Sherdog.com Fighter of the Year: “Rampage”
Sherdog.com Staff Jan 3, 2008
Stardom had hung over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
(Pictures)'s considerable shoulders
since he stepped into the cage seven years ago against Marvin Eastman (Pictures).
Last February the 29-year-old from Memphis, Tenn., started a campaign that saw him finally cash in on his potential.
Always known as a big-stage performer, "Rampage" shined on the
biggest stage in the mixed martial arts world in 2007. Flanked by
his trainer and close advisor Juanito Ibarra, Jackson made his way
into the Octagon for the first time in his career.
Transporting a chain around his neck that seemed to come off the set of a Ford F-150 commercial, and offering the same howl he perfected while fighting in Japan, Jackson endeared himself to American fans.
It was a year in which Jackson (29-6) showcased his love for a brawl while offering clear evidence that he is a high-level mixed martial artist. The bout with Henderson -- billed as a first-ever UFC-PRIDE unification title fight -- was showcased off pay-per-view on a tape-delayed broadcast on SpikeTV.
A huge audience tuned in as Jackson --who also earned the key to the city of Memphis, signed a shoe-endorsement deal and had his own energy drink released -- delivered one of the most competent efforts of his career, more than matching games with the smart Henderson.
Having previously bested Matt Lindland (Pictures) (a dominant clinch-player in the middleweight division) in a closer-than-expected decision, some speculated that Henderson would be too much for the boisterous "Rampage."
While Hendo gave his best effort, Jackson was simply too big -- and too good -- to get caught.
Jackson has since decided to take time off to heal. "Rampage" also negotiated a new deal with the UFC that will make him a coach on season seven of "The Ultimate Fighter," after which he is supposed to fight Forrest Griffin (Pictures).
That chance at super-stardom, for which Jackson seems to possess all the traits, would not have happened were it not for the dominance he displayed in 2007.
"Rampage" had stiff competition en route to earning the Sherdog.com 2007 Fighter of the Year Award. Also in serious consideration to join Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Mauricio Rua (Pictures) (2005), and Chuck Liddell (Pictures) (2006), were Randy Couture (Pictures) and Anderson Silva.
Like Jackson, each fighter owns a UFC belt at the conclusion of the 2007 campaign. Couture made the most noise throughout the year, both for stunning efforts in the Octagon and his surprising stance against the UFC to close out the year.
Returning from a one-year retirement that acted more as a hiatus, Couture, at 43 years of age, dominated Tim Sylvia (Pictures) to capture the UFC heavyweight title. Several months after his March return in Columbus, Ohio, "The Natural" validated his status as UFC champion with a thrashing of significant favorite Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures).
Perhaps more importantly -- and the more compelling argument to make him FOY 2007 -- Couture severed ties with the UFC, blaming a lack of respect (shown largely in compensation, Couture said) and the inability to fight Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) after the Russian said no to the UFC.
A war of words ensued between the revered fighter and the UFC, namely company president Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta. Each side offered previously unconfirmed details regarding fighter compensation and contract terms, leading to the first out-of-the-cage MMA news story that attracted widespread mainstream media coverage.
Couture (16-8) said recently that he intends to wait out the terms of his UFC deal in hopes of fighting Emelianenko in the last quarter of 2008. The UFC, however, has continuously implied it will vigorously defend its contracts, making a courtroom showdown between the current champ and the mega promoter almost inevitable in 2008.
Less dramatic but more devastating was Anderson Silva. The 32-year-old Brazilian middleweight pummeled Travis Lutter (Pictures), Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) and Rich Franklin (Pictures) in three UFC title defenses while jumping to the top of pound-for-pound lists.
Plain and simple: Silva (20-4) had a great 2007. Yet in a year when "Rampage" Jackson stopped the unbeatable Chuck Liddell (Pictures) and out-fought Dan Henderson (Pictures), and "The Natural" stunned the world again, he comes up third.
In the end, it was Jackson's level of opposition and budding stardom that gave "Rampage" the nod from Sherdog.com.
Last February the 29-year-old from Memphis, Tenn., started a campaign that saw him finally cash in on his potential.
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Transporting a chain around his neck that seemed to come off the set of a Ford F-150 commercial, and offering the same howl he perfected while fighting in Japan, Jackson endeared himself to American fans.
A win over the searing Chuck
Liddell (Pictures) was sandwiched by the Eastman
triumph and a classic, technical points win against PRIDE champion
Dan Henderson (Pictures).
It was a year in which Jackson (29-6) showcased his love for a brawl while offering clear evidence that he is a high-level mixed martial artist. The bout with Henderson -- billed as a first-ever UFC-PRIDE unification title fight -- was showcased off pay-per-view on a tape-delayed broadcast on SpikeTV.
A huge audience tuned in as Jackson --who also earned the key to the city of Memphis, signed a shoe-endorsement deal and had his own energy drink released -- delivered one of the most competent efforts of his career, more than matching games with the smart Henderson.
Having previously bested Matt Lindland (Pictures) (a dominant clinch-player in the middleweight division) in a closer-than-expected decision, some speculated that Henderson would be too much for the boisterous "Rampage."
While Hendo gave his best effort, Jackson was simply too big -- and too good -- to get caught.
Jackson has since decided to take time off to heal. "Rampage" also negotiated a new deal with the UFC that will make him a coach on season seven of "The Ultimate Fighter," after which he is supposed to fight Forrest Griffin (Pictures).
That chance at super-stardom, for which Jackson seems to possess all the traits, would not have happened were it not for the dominance he displayed in 2007.
"Rampage" had stiff competition en route to earning the Sherdog.com 2007 Fighter of the Year Award. Also in serious consideration to join Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Mauricio Rua (Pictures) (2005), and Chuck Liddell (Pictures) (2006), were Randy Couture (Pictures) and Anderson Silva.
Like Jackson, each fighter owns a UFC belt at the conclusion of the 2007 campaign. Couture made the most noise throughout the year, both for stunning efforts in the Octagon and his surprising stance against the UFC to close out the year.
Returning from a one-year retirement that acted more as a hiatus, Couture, at 43 years of age, dominated Tim Sylvia (Pictures) to capture the UFC heavyweight title. Several months after his March return in Columbus, Ohio, "The Natural" validated his status as UFC champion with a thrashing of significant favorite Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures).
Perhaps more importantly -- and the more compelling argument to make him FOY 2007 -- Couture severed ties with the UFC, blaming a lack of respect (shown largely in compensation, Couture said) and the inability to fight Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) after the Russian said no to the UFC.
A war of words ensued between the revered fighter and the UFC, namely company president Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta. Each side offered previously unconfirmed details regarding fighter compensation and contract terms, leading to the first out-of-the-cage MMA news story that attracted widespread mainstream media coverage.
Couture (16-8) said recently that he intends to wait out the terms of his UFC deal in hopes of fighting Emelianenko in the last quarter of 2008. The UFC, however, has continuously implied it will vigorously defend its contracts, making a courtroom showdown between the current champ and the mega promoter almost inevitable in 2008.
Less dramatic but more devastating was Anderson Silva. The 32-year-old Brazilian middleweight pummeled Travis Lutter (Pictures), Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) and Rich Franklin (Pictures) in three UFC title defenses while jumping to the top of pound-for-pound lists.
Plain and simple: Silva (20-4) had a great 2007. Yet in a year when "Rampage" Jackson stopped the unbeatable Chuck Liddell (Pictures) and out-fought Dan Henderson (Pictures), and "The Natural" stunned the world again, he comes up third.
In the end, it was Jackson's level of opposition and budding stardom that gave "Rampage" the nod from Sherdog.com.
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