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Rampage declares: 'I'm gonna go to boxing'
Rampage Jackson has revealed he is planning a switch to boxing at the end of his UFC contract, following his humbling loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135.
Jackson, the former light-heavyweight champion, is nearing the end of his MMA career at 33 years of age. His loss to Jones, via fourth-round submission, will surely mark his last assault on a UFC title, although he is still expected to have a rematch - most likely with Forrest Griffin - early next year.
Rampage has long complained at the new generation of fighter, with tactics and ground expertise becoming a necessity as MMA continues to evolve. Jackson made his name with one-punch knockouts against the likes of Chuck Liddell and, later in his career, Wanderlei Silva, and he longs for more shootouts before he hangs up his gloves.
Against Jones, Rampage wound up frustrated after the champion consistently used excellent head movement to stay out of Jackson's range, so now Rampage wants to move to boxing, where the ground the game is no longer a factor.
"I hate fighting people who are scared," Jackson told the ESPN UFC Podcast. "When you fight somebody who is scared you never know what they're going to do. They turn and run.
"That's why I'm gonna go to boxing. I'm gonna try boxing because they've got to stand with you. If I get knocked out I don't care because at least it's a fight.
"I've tried a lot of boxing, I'm falling in love with boxing and I know I can put butts on seats over there."
Rampage's immediate future will remain in the UFC though, with the February trip to Japan a likely next destination. The former champion initially called out Mauricio Shogun Rua, but with the Brazilian scheduled to take on Dan Henderson, Griffin would seem the most obvious option. ESPN
Rampage Jackson has revealed he is planning a switch to boxing at the end of his UFC contract, following his humbling loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135.
Jackson, the former light-heavyweight champion, is nearing the end of his MMA career at 33 years of age. His loss to Jones, via fourth-round submission, will surely mark his last assault on a UFC title, although he is still expected to have a rematch - most likely with Forrest Griffin - early next year.
Rampage has long complained at the new generation of fighter, with tactics and ground expertise becoming a necessity as MMA continues to evolve. Jackson made his name with one-punch knockouts against the likes of Chuck Liddell and, later in his career, Wanderlei Silva, and he longs for more shootouts before he hangs up his gloves.
Against Jones, Rampage wound up frustrated after the champion consistently used excellent head movement to stay out of Jackson's range, so now Rampage wants to move to boxing, where the ground the game is no longer a factor.
"I hate fighting people who are scared," Jackson told the ESPN UFC Podcast. "When you fight somebody who is scared you never know what they're going to do. They turn and run.
"That's why I'm gonna go to boxing. I'm gonna try boxing because they've got to stand with you. If I get knocked out I don't care because at least it's a fight.
"I've tried a lot of boxing, I'm falling in love with boxing and I know I can put butts on seats over there."
Rampage's immediate future will remain in the UFC though, with the February trip to Japan a likely next destination. The former champion initially called out Mauricio Shogun Rua, but with the Brazilian scheduled to take on Dan Henderson, Griffin would seem the most obvious option. ESPN
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