Rampage vs Rashad

Brace yourself for some “black on black crime” (as Rampage puts it) because the headliner at UFC 114 is the long awaited clash between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “Sugar” Rashad Evans. This fight has been a long time coming as they were the rival coaches on TUF 10 and throughout the series, we could all see that the heated rivalry went beyond the show and that they genuinely don’t like each other.

Well, after a long hiatus following a dispute with the UFC over taking some time off to film a movie, Rampage has since re-signed with the organization and the fans will surely benefit as the fight with Rashad Evans is just around the corner. As for how these two fighters match up, well, it seems as though their skills sets are fairly even.

Both “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans have demonstrated that they have serious power in their hands (just look at their fights against a common opponent, Chuck Liddell). With both guys possessing that one-shot KO power, I doubt this will last long if these guys decide to stand and bang.

If Rashad decides to play it smart, then his best bet is to avoid the heavy hands of Rampage and use his superior wresting ability to take the fight to the ground. Rashad has an impressive collegiate wresting background and to this point, he’s used it effectively throughout his mixed martial arts career.

However, taking Rampage to the ground is easier said than done. One of “Rampages” best attributes is his inhuman-like strength and he uses it well to stuff takedowns and power out of submission attempts. That being said, as daunting of a task it is to fight Rampage, Rashad’s key to victory will be good game planning – and he just so happens to have MMA’s most strategic coach in the sport in his corner (Greg Jackson).

I can picture Rashad coming out, using movement and footwork to avoid the heavy shots that Rampage will be throwing at him. When Rashad attacks, he should move in and out quickly and since Rampage has demonstrated an inability to check leg kicks in the past, Rashad should be throwing plenty of them. A weakened lead leg due to kicks to the thigh equates to a less powerful right hand as Rampage won’t be able to step into his punches.

In addition to the movement and low kicks, Rampage should mix things up and shoot in for the takedown once Rampage isn’t expecting it. Bottom line is that Rashad needs to fight smart and mix up his attacks in order to pull off a victory in this. If he just squares up and goes toe to toe in a slugfest with Rampage, I don’t like his chances. Rampage has a better shin and he seems as though he’s a little more powerful.

This fight can go a lot of ways and a lot of different things can happen. It’s really a toss up. However, the one thing that I don’t see happening is these two guys coming out and NOT putting on a great show. It’ll be entertaining, that’s for sure.. Here’s a fan-made preview to get you hyped..

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva

While many of the newer MMA fans may not be aware, this will actually be the third meeting between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and the “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva. The first two meetings – under the now bankrupt PRIDE organization – left Quinton “Rampage” Jackson a bloody mess. Granted, fighters are constantly evolving and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is not the same fighter today as he was back when he took those beatings at the hands – well, technically the knees – of Wanderlei Silva.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been very successful thus far in his UFC career while Wanderlei Silva was recently on a downward spiral as he dropped three straight – one of which was in his UFC debut against Chuck Liddell. However, it looks as though Wanderlei Silva has returned to his old ways in his last fight as he racked up a brutal knockout victory against light heavyweight standout, Keith Jardine. Not only did Wanderlei Silva secure a knockout, but he did so in a fashion so devastating that the MMA community forums exploded with talks of the “rape choke”. If you missed it, Wanderlei Silva basically held Jardine down with a hand across the throat while he repeatedly landed shots to the face with his free fist.

On the other hand, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is fresh off a disheartening loss at the hands of now-champion, Forrest Griffin. Following the fight, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson lived up to his nickname as he literally went on a hit and run “rampage” in LA and as a result, he became a household name as the story was covered in some of the worlds most popular tabloid sites, programs and publications.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva – How they match up.

Having met on two other occasions with the same result, there’s a good chance that Wanderlei Silva is to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson what Anderson Silva is to Rich Franklin – unbeatable. While Quinton “Rampage” Jackson isn’t the same fighter today as he was on Halloween four years ago when he last squared off with Wanderlei Silva, fighting is just as much mental as it is physical and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s current mental state is certainly in question. Even had “Rampage” not “lost his marbles” so to speak and mistaken a public road in Orange County for the Indy 500, fighting someone who has brutally knocked you out – on multiple occasions – is a big mental hurdle to overcome on its own.

In terms of their skills sets and fighting style, both fighters are extremely aggressive so it should make for an exciting fight. While both are capable of fighting on the ground – especially Wanderlei Silva as he’s a black belt in BJJ – both Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Wanderlei Silva prefer to keep it standing and slug it out. Wanderlei Silva has the better Muay Thai as he’s already effectively utilized a Thai clinch on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in their previous encounters. However, being a product of Juanito Ibarra – a renowned boxing trainer – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson may be a more technical boxer.

If the unexpected happens and the fight does hit the ground, it will certainly be an advantage for Wanderlei Silva. However, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s only submission loss has come at the hands of Kazushi Sakuraba – who has been labelled by some as the “greatest grappler in all of mixed martial arts” – and that loss occurred more than 7 years ago. Since then, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has faced many other great grapplers – none of which have been successful with their submission attempts. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s ability to evade submissions is due to his seemingly in-human strength. Rampage – aka. “King of the Slam” – literally power bombed BJJ black belt, Ricardo Arona at a PRIDE event back on 2004 to escape a triangle attempt. All that being said, it’s a virtual certainty that this fight will be an all-out slugfest with the victor likely being awarded a generous bonus for “KO of the night”.

The biggest factor in this fight will be the mental state of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Having recently displayed instability with his antics as of late – and the fact that he’s facing a man who has knocked him out on two separate occasions – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will certainly have to come into this fight in the right frame of mind if he hopes to have any shot at beating the light heavyweight legend, Wanderlei Silva.

So before you pick a winner and place a bet, take everything into consideration – including the odds. In a sport where anything can happen, all you can do is trust your instinct. Everyone responds differently to defeat – as already mentioned – so it should be interesting to see whether or not Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is able to bounce back.