Upset Alert: Rampage Jackson
By Curtis Clontz on Feb 24, 2009
The last time I did an upset alert, it ended in a bloody mess by the name of Joe Stevenson. The UFC 96 edition points fingers, paints billboards, and screams Keith Jardine. While many feel this fight should not be happening, it does have a very awkward feel to it. It eerily feels very similar to the Dan Henderson vs. Wand fight in pride, or the most recent Koscheck vs. Paulo Thiago.
The UFC version of Rampage is a much better fighter than the Pride version. His boxing game has made huge strides and he is no longer known as the guy who just slams people. He is the guy who smashed Chuck and Wand, and the former 205 pound champ. Speaking of the UFC version, there are some holes in his game. One of those being his defense to a solid Thai game, especially leg kicks. Forrest Griffin is not known as being a dominant standup fighter, but his leg kicks chopped the legs of Rampage leading him to victory. Jardine’s Thai is not text book, and is often considered to be weird or unpolished. This may be the case but it is very effective. I promise you he will watch the Griffin fight and his game plan will include a regimen of leg kicks.
In the big scheme of things this is a lose/lose fight for Rampage. If he wins, he gets the title shot he deserves now. Everyone seems to agree that he should be fighting Rashad now. Due to circumstances out of his control, he has to prove himself against a dangerous Jardine. A loss drops him into the pit with up to 4 other fighters reaching for that title shot. That is a dangerous combination. A loss could be a terrible turn of events. If he suffers a loss to Jardine and then drops his next fight, he very well could be 3 or 4 fights out of a title shot. Again, a title shot that he deserves now! Rampage has had several problems in terms of his mental psyche. He may not be able to mentally handle the struggles that go with losing 2 in a row, something he has never done since turning pro.
Although this is not a title fight, it certainly has title implications. If Rampage wins he will get a title shot. It is not fair, but if Jardine wins he will more than likely be placed in a rematch with Forrest Griffin at a later date, with the winner getting a title shot. Lyoto Machida is the world’s biggest Jardine fan right now, and a Rampage loss catapults Machida into a title shot of his own. I will make my prediction at a later time, but if Jardine leaves his glass jaw at home, it will be a good one. Watch out for this upset alert!
Comments (13)
Get 1 Now
Get Free Gear
rampage!!!!
I’m really surprised that the odds are the way that they are. Jardine is +580, which is absurd.
I don’t think that he’s going to beat Jackson, but that’s a bet I’d take anyway. Drop down $10 to make almost $60? In a fight where both guys have such heavy hands, hell yeah I’d take that.
If Jardine wins, it’s hard to justify a title shot. At least Rampage only has one loss in recent memory. Jardine is 2-2 in his last four fights. I just don’t see how you can give him a title fight ahead of Machida, regardless of how much he finishes.
That is why this fight makes no sense. The only possible legitimacy is the money factor and fans love Rampage…
Rampage is a trip. He’s always entertaining. I know why they put this fight together, because they’re both crazy, charismatic guys who make exciting fights.
It’s just not going to codify Jardine’s legitimacy, because of his losses. And, in that sense, it doesn’t help Rampage as much as beating Machida would. All he’s done, if he beats Jardine, is prove that he’s up there with UFC legends like Houston Alexander.
Houston Alexander..Legend…WOW
That was sarcasm, in case someone missed it.
Didn’t catch it..for some reason I assumed you were talking about his amazing jits game!
No one can compete with Alexander’s magic on the ground.
Magic is one word for it…..
where the hell did you find those odds Josh? I’m ready to place a bet.
MMAPlayground, but it’s not a cash fight site. They used to get their odds from Vegas lines, I’m not sure if they still do.
Nope…I was frantic looking for those odds…Worth 44.95 to bet on Jardine when I can just go to a bar to watch the fights instead of getting em at home…Odds are +240 though…nowhere near as good.
As for the fight, I like to think of it as UFC’s punishment to Rampage for his rampage. Not giving him a title shot would make fans question them. And doing nothing about his legal issues makes them seem soft. Making him fight the inconsistent, lethal, dangerous fighter before he gets his shot, is genius. If Jardine shows up to fight, well then Rampage will have to prove he is a champ before his shot. If Jardine doesn’t show up to fight, Rampage will have another highlight to add to his reel before his title fight.
^Curtis, while I think Jardine definitely has a chance, I am 100% sure that Rampage’s camp is aware of his performance against Griffin, particularly his susceptibility to leg kicks. There’s no way they are not going to address that especially when you consider the height advantage that both Griffin and Jardine have over Quinton Jackson.
^Josh, Jardine and Jackson both have heavy hands. Jackson has a very strong chin, Jardine not so much.
Yeah I think it should be Evans-Jackson for the title instead of Jardine-Jackson but Jardine is a very formidable opponent. Why not? This is far from a automatic victory for Jackson. Jardine defeating Jackson via decision, submission is not an upset. A TKO, KO victory is an upset.
I really think that Joe Silva and Dana White realizes how interchangeable the LHW title is. Liddell can possibly return the favor and put Evans to sleep. Griffin can use his range, elbows and work ethic to beat Jackson again. Rua can possibly sub Evans, beat Griffin via TKO-ground and pount. Machida? We’ll see. I really think Jardine-Liddell and Jackson-Griffin really demonstrates who the real champion of the LHW division is.
A,B,C and D, all of the above.