
Rampage is quickly becoming my 2nd fav fighter, after Fedor. Not just for his great performances in the ring but for his entertaining and cool attitude outside the ring. MMA needs more guys like him.
nippletwist Says:
@ wondertounge
well if you look at rampages last 5 fights it is 1. KO of lidell when chuck was on top 2. win over hendo, where he outwrestled him, and outwrestling hendo is impressive 3. loss to forrest, that decision could have gone either way though, and rampage was in the midst of some crazyness then 4. KO of wandy, which is impressive even if he is not in his prime 5. win over jardine, and he kicked jardines ass, jardine was exhausted with his hands at his side and rampage was completely outstriking him, rampage also was succesful in both his take-down attempts and he stuffed jardine attempts.
rampage is also the former champion, and lost his belt in a controversial decision, that makes him higher on the list of the list of contenders as well
overall i would say rampage has been up against more good fighters than lyoto. although lyoto is undefeated and looks like he could be the best in the division. im not saying lyoto does not deserve the title shot, he does, im just saying the case for rampage is just as strong.
Anonymous Says:
anyone have a link to the post fight between 'shad and 'page?
lifeoftheparty. Says:
"Two men enter, one man Yves!"
OMG ahahahahahahaha!
fourTwenty Says:
Stop, reality check for a minute. Sure, early stoppages make people mad and deprive you of seeing a good finish, but that's a selfish attitude. Late stoppages are ten times worse than an early stoppage. All it's gonna take is one late stoppage leading to serious or permanent injury and then idiots like Reilly will actually have ground to stand on.
Anyone who would rather see a fighter take "a few more shots to be sure" is a fucking retard and bad for the sport in general.
I'd rather see 10 Kos/Paulo's (Which wasn't even early, there are just a lot of dumbasses who don't realize what the fuck is going on) than ever see another Brown/Sell.
Anonymous Says:
What are you talking about? he said since he came to the UFC? Franklin, Penn, and Bonnar aren't top ten at light heavy and he didn't beat them in the UFC.
Jugger Says:
Yves always gives veteran fighters more opportunities to recover. His instinct to stop the fight was over-ridden by his desire to allow an experienced fight an opportunity to rally back.
Still, Yves dropped the ball in that fight and is, no doubt, kicking himself at the moment. I think Yves is the best in business at that moment, but this is a major black mark on his resume. I'd rather be upset that he stopped the fight early than dumbfounded by some weird beat-down like that.
Hindsight... as they say... is 20-20.
armfarmer Says:
Call me selfish then because I don't give a fuck. They are fighters and you never hear them complain about being given a chance to come back. The sport might as well die anyway if it gets to the point where the ref calls it everytime someone gets knocked down. I wouldn't want to watch anymore.