MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson recently spoke with members of the MMA media to promote his upcoming fight against Satoshi Ishii at Bellator 157: “Dynamite 2” later this month.
During the discussion, Rampage touched on his UFC departure, the benefits of fighting in Bellator instead of the UFC, no longer being forced to deal with the mandatory Reebok sponsorship issues and more. Below are some of the highlights from the interview, which you can watch in full above.
On his UFC departure, ending up back in Bellator and the last year of his life:
“Yeah, you know, I’m not my own manager. I did my job, my job is to fight and entertain people. I’m not my own manager, so it’s kinda tough. Sometimes, when things don’t go according to what you’ve been told in the past… But, you know what? It looks like Bellator got rid of the bad apple; they got a new apple in there, so everything is all right. It’s all brand new to me.”
On the benefits of fighting in Bellator instead of UFC, including no longer having to deal with the Reebok sponsorship issues:
“The problem with MMA right now is that most people think that MMA is called UFC. I know when I’m on my social media and I’ll tag, like, “I’m fighting in Bellator,” people will be like, “Why you going to Bellator? Why you going to Bellator?” Nothing against UFC, because I’ve had my differences with UFC, they’re a great company. But, I would say some people’s dream is to go to the UFC, but it’s not everybody’s dream, you know what I’m sayin’?
“I like the UFC, I like Bellator… Bellator I don’t have to wear Reebok, you know what I’m sayin’? I’m happy that I’m not forced to wear a clothing brand that’s not really benefitting me. That’s one benefit to being in Bellator versus being in the UFC. But like I said, right now with all the new fighters, you can tell they’re just fans that’re coming in to fight. So, they don’t know any better. That’s their dream. The UFC’s been around longer than Bellator, so that’s probably their dream to go to the UFC. If that’s their dream to go to the UFC and wear Reebok to make the UFC more money, then go ahead. Whatever makes you happy.”
Bellator 157: “Dynamite 2” takes place on June 24, 2016 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
H/T to BloodyElbow.com for transcribing the above Quinton Jackson quotes.
