"Rampage" Jackson retirement talk won't last

There is a well known saying throughout the sporting landscape that deals with important decisions: Don't make them emotionally.

Or something like that.

I don't know but what I do know is that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's decision to "retire" from the MMA via a post on his website at a time when a lot of heated discussion surrounding his participation in the "A-Team" remake movie seems pretty emotional to me.

Sure, my writing this column with the side that I have taken also has to do with emotion considering Jackson is my favorite fighter. The thing is at 31, Jackson just isn't ready to retire as a fighter.

He's a born fighter. Plain and simple, fighting is in his blood. Since growing up on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee as the youngest of 15 children, Jackson has had to fight for everything that he has earned in his life. He doesn't know anything different. He can't.

Earlier this week Jackson made a very important decision based completely on emotion. He has been called out by the likes of Dana White and nearly every MMA fan that frequents the blog sites and doesn't know anything. For a man who revolves around his ego, the way he is perceived, it was very emotional for him to be essentially disrespected.

So what did he do? He responded in an emotional way. He gave everyone something they didn't want to hear because nobody wants to see one of the best light heavyweight fighters to fight in the sport's short history. Not to mention at 31, the former UFC champion is still very much in his prime. Seeing him hang up the gloves would be an unwelcome sight to everyone.

My bet is by November, when his filming of the "A-Team" is over, "Rampage" will be clamoring to fight his nemesis Rashad Evans. Shortly followed by a great urge to get his title back.

Because Rampage is a fighter.

Previewing UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort

This Saturday night won't be for the faint of heart but rather the enduring fight fans around the country as boxing and MMA go head-to-head with some of the very best their sport has to offer. Two big fights, one night, who will emerge victorious?

The UFC presents its 103rd PPV broadcast with "Franklin vs. Belfort", a catchweight bout at 195 lbs which is now being challenged by Floyd Mayweather who decided to take on the UFC and Juan Marquez on the same night. A dubious task that only the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in boxing would try to shoulder.

Regardless of what ensues, it will be an interesting night but I am here to break down the 103 card so let's get into it.

It seems that with every hole in its pay-per-view scheduling, the UFC turns to middleweight, no light heavyweight, no catchweight, no seriously light heavyweight, ok so maybe a catchweight fighter Rich "Ace" Franklin to fill the void. Since succumbing to a second brutal defeat at the hands of middleweight king Anderson Silva, Franklin has bounced around in weight fighting everywhere from 185 lbs to 205 lbs and in between (195 lbs).

He fought and lost to Dan Henderson in January at 205 lbs, then filled a void for the UFC in June on its Cologne, Germany excursion facing middleweight Wanderlei Silva at a 195 lb catchweight (won decision) which made little sense for either fighter.

So when the UFC faced yet another main event hole for its mid-September card to take place in Dallas, Texas who else did they turn to but Franklin? Originally the plan was for Franklin to do battle with Henderson for a second time at 205 but as this fight made little sense the first time, it made far less for a second time in less than a year to the vast majority of fans so the UFC signed Vitor Belfort when Affliction folded up shop and immediately made the swap.

Although intriguing as a pure fight goes, the Franklin/Belfort main event fight at 195 lbs does little to inspire interest in divisional ramifications. When the fight is over, win or lose both fighters are going their separate ways -- Franklin back to light heavyweight's weight class of 205 lbs (barring a sudden miracle creation of a 195 lb weight class by the UFC) and Belfort to middleweight's 185 lbs.

Both fighters are no doubt talented and top contenders, but fighting outside of their weight classes doesn't really say much about where they are in their division so ramifications of a win or loss are hard to judge.

At the end of the day though, fans want to see great fights and this could certainly be one. However, for a fighter it can be rather difficult to continually wage battles that do little to further one's career except in the bank account. Perhaps Franklin at his age has decided it's best for him to fight the big money fights than to chase a belt that he most likely is unable to attain?

The 103 fight card has mostly flown under the radar, but it is much more solid in this writer's opinion than that of the two previous (102 and 101).

A heavyweight tilt between Junior Dos Santos (8-1), 25, and Mirko "Cro Cop" (25-6-2), 35, is getting second billing but two welterweight showdowns between Martin Kampmann (15-2) Paul "Semtex" Daley (21-8-2) and Josh Koscheck (14-4) versus Frank Trigg (19-6) look appetizing as well. Then there is a very interesting lightweight match between Hermes Franca (20-7) and Tyson Griffin (13-2).

The event will also mark the first time the UFC will air a portion of its preliminary pay-per-view fights on free television courtesy of Spike TV. Two fights are guaranteed to air in the 6 - 7 pm time slot: Drew McFedries vs. Tomasz Drwal (185 lbs) and Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller (155 lbs).

Picks: I like Koscheck's youth and wrestling prowess to help him prevail over Trigg in an unanimous decision; Franca's power to be too much for Griffin's solid but non-lethal attack to endure (3rd rd TKO); Kampmann to prove to be too experienced for the replacement Daley (2nd rd submission); Dos Santos to prove to be the real deal in brutal KO fashion over an over-the-hill "Cro Cop" who will be sent packing by Monday; and Vitor Belfort to stun many a Rich Franklin fan by storming the former middleweight champ with a barrage of punches, knees and elbows in the 3rd and final round to score a TKO stoppage.

The dilemma that is Roger Huerta

UFC lightweight fighter Roger Huerta makes his return to the Octagon on Wednesday night as he takes on Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 19.

Huerta, 26, was last seen dropping a decision to Kenny Florian at UFC 87: Seek and Destroy last August. Since then Huerta (22-2-1) has reportedly been working on an acting career while healing a beat-up, worn down body. He also recently turned down a five fight contract extension in January from the UFC.

On Wednesday, September 16th, Huerta makes his return to fulfill the last fight on his UFC contract but the question that man analysts and fans alike have on their minds is where is his head at entering a such a big fight?

It would be easy to believe -- if not understand -- that Huerta wouldn't be devoting too much of his time and energy to a final fight, essentially a "lameduck" fight if you will. Without any guarantee that he will return to the UFC, let alone if he even wants to continue his fighting career, there's essentially no reason for him to want to do well except personal pride. A win doesn't position him better for a title shot nor will it put him in better standing to get an improved contract from Dana White and the UFC brass.

So unless Huerta has thoughts about continuing a fighting career that was once so promising, could we possibly be watching a fight on Wednesday that is, for all tense and purposes, already over?

If so, Huerta isn't acting like it. From Sherdog:

“I had an amazing camp. I isolated myself from the world from TV, Internet, you name it. I’m back up to Minnesota training with my mentor Dave Menne. He just brought in phenomenal athletes to help me prepare for a great opponent like Gray because Gray has phenomenal wrestling, but not only that, he has evolved so well in the sport. His striking looked great against Jim Miller. Obviously his wrestling is spectacular. Gray deserves that attention. He deserves all of my attention and that’s all I set my mind on, is Gray Maynard, putting myself in situations mentally where I know how to scramble out, how to get in top position, or if he throws a right cross or a jab and how to counter. How to move. How to cut angles. The guys have put me in all different situations where we pretty much prepared in every way for Gray. To be a person like myself who leaves everything out in the Octagon, the time off was good. I was able to heal some old injuries so I’m able to perform the way I’ve always performed, which is leaving everything in there. With that said, I don’t think I’ll have any cage rust or ring rust.”

So if we are to believe Huerta, that he has been training hard and focusing all of his energy on beating a very tough lightweight fighter in Maynard (7-0), then we should be in for a treat tomorrow night on Spike.

Here's what I think is the deal in this unique situation. I think Huerta is a true professional and sees this final fight as an opportunity to prove his worth not only to himself and all of his camp that devotes so much of their time to helping him, but as well as to his fans and the UFC.

I also think Huerta is a true competitor who wants to beat Maynard just because he whole-heartedly believes he can. I think he wants to give it 110% in that cage because every fighter this side of Kalib Starnes doesn't know how to give anything less. And finally, I also think that deep down Huerta knows he's a fighter and will in a few short years be right back to the profession that gave him the opportunity to branch out in his career.

Tomorrow night, turn on Spike to watch Roger Huerta in his farewell fight, that is until he returns from his hiatus.

Dan Henderson on future, UFC deal

From MMAFanhouse:

“I’m holding firm for what I think I deserve. I think I’ve earned that…. If they sign me I’ll fight who they want me to fight. Even if I get Silva now, after I beat him Marquardt would be the top contender, so I’d have to fight him next. Beat him now or beat him later, it doesn’t matter. I’ll have to fight [Nate] Marquardt eventually…. If I was the UFC I wouldn’t waste a fight between [me and Marquardt]. If they want challengers for the middleweight belt they shouldn’t want one of us to beat the other…. It all depends on Anderson Silva,” Henderson said. “If he’s not going to fight until April, I don’t want to wait that long. But I’ll do what I have to do to fight him…. I’m getting in shape like I’m going to fight,” Henderson said. “I want to stay in the UFC.

Former and now current UFC middleweight No. 1 contender, Dan Henderson, addresses the issues currently facing him including contract status and possible fight against Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.

It has been rumored recently that the highly debated No. 1 contender fight between Henderson and fellow middleweight contender Nate Marquardt would take place, perhaps as soon as at UFC 105 in mid November as the main event on that card.

Well, just as Henderson comments here, that fight makes little to no sense even if Silva does indeed need some time off to heal an elbow injury. Despite previous reports circulating the web recently, Silva's manager has denied his fighter having elbow surgery to ESPN's MMA blogger Jake Rossen.

To me, this whole Middleweight situation is attempting to be dictated by Ed Soares, Silva's manager. He believes that Silva shouldn't be required ultimately to defend his title against both Henderson and Marquardt when he has already beat both in the past.

What Soares and Silva need to understand is both have improved since the last time they contended for the title, Marquardt in particular. Whereas Henderson has always been right at the top of the heap in the 185 pack as a former champion (in Pride), Marquardt has continually impressed with each successive fight by simply getting better.

Whereas Henderson is banking on the experience of fighting Silva already to pull off the upset, Marquardt can point to being markedly improved since their fight in July 2007.

It doesn't make sense to risk both contenders in an "eliminator" match when you can have both fight for the belt in a division that has historically been starving for contenders. Let's face it, an "eliminator" bout is thusly named for a reason -- it eliminates one contender if not both. The fighters could get injured, they could look bad, etc. It does nothing to promote the division, to promote the belt.

Henderson isn't going anywhere. He will remain in the UFC because that is the only place for him, period. Props to him, though, for holding out for the fight that makes sense and money he deserves.

"A-Team" filming to scratch "Rampage" Jackson from UFC 107 card

It appears scheduling conflicts will postpone the heated grudge match between light heavyweights Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-7) and Rashad Evans (18-1-1) at UFC 107 on December 12th.

Jackson, 31, recently landed the role as B.A. Baracus in the upcoming "A-Team" remake and will soon begin shooting according to the Vancouver Sun. The six-week film shooting schedule will apparently hamper Jackson's ability to put in a solid camp in time for the December 12th, UFC 107 date with Evans which was set to take place in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion will oppose Evans , 29, as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 10 set to air on Spike beginning on September 16th. The two will be coaching two teams of eight prospective heavyweight fighters for the UFC which includes Kimbo Slice and three former NFL players.

It has been a rough year filled with scheduling conflicts for Jackson. Ever since exacting revenge upon his nemesis Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 back in December, "Rampage" has seen his title shot get put off because Evans wasn't ready and then put off again because Evans couldn't beat Lyoto Machida.

It will also mark the second time this year, "Rampage" has now chosen to put off fighting for the big screen. Instead of taking on a guaranteed title fight with new Light Heavyweight Champion Machida, Jackson opted to coach alongside the former champion Rashad Evans on TUF season 10. Now despite begging for an opportunity to fight in his hometown, he will pass in favor of more training camp time.

With a six week film schedule, "Rampage" should be free to return to training at his Wolf's Lair camp in England by mid-October. This would give him roughly an eight week camp to train, seven at the worst, for the fight with Evans. I guess that's just not good enough for the Memphis native.

The postponement shouldn't go longer than a few weeks, with the fight taking place sometime in early January 2010 in Las Vegas on the UFC's annual Christmas/New Year's show.

Let's hope 2010 brings more of Jackson in the Octagon and less behind the camera.

"Minotauro" Noguiera would like re-match Frank Mir at UFC 107

Move over Cheick Kongo says, Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Noguiera after taking a unanimous decision win against Randy Couture last weekend at UFC 102. Now "Minotauro" would like to re-match Frank Mir at UFC 107 (where Mir is set to face Kongo) to redeem himself after being knocked out for the first and only time in his illustrious career at UFC 92 last December.

"Minotauro" Noguiera:

"If I was making excuses, I would have been making excuses right after the fight. I’m not making excuses, I’m giving you a reason…. If Mir feels it’s an excuse, then lets get in the Octagon and see whether it’s an excuse or a reason in December and settle it. I’d love to fight Frank Mir at UFC 107."

I'm sure you would love to face Mir at UFC 107 there Big Nog. Sadly Mir is set to face Kongo and has no reason to face you again at this time. Mir has already beaten Noguiera, why would he want to face re-match him so soon? It serves no purpose for the former Heavyweight Champ. Now if Noguiera were to earn himself another win and Mir were to lose to Kongo then that fight would make sense but right now it reeks of a desperate man trying to find a shortcut to the title.

Sorry, no takers here.

Paul "Semtex" Daley fills in for injured Mike Swick at UFC 103

According to reports first published by The Sun, UFC welterweight newcomer, Paul "Semtex" Daley, 26, will fill in for injured Mike Swick against fellow welterweight contender Martin Kampmann at UFC 103 on September 19th, in Dallas, TX.

Swick, 30, recently suffered a minor concussion in training and apparently will be unable to compete in two weeks against Kampmann, 26. The injury comes as a disappointment to fans and MMA analysts alike who had been anticipating the No. 1 contender showdown in the welterweight division as I'm sure it does to the entire Swick camp.

The winner was set to face Welterweight Champion and renowned No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the World, Georges St.-Pierre for the title. With so much on the line, it sure comes as a shock that a mere minor concussion is going to sideline Swick.

It is a disappointment, no doubt, but the show must go on as they say. Kampmann (15-2) will now face Daley and there is currently no word yet on whether a win for Daley will mean a title shot as well.

Rising British star, Daley will be making his UFC debut at 103. He previously fought in EliteXC before coming over to the UFC after the promotion folded. He had been scheduled to fight Brian Foster and there is no word yet on Foster's future opponent for the event.

Swick confirmed the news of his injury on his Twitter account. "I got foot swept while sparring this week and lost my legs.

"I landed on back of my head and neck and suffered a pretty bad concussion. I am out of UFC 103. It sucks and I am sorry guys..."

This news is terrible for Swick. He had a real legitimate shot at beating Kampmann and thus propel himself into a title fight with the dominant GSP and into the limelight. Now he's injured and forced to watch another fighter given the opportunity that he had from the sidelines. A Daley/Kampmann showdown looks a lot like the Kampmann/McFedries bout that took place in way back at UFC 68. Despite the amount of time between the fights, McFedries and Daley present a very similar skill set as well as challenges for the "Hit Man". Will Kampmann still be granted a title shot with a win over Daley? Or will Daley pull off the upset and earn himself a shot at GSP? Will GSP be sitting for longer than the UFC wants? We shall find out soon.

BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez scheduled for UFC 107

UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn's third title defense has been confirmed to be against Diego Sanchez and is scheduled for UFC 107 on Saturday, December 12th live from Memphis, TN according to Penn's website.

The bout had been rumored for some time, ever since Penn vanquished top lightweight contender Kenny Florian at UFC 101: Declaration at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Sanchez seemed to be the next in line and all that had to be done was to find a time and a place that worked for both parties. Apparently December 12th was that date.

Sanchez is fresh off two impressive wins in his first two fights since making the cut to 155 pounds from the welterweight division of 170 pounds. The first coming against Joe Stevenson, outpointing the former title challenger in January, and then "Nightmare" followed it up with another impressive unanimous decision win over Clay Guida in June.

"Nightmare" will be looking to do what no other fighter at 155 has done -- defeat BJ Penn. Penn looks to be re-dedicated in the sport and at his weight class since moving a portion of his training camp to California in the build-up for his fight against Florian. He has said he wants to cement his legacy in the sport, be the best lightweight and seems to be completely driven to do just that.

Will Penn (12-5-1) be able to slow down Sanchez (23-2) and continue his dominance at 155 or will Sanchez be able to do the unthinkable and dethrone Penn? We'll find out at UFC 107.

Also rumored to be on the 107 card is a Light Heavyweight No. 1 contender war between The Ultimate Fighter season 10 coaches Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans as well as a heavyweight tilt between Frank Mir and Cheick Kongo.

UFC should ignore thoughts of middleweight No. 1 contender eliminator match

Every now and then in life things will break easy, making one's decision a whole lot simpler. Do I date the beautiful girl with no personality or the beautiful girl with the personality? Gee, let me think.. Or how about joining the gym that charges $30 a month with every amenity you need plus modern equipment or the gym that charges $40 a month that's really just a weight room with no pool, sauna, aerobics, etc. and run down? Another no brainer.

Every now and then.

But sadly, every now and then happens perhaps every 100 decisions you're faced with which is why you should never make decisions harder than they have to be.

Which brings me to the current middleweight No. 1 contender dilemma facing Joe Silva, Dana White and the UFC. They have a very positive situation: two very good fighters in line for a shot at perhaps the best fighter to walk the face of this planet.

They can do one of two things: 1) have Anderson Silva face Dan Henderson in October or November and then have the winner fight Nate Marquardt or 2) have Henderson and Marquardt fight each other in November or December with the winner facing Silva sometime in early 2010 while Silva waits idly.

Let's take a closer look at these scenarios.

If the UFC does scenario uno, Silva will fight as soon as possible, perhaps even in October at UFC 104 which needs a solid No. 2 fight now that the Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez fight has been disbanded and the two title fights would certainly give it that. Also, the UFC allows each contender -- both Henderson and Marquardt -- the opportunity to fight for the belt within the next six months.

So the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter keeps busy, both No. 1 middleweight contenders get to fight for the belt and the UFC sells two legit middleweight title fights in the span of six months if not less.

I think it's clear that this scenario pretty good for all parties involved -- the fighters, the fans and the promotion as a whole.

Now let's analyze scenario dos. Here the UFC puts on a No. 1 contender fight for Silva's belt sometime at the end of the year. With Marquardt just removed from a quick dismantling of Damien Maia on Saturday at UFC 102, his most likely return date would be sometime in December, hypothetically.

The UFC would probably be able to market the Henderson/Marquardt showdown alongside a main event like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 107 and call it "The No. 1 contender special" or something similarly catchy.

In the meantime, Silva gets to work on his tan down in Brazil. As nice as that vacation would be, I don't think Silva really needs it nor would want it over a chance to get to do what he does best -- fight.

If all things went according to plan in this scenario, a winner would emerge triumphantly and unscathed by injuries ready for a title shot against the pound-for-pound king sometime around March of 2010. If, however, there is any sort of hiccup as there is known to be on occasion in MMA, this neat and tidy option could see a title fight pushed even farther back or both contenders fall depressingly on their faces due to poor performances.

This scenario could still be good for one fighter (the one who wins the eliminator match), some fans (the ones who believe their favorite fighter -- either Marquardt or Henderson -- will still get a title shot) and ok for the promotion since they are selling a nice No. 1 contender match as a co-main event.

Clearly, not the same win-win as scenario one is though.

Sometimes it's nice to make things neat and clean. But it's also nice to walk away when you're ahead instead of losing your bankroll by continuing to play.

Memo to Dana White and Joe Silva: Don't mess with something good. Two title fights are better than one.

Frank Mir dishes on UFC 102, loss to Lesnar at 100, Anderson Silva and Fedor

Arguably the most intelligent, well-spoken fighter in the sport, Frank Mir talks with Raw Vegas about his loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 100, fighting Anderson Silva and why Fedor should just quit.

Watch Frank Mir Says Fedor Should Retire, Go Home And Disappear on RawVegas.tv

Mir is scheduled to fight fellow top heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo at UFC 107 in December.