UFC 71: Trainer confirms Liddell-Rampage rematch

It was on ... then off ... and now on again.
The trainer for Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (26-6), Juanito Ibarra, today confirmed through Sherdog.com that his fighter will face UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell (20-3) at UFC 71 on May 26.
Jackson has been adamant that he wanted at least another fight prior to a showdown with the "Iceman" to showcase his skills in front of an American audience and to knock off the rust from a relatively inactive 2006 campaign.
UFC President Dana White appeared to be onboard with that plan, mentioning numerous times that this inevitable rematch would most likely happen at the end of the summer.
However, with Keith Jardine upsetting Forrest Griffin at UFC 66, the pool of marketable fighters at 205 who could challenge Liddell and bridge the gap to a match up with Rampage became super shallow.
It was also widely rumored that White was finally going to deliver former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, setting up one of the most anticipated bouts in recent history.
We can blame Dan Henderson and PRIDE 33, apparently, for screwing that one up again — if it was ever in the cards to start.
Therefore, Rampage — who beat Liddell back in 2003 — emerged as the only man for the job right now.
His UFC debut win over Marvin Eastman earlier this year at UFC 67 wasn't a sensational performance, but it was solid.
With Liddell recovering from pneumonia, as well as minor finger and knee injuries, it's clear that both men will enter the bout with a few issues surrounding them.
Will both be ready and at the top of their games?
We'll find out sooner than expected.
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31 comments
Comments
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shit, here we go chucky….
by tha spida on Mar 18, 2007 11:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What happened to chuck “ice flavored nyquil”s fight with Tommy Morrison????
by suka puncher on Mar 19, 2007 1:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s too soon. Neither fighter is at his best. Whatever the outcome it’s probably not going to be the fight we all want.
by DoctorSamson on Mar 19, 2007 1:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And what supposedly happened with Wanderlei?
by DoctorSamson on Mar 19, 2007 1:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei got ktfo. Thats what happend.
by Donnie Brasco on Mar 19, 2007 2:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i know quinton, he aint gonna title match chuck lidell yet, the only time I could see him hitting a title is when he gets like 4 KOs or TKOs under his belt first, kinda like proving himself.
man shit, this rematch is gonna rock cause if any of you guys have boxed with quinton it aint nothing fun, chuck and him both have awsome distencing and got some good take down defenses. lidell is in for a big suprise if he does fight him, since lidells last challengers never were much of tactical strikers.
m0 m0nEy m0 Pr0bLemZ~~
by YOUNG ASSASIN on Mar 19, 2007 2:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
sorry chuck man i spelled your name wrong like 3 times! LiDDel~
by YOUNG ASSASIN on Mar 19, 2007 2:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh c’mon, you don’t buy that, do you? Silvas loss to Henderson played into Dana’s hands. There was no fight scheduled or planned between Silva and Chuck for a long time. When was it that Silva called him out again? Then conviniently 3 days before Pride 33 Chuck declares he wants Silva too – among other top-noth fighters – giving him at least 3-4 months time considering that wanderlei would need time to recover or might get a medical suspension from the nevada state athletic commission. His loss probably came as a blessing for Dana.
It’s yet another fake setup for a fight that was not in the cards to begin with – and Dana’s acted uproar after Pride 33 was the most ridiculous thing I saw this year after Eddie Sanchez at the post-fight press conference (“his kicks did not hurt”). This smells like WWE …
I hope both Chuck and Rampage will be ready to deliver a proper fight – if it goes down it surely will be fun to watch.
by YouTapped on Mar 19, 2007 3:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rampage KnockedTFO in third round by Chuck’s overhand right.
by n_memorex on Mar 19, 2007 7:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rampage looked crap against eastman. He may have a chance if Chuck keeps partying like a crazyman and not training. He reminds me of the wayans guy from the Great White Hype boxing movie.
by Mikethelegend on Mar 19, 2007 8:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why rush to get the fight, when we all seen the state of Chuck on that morning show. Rampage isn’t at his best either and even admitted that he wasn’t ready for the Iceman. Maybe Dana knows by the time the fight comes Chuck will be ready and Rampage wont, he’s just looking to keep the poster boy look good.
by jason bang on Mar 19, 2007 8:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rampage did not impress me against eastman and if he goes against the ice man only one thing will happen he will get knocked out.I dont even think he should get a title shot but if he does not get it there is no one really hwho should get it apart from Evans but hes fighting Ortiz and 72
by black english boy on Mar 19, 2007 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rampage has just the one fight left on the contract so I think dana just wants to get the rematch for sure. If rampage gets serious already and starts traning hard then he can beat a overdosed chuck. Hopefully chuck starts felinng better and gets training again so they both can have a good figfht
by ufcgracie on Mar 19, 2007 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
rampage will be training his ass off for this fight so he can do some serious black on white crime.if chuck is at his best i dont think there is anyone in the world who can beat him and if he did happen to loose it would be because of his fitness or somet.i wathed that last fight id say honestly about 6 to 7 million times and thats not exagerating.I dont think chuck was fit and by the looks of that appalling interview on that texas program where chuck gave a great example to all his young fans then there is a good chance that he will be leaving the octagon seriously hurt,unfortunatly.
by mcanena on Mar 19, 2007 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I predict the ice man will beat the crap out of rampage. Chucks hungry and wants to avenge the only loss he hasn’t avenged, he’ll train like a M’fer for this fight…..rampage watch out.
by nathan on Mar 19, 2007 12:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dana must have 100% confidence that Chuck will win the rematch because this is Rampage last fight under contract and if he wins without signing a new one the UFC will have a champion with no contract and that don’t make any sense.
by getrawbc on Mar 19, 2007 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This fight is BS, Rampage himself said he was not ready. Dana is feeding him to Chuck so he can avenge his loss. Total BS IMO.
Just think Dana really hates his pride guys and doesnt want them to have his Belts, Why does Rampage deserve a title shot before Crocop
by mayberry on Mar 19, 2007 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have nothing to add – well said mayberry.
by YouTapped on Mar 19, 2007 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have a question for that. How does a world class fighter who’s been fighting for years say over 6 months is not enough time to get ready? Personally I say Rampage wanted to win one more fight and renegotiate for a better contract before taking the chance to fight Liddell. We all know that to Rampage its just bit-ness.
by Tommy on Mar 19, 2007 1:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Two sides of the same medal really. Either Rampage doesn’t want to fight him before he gets a new contract or Dana wants to feed him to Chuck while he is not ready for the fight.
After watching his performance against Eastman again I definetly see alot of room for improvement with Rampages fighting. And I believe in 2006 he only had 2 fights and then had a 5-6 months break before training for Eastman again. Being out of training for that long and the lack of fights in 2006 might be a factor in all of that.
I seriously hope Rampage wins the belt with a lucky punch and makes Dana cry when signing a new Pride contract.
by YouTapped on Mar 19, 2007 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Its not that 6 months isnt enough time to train, its that he stated he wanted some “tune up” fights first.
And…..If you were nogotiating a contract wouldnt you want to be the reigning champ. thats how you get the big dollars.
LOL….All about the bit-ness – LOL
by mayberry on Mar 19, 2007 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Chuck but thats not why I laugh at…I’m not ready I’m not ready. His fighting needed improvement for some time period. Remember he beat Chuck but was not the champion that night. Whats ole Tito gonna teach him to beat Chuck anyway? It can happen…Rampage can win, so please no one say that I’m saying this can’t happen…I’m just saying that Rampage is as ready as he’ll ever be. Go Iceman
by Tommy on Mar 19, 2007 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Then lets agree to disagree and have a beer together while watching a nice brawl during UFC 71. :)
by YouTapped on Mar 19, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good call YT…and mayberry your right he would then get more. However thats a chance he would or will have to take. See he knows even Dana wants to see him fight Chuck. Therefore Silva would probably give him just that, a tune up fight. Something he could win to set up a big him and Iceman. Now then with a new contract and the fight still hasn’t happened he knows he’ll get paid regardless. Now if he loses its a whole different ballgame. Why take a chance fighting someone on the top of his game vs getting an easier fight a new contract then take it from there. What would you do?
by Tommy on Mar 19, 2007 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Honestly if i was Rampage I’d take it, a tune up fight may turn disaster for Jackson, even if he loses to Chuck he’ll still be in contention, if loses to like Rashad or Jardine…his negotiating chip gets alot smalller
by Jordan on Mar 19, 2007 2:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i say chuck in rd four after fight rampage wins next 5 fights then moves up to heavy weight for the rubberband match aganist chuck for the heavyweight belt
by cheeks420 on Mar 19, 2007 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chuck is gunna knock rampage out, simple as that. couture beat him, he got knocked the fuk out, jeremy horn beat him, and he got knoked the fuk out too, what makes u think rampage is any different, chuck has since stepped up to a whole new level and nobody can live with liddell in the octagon anymore, FACT.
by PeRO on Mar 23, 2007 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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