Rampage Jackson says he is done fighting
Rampage posted a blog earlier today on his website. It’s rather shocking and comes out of nowhere.
The UFC has done a lot for me but I think I have done more for them. The UFC bought WFA to get my contract & they saved my life, so I felt loyal to them. They pushed me into a fight with Chuck Liddel even when I clearly stated I wasn’t ready to fight for the belt because the American fans didn’t know me but I took the fight and didn’t complain & after I won the American fans booed me for the first time which changed the way I saw them & it hurt me deeply.
Then before I can even get out of the cage they announced that I was fighting Dan Henderson without even asking me. After I beat Dan Henderson, I made history in becoming the first undisputed champion in MMA but was never even given the pride belt in the cage & I was never promoted as the undisputed champ. Later Anderson Silva was.
Then they had me coach TUF season 7 and fight Forrest and the fight was very controversial & normally when a fight is that close & controversial there is normally an instant replay. I can name a couple of instances. Instead they offered me the Vanderlei Silva fight which I gladly accepted even though I know it was a very risky fight for me to take because of all the drama that was happening to me at the time. I fought that fight with a jaw injury and then a couple weeks later Dana called me and asked me to fight Rashad. For the first time I said no, I didn’t want to fight because it was such short notice & I wouldn’t have had a long break between camp. Dana talked me into fighting Rashad anyway but Rashad refused the fight and so I had to fight Jardine as a favor to the UFC instead of getting my belt back (which wasn’t even worth it to me financially).
Then I reinjured my jaw in the fight with Vanderlei & Jardine. Frank Mir gets hurt so they wanted to switch my fight from UFC 100 to the fight Frank couldn’t make it to but I couldn’t fight cause I needed jaw surgury. So they give Machida the fight against Rashad & they told me they want me to coach TUF season 10 against Rashad. That’s why I wanted Rashad to win so bad but when Rashad got knocked out I told them I wanted to fight Machida for the belt but Dana told me if I coach TUF against Rashad that I could fight Machida afterwards cause this was a different type of ultimate fighter show they were doing. After I signed the contract Dana then changes his mind & says I have to fight Rashad & even told me what to say in the press & so my fans think I was scared to fight Machida. After all that I still never complained & I did it all.
Then this movie role came about that I have been trying to get for over a year & as soon as I found out I was close to getting it, I called Dana right away & asked to push the Memphis fight back just a month or so. I told him what this movie role meant to me. I told him that I used to bond with my father watching the tv show as a kid when my parents where still married & it represents the memories I had with my father when we lived together. My dad became an alcohalic & addicted to drugs & we grew apart. But after my dad got his life back together, I was so proud of my dad & I told him I would always take care of him in the future & make him proud of me. My dad & I are still very big fans of the show & I am basically doing this for the childhood memories I had spending time in front of the tv with my dad. Dana went on the internet & mocked me because of that & I still did nothing. Dana & I finally talked & we made up & then after that he went back on the internet & said some bullshit & he was talking bad about the movie when information is not even supposed to be released & talking about payments which is not even true could really hurt my future acting career, which could very well last longer than my fighting career. I’m not like Randy Couture. My body has been getting so many different injuries that I wont be able to fight until my forties & neither do I want to fight that long. So I feel like my second career could be in jeopardy.. so I’m done fighting. I’ve been getting negative reviews from the dumb ass fans that don’t pay my bills or put my kids though college. So I’m hanging it up. I’m gonna miss all my loyal fans but hopefully they’ll follow me to my new career & I will gain more loyal fans along the way. & all you hater fans out there can kiss my big black hairy ass! & anybody that don’t like what I just said can come try to kick my ass!
I still feel the UFC is a great organization and I felt like I was very loyal to them but they didn’t respect my loyalty but I wish the UFC the best. I did a lot of things for them. I wish no bad blood between us but I have kids & a family back in Memphis to provide for & thats all that matters to me!
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
Much respect Rampage………I always thought you were a great fighter. I hate to see you go before you could fight Rashad or Machida, but I understand about family. They come first period! Jobs, careers and all that come and go………family is for life. Props out bro!!!!
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 am
Good for you Mr.Jackson. I hope you stick to your family responsibilities and become a roll model for other young men.
Providing security for your family is where its at.
Van
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 am
WAAAHHHH, Im Rampage, WAAAHHHH
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
Rampage. i think youre one of This eras GREATEST. and no matter how much it kills to even think about you not fighting again. i see where youre coming from. the UFC thinks youre there workhorse it seems, and thats bullshit. they need to treat you as a HUMAN, not just a BEAST. lol, well good luck in life bro. dont think this means i forgot about you tho. ill be following youre acting carreer. Hope all works out for you man. you inspired me to start training. so for that i can NEER thank you enough.
best wishes in life.
-RoMpStA-
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
this sucks I’m a huge Rampage fan.I hope you change your mind and come back.I still believe you can and will be champ at the 205 weight.Prob if you loose some of your big black ass 185 as well.I hope Rampage makes millions off the A-Team but hurry the hell back he is by-far the most entertaining fighter the ufc has or had
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Rampage,
I have always been a fan of yours. When you getting ready to fight Chuck and said “I’m gonna kick Chuck’s ass” I immediately became a fan for life. Don’t get me wrong, I have always liked Chuck also. You just seemed like a great guy.
Whatever you decide to do with your carreer is your decision and although we’ll all miss seeing your fights, I will always be a huge fan.
Best of luck in everything.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Rampagae, you’re a hell of a fighter and one funny dude, and I’m sure you’ll have an acting career when all is said and done. However, the way you’re going about this dispute really appears childish. Everyone knows Dana White talks a whole lot of garbage at times, but UFC fans just want to see good fights, bottom line. If you want to act, fine, but don’t use past excuses and grievances to justify your departure. Dana didn’t have to stick by you when you ran from the cops and got into a whole lot of trouble, but he did. To say you’ve been mistreated after all this time, just sounds like a whole lot of boo-hoo. But I guess your skills were diminishing and you were scared of Rashad. Plus, you really weren’t the best coach imo….guess it was time to look for other career opportunities. Just wish you could have fulfilled your obligations to the fans, who are the ones that made you who you are today. A disappointing day for this Rampage fan…
September 24th, 2009 at 2:59 am
Thanks ‘Page for all those years entertaining and inspiring us. You’re the only fighter that’s just as entertaining outside of the octagon as inside. No other fighter carries the same entertainment value you possess in front of the camera. I know it’ll help your career after UFC. It would’ve been great to see you whoop Lyoto and ‘Shad, then retire. But you’re doing what’s best for you and your family. That’s all that matters. It’s time for more fighters to stand up to Dana White and UFC. Hopefully this means athletes will be better compensated for all the beating they take. REALLY looking forward to the movie!
September 24th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Fuck Dana White and GOD BLESS YOU and your FAMILY!
September 24th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I have watched you since the Pride days and followed you to UFC. I have to say, it felt real good to see you beat Wanderlei. I can’t wait to see A-Team. Good luck in all that you do.
September 24th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Rampage, I don’t know who the people are that are talking shit about you but everyone I know thinks you’re the shit. The UFC is fucking up by not taking really good care of you, the first and only truly funny, charismatic, always entertaining murderous fighter they’ve ever had. You are great for UFC sales. Wait on the movies, you should do some stand up comedy for a bit. Either way, if you’re in it, I’ll pay to watch it: Fights, movies and… comedy? Go get em dude.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Rampage. Your fights are always awesome. Your Youtube movies and pre-/post-fight interviews are funny as hell. I hope any movie you have a role in is a huge success. I wish you and your family the best.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
THATS RIGHT!!!! HELL YEAH RAMPAGE!!!! SHOW THE WORLD THAT FAMILY COMES FIRST. THATS THE WAY GOD INTENDED IT TO BE. YOU’LL BE A SUCCESSFUL ACTOR.
September 26th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Family first!!!
You did the right thing. Dana is arrogant and sees everything through money. To him loyalty is only worth it if you fight for him, make UFC get bigger, where he takes the bigger purse of the deal.
All the best in your future life I hope you will make same success as you did being a fighter.
Take care.
Robert
September 27th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Hail Rampage.
He’s the most awesome guy ever, Dana is such a douchebag. -.-
September 27th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Much respect to Rampage I would really like to see him fight more, but I can see his disappointment in Dana White. See Dana has a problem, his lips most times just can’t stop running, and he will eventually see it’s going to hurt the sport and the UFC. Rampage fight until your contract is over and fight for Strikeforce/Dream since they have a co-promotion now.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
I’m the biggest pile of shit in the world and I wish I half as decent of a human being as rampage. I’m losing big bucks because I think I can control everyone while disregarding any of their emotions or needs besides financial ones. I suck balls.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
My nigga do what you do!! The big homey doin’ for his Pops and that’s as real as it gets… How many times have you heard a black celeb say they doin’ sumpin because of their father? NOT NEVER! We ride for RAMPAGE!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Rampage, I think you are a great guy. I toldilie understand, I went 17teen yrs. without seeing my dad an when it came time to see him a yr. before he died I doped everything moved from Idaho to Ohio just so I could see him for that year. Yes I quit my job an moved.I would do it again.I think you should keep training get your boxing skills up to par an come back to fight Rashad.Just to prove to yourself an all the doubters!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 am
I never liked Rampage. Never cared for the howling thing. Looked to much like WWF crap, just like Lesner (I hate that dude).
BUT, I do think the UFC views their fighters as a commodity. There is no personal care for thier fighters, just how much money they can make. Rampage go do your thing bro. I like you now, but you aren’t a good coach. (I know you say that yourself). Too much play time with no support, at least that is what is televised. If Dana will take back Tito, you’ll have a home again if you need it someday. Hopefully your new career takes off!!. Lat.
December 25th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Dana White is a user. He under pays his fighters and acts like hes bigger then the sport of MMA. Ultimate Fighter has been around way before White and will be long after hes gone. He down plays how important fighters are to the organization and the fans.