Insight on Rampage's request for tune up fight(s) [Boston Herald]

[smoogy]

I suspected that this was the underlying reason for Rampage's initial statement about wanting more fights before taking on Liddell; his WFA contract, from what I know, is for 80k per, without win bonuses or more importantly a slice of profits. So, naturally, Rampage wanted to work off his old deal and get enough face time in the interim to position himself as a major star who even the most casual fans would want to see in a rematch vs. Liddell, thus ensuring him the leverage needed to negotiate a lucrative deal with a share of the PPV moneys like Liddell, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz get.

Shortly after beating Marvin Eastman in his UFC debut, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson said he’d like a couple of more fights before taking on Chuck Liddell for the lightweight title. Yet here he is, training in the 8,000-foot altitude of Big Bear, Calif., slightly less than three weeks away from stepping into The Octagon against the Iceman.

So what gives?

“It was (the UFC’s) decision,” said Jackson, during a break in his training regimen last week. “They wanted to see the (Liddell) fight. I wanted the fans to get to know me a little better, but it didn’t go down that way. It’s all right. I’m fighting. I’m making money.”

While Jackson admits to feeling a little “rushed” into the fight, UFC president Dana White said that when he heard Jackson say he needed a little time back in February, he felt it had another meaning.

“Rampage saying he wasn’t ready, when I was sitting there, hearing that, what that means is, ’I want to redo my contract before Liddell,’ ” White said. “So I went in and I tuned up his deal a little. We bought the WFA to get Rampage’s contract. So we turned it around, tweaked it a little. And now he’s ready.”

Regardless of the inspiration, Rampage is focused. He’s been in Big Bear about three weeks now and will remain there until a week before the May 26 fight in Las Vegas. He’s waking up at 6:30 a.m. to run. After breakfast, he normally goes back out at 10 to train for a couple of more hours. After lunch and a nap, he’s back at his workouts at 5 p.m., before going to sleep around 10.

While one betting line (betus.com) has Liddell a heavy favorite (you have to put down $260 to make $100), Rampage remains extremely confident. He’s beaten Liddell once already and said he’s not training any differently than he would for any other fight.

“I’m going to show (the fans) who I am,” Rampage said. “I’m the new face and they better get used to me. I’m going to change MMA from what everyone knows it. I’m going to liven it up. I don’t think people put it down like I put it down.

“The way I fight and the way I am ... I’m here to make history.”

http://sports.bostonherald.com/ufc/v...98792&srvc=art

[lilp86]

Interesting so Dana must have really wanted Rampage if that was the main reason they bought the WFA

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by lilp86

Interesting so Dana must have really wanted Rampage if that was the main reason they bought the WFA

The WFA buy was strictly out of convenience, I think. They had some half decent fighters with contracts that are pricey by the standards the UFC has for paying its TUF guys and lesser names, but still reasonable and obviously affordable. That and the WFA were desperate to sell since they didn't know how to run a business.

[The Sundance Kid]

Plus, even if Rampage loses, I bet Dana will give him a rematch, I mean Who else is Chuck going to fight?

[lilp86]

Originally Posted by The Sundance Kid

Plus, even if Rampage loses, I bet Dana will give him a rematch, I mean Who else is Chuck going to fight?

Randy on new years eve right?

[The Sundance Kid]

I mean after that, I'm sure These guys will fight 3 times before their career is over.

[lilp86]

I agree I think there will be a rubber match