Sports Illustrated recently singled out Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (along with 49 other athletes) as a "Breakout Star" of 2007.
Here's the snip:
"In May, at UFC 71, Jackson defeated UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell at 1:53 of the opening round. Later in the year, he defeated PRIDE middleweight champion Dan Henderson at UFC 75 in London, England, in September. That unified the two organizations' titles."
Rampage also avenged a loss from earlier in his career when he took out Marvin Eastman in his Octagon debut at UFC 67: "All or Nothing" back in February.
In addition, MSNBC also selected Rampage as its "Fighter of the Year" for "setting himself apart" from the rest of the field.
Here's that snip:
"Several fighters qualify for best in 2007: Randy Couture, Anderson Silva, Urijah Faber, Takanori Gomi, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Fedor Emelianenko. It's a lofty list. But Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who as an underdog beat Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell with a knockout, then edged Dan 'Hendo' Henderson in five closely fought rounds, set himself apart and is the pick for Fighter of the Year."
I have no problems with the selection; however the list of other candidates is a bit off. Sam Caplan over at CBSSports.com makes a better case (for the same fighter, Rampage.)
Too bad it seems we won't get to see him compete as much in 2008. Ho-hum.
(Thanks to MMAmania.com reader "PJ" for the assist.)
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