Quinton “Rampage” Jackson claims he is done fighting.
Will the statement stick? History says no, as numerous fighters have encountered serious rough patches with UFC management only for the issues to get worked out. But, as of press time, the controversial UFC fighter is sticking to his statement that he is done doing battle in the Octagon.
“I’m done fighting. I’ve been getting negative reviews from the dumb ass fans that don’t pay my bills or put my kids though college. So I’m hanging it up. I’m gonna miss all my loyal fans but hopefully they’ll follow me to my new career & I will gain more loyal fans along the way. & all you hater fans out there can kiss my big black hairy ass! & anybody that don’t like what I just said can come try to kick my ass,” wrote Jackson in a lengthy statement on his website.
Jackson, who has been on the receiving end of criticism from UFC President Dana White–and some fans–for delaying an anticipated grudge match with Rashad Evans to film a starring role in “The A-Team,” attributed his decision to White’s “mocking” of his film role, as well as past grievances with UFC.
Among Rampage’s claims:
— UFC pressured him to fight Chuck Liddell before he had been established in front of the US audience. This led to him being booed when he won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
— After Rampage defeated Dan Henderson to unify the UFC Light Heavyweight and PRIDE Middleweight Championships, UFC did not notably hype the fact that he was the first undisputed champion in mixed martial arts. “Later Anderson Silva was [hyped as an undisputed champion].”
— Jackson says that, contrary to what was publicized in the media, he did not choose to bypass a title shot with Machida in favor of coaching “The Ultimate Fighter 10” against Rashad Evans. “I told them I wanted to fight Machida for the belt but Dana told me if I coach TUF against Rashad that I could fight Machida afterwards cause this was a different type of ultimate fighter show they were doing. After I signed the contract Dana then changes his mind & says I have to fight Rashad & even told me what to say in the press & so my fans think I was scared to fight Machida. After all that I still never complained & I did it all,” wrote Rampage.
— After conversing with Dana White about why he so greatly valued the opportunity to star in “The A-Team,” he believed the issue had been put to bed. “Dana & I finally talked & we made up & then after that he went back on the internet & said some bullshit & he was talking bad about the movie when information is not even supposed to be released & talking about payments which is not even true could really hurt my future acting career, which could very well last longer than my fighting career. I’m not like Randy Couture. My body has been getting so many different injuries that I wont be able to fight until my forties & neither do I want to fight that long. So I feel like my second career could be in jeopardy.. so I’m done fighting.”
