Rampage Jackson was a guest on Inside MMA and sat down for a uniquely revealing video with his old friend Bas Rutten. Rutten, an MMA legend himself, clearly has Jackson's friendship and respect and it's a great interview. Parts 2 and 3 after the jump.
Part 2
Part 3
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 135 on September 24 in Denver, Colorado.
Zach Arnold of Fight Opinion transcribed the interview. Here are some highlights:
On the difference between American and Japanese fans:
BAS RUTTEN: "The peak of PRIDE or the peak right now with the UFC, if you have to choose an event where to fight what would you do?"
RAMPAGE JACKSON: "Man, I tell you, honestly, I miss those PRIDE rules. I miss the fans where you could hear your corner men, you know, that's important, we forget how important it is. If I had to choose, I would pick PRIDE. The energy that the Japanese fans bring when that song comes on. That's why I came out to the PRIDE song my last fight because the energy that it brought me but the fans are different so the energy wasn't 100% there. The Japanese fans I have to honestly say they bring a different energy to the fight and I really like that energy that they bring. I'm not saying it's better or worse, but in my opinion I would rather fight in front of the Japanese."
On turning down the Mauricio "Shogun" Rua title fight at UFC 128:
RAMPAGE JACKSON: "I'll tell you, like, the main reason why I turned down this fight with Shogun recently is because, you know what I'm saying, I was overweight, I wasn't training for my fight. It happens, you know what I'm saying, it's one of my hang-ups, one of my flaws. When I fought Shogun the first time, I came in with a really bad ankle injury where I couldn't run and get my cardio because I really didn't have a sparring partner, I had to hire sparring partners back then and I hired this clown who would when I come to punch him he would throw low ankle kicks and dislocated my ankle. And I'm paying the guy, I'm paying the guy to hurt me. I fired him and never used him again. So, I'm trying to hang with these top strikers, you know, because back then I didn't have people... it always haunted me that I couldn't, you know, fight at 100% or close to 100% Shogun and I went out there with a stupid game plan, 10 minute rounds, knew I didn't have cardio and I was going to take it slow and, you know, fight my fight and he just jumped on me. So, I said in my mind like I know I'll get a rematch with him one day and I want to be close to 100% and I want to fight the fight that I originally planned on fighting the first time when I was training for him. So, that's why I couldn't take the fight with Shogun.
"I got all the respect for Shogun. He's a nice guy, you know, he never says anything disrespectful about me. He's a great fighter and I could tell in his last fight (against Forrest Griffin) he was rusty, it was a good chance that I probably could have done great against him but I wouldn't have even made the weight. So, I want to fight Shogun when it's time."
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