Say it ain’ t so, Rampage! According to his personal website, rampage-jackson.com, Quinton Jackson retired yesterday from fighting for good. He cites the lack of respect he receives from Dana White as well as his personal agenda of being a successful actor as his reasons for the decision. While most of us knew of the small rift in the relationship between Jackson and White over the last few weeks, this was truly a bombshell to all of us.

It started weeks ago when Jackson accepted the role of B.A. Baracus for The A-Team movie that caused him to cancel his pending fight against Rashad Evans. This movie has been works since the mid-1990′ s. Joe Carnahan is on-tap to direct with Ridley Scott producing. The cast is stacked and consists of Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, and Jessica Biel. 20th Century Fox is going to distribute the film. In a nutshell, this is no small, independent film that is a guaranteed flop. The role of B.A. Baracus is what catapulted Mr. T into the big name that he is today. This appears to be a strong, formidable film and an excellent opportunity for Jackson to cement himself as an actor. This is a chance of a lifetime.

Isn’ t fighting in the UFC a chance of a lifetime as well, however? It’ s the signature mixed-martial arts company in the world. It’ s where the best-of-the-best square off monthly and make the most money. It’ s the company that fans talk about by the water cooler. It’ s the logo that adorns clothing of men and women of all ages. When people think MMA, they think UFC. So why is it that fighters seem to come and go from there so quickly?

For Rampage, it was the appeal of being a movie star. In his blog, Rampage mentioned how he and his father used to bond together while watching The A-Team when he was a kid. Jackson mentioned how his dad had a drug and alcohol problem that put a strain on their relationship. His dad has since gone to rehab and overcome those issues. This makes this role even more sentimental to him and his family. Dana White’ s response to Rampage pulling out of his fight with Rashad to accept this role was startling.

“Guess what Rashad Evans is thinking about right now,” Dana quipped. “He’ s thinking about beating your f*cking ass. He’ s not sitting around thinking about how he and his mom used to watch the f*cking Love Boat together and he wants to get the role of Isaac the bartender.”

While it’ s probably accurate that Rashad is not sitting around thinking about the Love Boat, Rashad was under the impression that the fight would still go on. “I am going to fight Quinton, but not when I’ m supposed to. He’ s kind of getting sidetracked taking other opportunities above fighting….If it couldn’ t happen at all, I would definitely want to fight somebody else, but I know the UFC definitely has a lot invested in us fighting each other. It makes no sense for us to fight somebody else because then all that they have created is just a waste.”

Rampage remained quiet through all of this. Dana, however, would have none of that. “I’ m so mad at Rampage over this. Rampage is a guy that we’ ve obviously taken under our wings the last couple of years. We really like him and done a lot of good things for him. For him to do this to me, and pull out for this goofy A-Team movie, I’ m not happy at all. They’ re not paying him jack. He’ s giving up literally millions of dollars to play Mr. T. If you think he’ s gonna go in and say ‘I pity the fool’ and he’ s gonna become a huge, serious actor off that role, give me a friggin’ break. They got him thinking that they’re going to make this movie for nothing, and then the sequel he’ll make $20 million.” Dana then joked, “I’ll pay [Jackson] nothing to fight Rashad, and then give him $20 million for the rematch.”

Dana White has obtained the reputation of being a loud-mouth, cocky, pull-no-punches person. He’ s been known to bad-mouth his own employees for years. It’ s the way he works. He trashed Brock Lesnar before Lesnar signed with the UFC. He’ s trashed Couture, Cro Cop, Ortiz, and his newest employee, Kimbo Slice. It’ s just the way he works. People put up with it because he’ s where the money is. It’ s like comparing Vince McMahon to Dixie Carter. There is extra baggage and criticism that comes with working for McMahon; however, he is where the big money is.

Now that Rampage has retired, it has the potential to change many things for the UFC. For starters, more UFC fighters will venture out of fighting to pursue other entertainment avenues. As UFC gains in popularity and continues to obtain mainstream coverage, it’ s going to get more and more difficult to keep their fighters on any sort of schedule. Would any of us have ever though 5 years ago that Chuck Liddell would be a contestant on a nationally televised, top-rated ballroom dancing show? Rampage is full of charisma and there are many other fighters who would be appealing in a different role. Even the big money in the WWE couldn’ t keep people like the Rock or Steve Austin in the squared circle.

Second, MMA is growing so fast. Teenagers are now growing up wanting to me mixed-martial artists. Young adults are training for MMA away from their day jobs. People are retiring from their jobs and taking up MMA. See Walker, Herschel or Mayorga, Ricardo. This growth is going to spawn the need for a real rival MMA organization for the UFC. EliteXC bombed. Affliction folded. Strikeforce is currently the only hope to be that competition. Having another large company will hopefully change Dana White. Once these top-notch fighters have a legit second option that provides the same money and exposure, Dana White will think twice about mocking a guy who wants to take a movie role that reminds him of his father. Dana White will be forced to give a negative interview about a guy without dropping the F-bomb 15 times in a 10 word sentence. Dana White might need to be….professional.

It’ s time that Dana White starts understanding that it’ s these fighters who make him money. It’ s these fighters who have gotten the UFC to where it is. Fighters like Shamrock, Gracie, Severn, Liddell, Couture, Griffin, ect. Those are the names that put MMA in the mainstream. Those are the names that helped the UFC sell millions of pay-per-views and have a weekly show on national TV. Until Dana White learns to treat his fighters like human beings, he’ s going to continue having this problem where guys are turning their backs on the UFC, fighting other places or accepting different roles. Maybe it’ s just going to take that one guy to clock him, a la Bret Hart/Vince McMahon.

This entire situation will have a long-lasting effect on the future of the UFC, its athletes, and its competition. MMA will not pay the bills for these fighters years after their fighting days are over. This is no union. There is no pension. They’ re on their own. These guys need to do what they have to do to continue making a living. They don’ t make the big money like boxers. A UFC main-eventer may bring in $500,000. Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather fights for the first time in years and makes $10-million. If I were Dana White, I’ d learn to become a professional, graceful owner of a massive, multi-million dollar organization before these fighters take down his company faster then they built it.

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Former UFC champion Quinton Rampage Jackson has retired. In a statement on his website, Rampage said that he is “done fighting.” Rampage has had enough of UFC president’s Dana White’s “disrespect” and recent insults. Jackson plans to pursue a full time movie career.

Dana White may be the smartest man in sports entertainment, but he is also the most immature. Quite honestly, White treats his fighter liked a bitter ex-girlfriend whenever one of them makes him angry. White will insult and rip apart his own fighters weeks before they are scheduled to fight for UFC. Apparently Rampage wasn’t amused like reporters when White described his frustrations with Jackson as, “You can’t fight stupid.”

Jackson made the statement earlier today on his website. Jackson cites several reasons behind his decision. The overriding factors here are his feelings that he has been disrespected by Dana White and UFC. In addition to White’s comments, Jackson also cites several opportunities where he felt lied or misled by UFC. According to Jackson, there is more behind his recent decision to drop out of the fight with Rashad Evans than we were told.

In Jackson’s own words from his website…
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!

From Jackson’s perspective, it sounds like he has been jerked around since day one. Jackson is not entirely at innocent here. For one, he could have always said no if he wasn’t comfortable with anything. Number two, Jackson has been a huge headache for the UFC over the last year. Between getting arrested and humping a reporter, Jackson has not exactly been a model citizen. To Dana White’s credit, he has stuck by his fighter through the dark times. By all rights, he probably should have been fired after humping the reporter.

So there you have it. It just goes to show you that there are two sides to every story. On the surface, it looks like everyone is wrong here. Dana White is wrong for bringing up finances and making a mockery out of his fighter. Jackson is wrong for dropping out of a fight after committing to the TUF gig. At 31, Jackson is still young in the fight game and can come back at top form if he desires. My gut feeling is that when cooler heads prevail, Jackson will fight again.

The news comes at a very strange time for the UFC. In one week it is conceivable that the UFC will lose three fighters to retirement. Following their losses at UFC 103, Mirko Cro Cop and Frank Trigg have started talking retirement. Obviously Jackson is the bigger name here of the bunch. Nonetheless, those are three familiar faces to MMA fans that likely won’t be around the UFC for awhile if ever again.

Thanks to MMAJunkie.com for the tip!

Rampage talks acting and then acts like a sex maniac

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Even Quinton Jackson’s biggest UFC fans have to be disgusted. Rampage Jackson has reportedly backed out of his upcoming match with Rashad Evans. The coaches of the Ultimate Fighter 10 were scheduled to fight at UFC 107. Jackson’s role in the A Team movie will make him unavailable for the fight. Could this be the end of Rampage Jackson in the UFC and what’s next for Evans?

I am not surprised one bit by this news. The first thing I thought of when I read that Jackson got Mr. T’s part on the A Team was this fight. Surely they weren’t going to sign an unproven actor and wait out his fight schedule. Sadly, I am right and the fight looks like it is off. Surely Jackson knew that the fight would be compromised if he was going to take the part in the A Team movie. It makes you wonder how seriously he was taking the fight in the first place. To his credit, Rampage has publicly talked about getting into acting. As a matter of a fact, Rampage went from talking to acting to humping a reporter in one interview this summer.

Dana White must have been thinking the same thing. White was livid at Jackson when he heard the news about Rampage’s new movie career. “What is Quinton thinking?” asked White, “That Rashad and his mother are sitting at home watching the “Love Boat” and Rashad wants to play Isaac?” - Headlineplanet.com.

White went further, I hate it with a [censored] passion,” said White of fighters who show interest in movie roles. “You’re a fighter; you’re not a movie star. It’s so [censored] funny because fighters want to be movie stars, and movie stars want to act like they’re fighters. Get a [censored] grip. You’re a fighter, and you’re a [censored] movie star. Alright?” I couldn’t agree with him more.

The timing of this all is completely bizarre. Jackson passed up a UFC light heavyweight title fight with Lyoto Machida to take this fight. Jackson and Evans also coached against one another in the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter show to promote the fight. Jackson has been trash talking Evans for the last two months. The two even had a confrontation in the crowd at UFC 100 which was ironically posted on Dana White’s video blog.

So why in the world would Jackson just drop out of arguably the biggest fight of his career to be an actor? The fight could have been bigger than his UFC debut against Chuck Liddell. I say that because due to Kimbo Slice, this season’s The Ultimate Fighter is expected to do monster ratings. Evans and Jackson have already done a great job of building up their grudge in promotional interviews. Between their tension and Kimbo Slice, I would bet on a large audience who would have bought UFC 107 to see them fight.

I am no Dana White fan but this is a huge slap in the face to him and UFC. If it was a matter of money, that is one thing. However, Jackson is likely to make the same if not more by fighting. Jackson can do whatever he wants, but he really screwed the company by taking the spot on The Ultimate Fighter. Someone else could have benefited from the publicity that the show is going to get. Now it will be a few months of hype all for nothing for UFC fans.

I could see this turning into a real issue for Jackson and White. White stuck his neck out for Jackson after his arrest last year. In the wrestling world, Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura had a falling out over something similar in 1986. McMahon refused to let Ventura take a sabbatical when he landed a part in The Predator movie. Ventura quit over this. Things turned out pretty good for Jesse. I don’t know if I see politics in the future of Rampage Jackson.

Now that Jackson is out it is time to look ahead. There are a couple of great fighters out there that could step into this match. Rematches with Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin are the first two guys that come to mind. Wanderlei Silva or Vitor Belforts are other great possibilities. The great news here is that UFC has such a stacked light heavyweight division, that they should have no problem plugging this hole and giving fans a money matchup.

Calling Randy Couture to the rescue!

Rampage talks acting and then acts like a sex maniac

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Have you ever wanted to have a staredown with UFC fighter Rampage Jackson? Well I haven’t either, but this guy must have some kind of a death wish. Check out this video of Rampage Jackson slapping the stupid out of a fan from the UFC Fan Expo.

The slap didn’t look too hard, but man is Rampage a loose cannon or what.

Bonus Video – Rampage Jackson attacks Cheick Kongo at the UFC Fan Expo ECW style!

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Headlocks and Eye Gouges – I will be back on Pro Wrestling Radio Wednesday July 15 at 7 PM/EST. I will be joined by wrestling’s Living Legend, Bruno Sammartino uncut and uncensored for one full hour! I will take questions for Bruno directly from the chat room. Listen live and join the chat room clicking here. Check out Prowrestlingradio.com for more information on the radio show and archived show downloads.