After an extremely awkward pre-fight interview between MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, it may come as a surprise to some that Jackson was at least willing to do another interview with Helwani after the fight.
But here we are.
Once you get past the first minute and a half of continued awkwardness between the two, Jackson actually gave us some insight on how he sustained the injury he spoke about immediately following his victory over Matt Hamill in the main event at UFC 130.
“I injured [my hand] months out in Japan in December. I was drunk,” he said as he looked toward the camera. “Me and my friend Dave Roberts [were wrestling]. I was kickin’ his ass in the hotel and I missed the elbow and I hit my hand on the ground.
“It healed up before camp. But then I was messing around in camp, sparring and then I did like an up-jab and I hurt it. That happened in the beginning of camp, like eight weeks ago.”
But despite having an injured hand, Rampage was very confident in his standup game against Hamill. So confident that he knew Hamill wasn’t going to take him down and that he’d be able to win the fight on the feet.
“I knew he wasn’t going to take me down. I KNEW it,” he said. “I’ve fought way better wrestlers. I’m a wrestler. Just because I don’t go out there and try to wrestle everybody, try to hump on their leg, don’t mean I ain’t no wrestler.”
Jackson dominated the fight, easily winning a decision against another quality opponent, further cementing his status as one of the top 205-pound fighters in the world. But now he needs to prove it against the division’s new champion, Jon “Bones” Jones.
“I would like for Jon Jones to be next,” Rampage admitted. “He’s got the belt, don’t he?
“That’s who I need. I need to get that belt. I need that belt back around my waist.”
No word from the UFC on whether Jackson is in fact next in line for a shot at Jones’ UFC light heavyweight title, but this win definitely makes him a very possible candidate.
UFC 130 Rampage vs. Hamill Fight Card: News, Previews & Predictions, Results and More!
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
No comments:
Post a Comment