UFC Champ Reveals All

This article is not for the queasy, read on if you so choose...

Major sporting events are at times be known to favor a result or fighter, in an effort to gain popularity, the “cheddah” as Jackson puts it, and/or to add more excitement, who knows. In a very in-depth interview posted on MMA Today, newly crowned UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson offers fans a “backstage pass” into the life of MMA.

The interview is featured on MMA's newest online show, MMA Today, hosted by Bas Rutten. Rampage gives fans an "inside scoop" that is hurtful and disappointing, to say the least. The interview covers a wide array of topics from Jackson’s beginnings, bad experiences in his Pride FC career, to his fellow training partner and friend, Tito Ortiz.

In clip five of seventeen clips, Quinton Jackson explains how Pride offered him more money to lose a bout in Pride 15’s Raging Rumble on July 29, 2001. Quinton Jackson, at his Pride FC debut, was set to face off against heavily favored MMA legend and Japanese superstar Kazushi Sakuraba. Rampage was asked by a nameless insider of Pride to lose twenty-six pounds on the day of the fight to make weight. Jackson was also told that his earnings would be $10,000 if he defeated Sakuraba and $12,000 if he lost by submission or knockout. Rampage goes on to claim that he ignored this offer and fought his heart out, however ended up losing via rear naked choke at 5:41 into the first round. It was also stated that the crooks were fired shortly after the incident.

Although it hurts to hear about such things go on in the sport of mixed martial arts, it is almost understandable coming from Pride FC’s standpoint. Pride FC must not have wanted Sakuraba, their “pride” and joy, fall at the hands of newcomer, at the time, Quinton Jackson. Having Jackson pummel Sakuraba in front of his country probably wouldn’t have been the greatest sight for Pride fans. Regardless, any effort that may taint the purity of MMA is evil in my books. Now that Pride’s torch has been passed to the hands of Dana White and the UFC, fans can only hope UFC is not lying when the say: “As Real as It Gets.”

See the entire interview here: http://www.gofish.com/mma/interviews.gfp

You have been WARNED!

Stay classy fans,
The Lianger