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.
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