Whatever Happenned to Rampage Jackson?

Whatever happened to Rampage Jackson? I mean, I took a week and a half off, and I feel irrelevant and out of place. Magnify that by a million and maybe you’ll get a sense of the deep down insecurities Quinton Jackson might be feeling.

You remember Jackson, don’t you? He got beat up by that Silva guy in PRIDE, that crazy Japanese promotion one of your buddies had on DVD. Silva is the guy fighting that energy drink commercial dude in December. Anyway, Jackson must have survived those highlight reel knockouts. I see him sitting ringside at UFC events when I go to my local sports bar to watch the fights on flat screen TVs. He must know a great ticket scalper because those seats are like $2500 dollars. He looks good. He’s always smiling and waving. And what little I hear of the crowd from within the noisy bar seems to like him alot too. They audibly mark out whenever his face gets put up on the big screen. I hope he’s enjoying his new found celebrity now that he’s made it safely back to the States and found happiness in retirement.

The odd thing is, I heard this crazy rumor at that same sports bar that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson actually knocked out that mowhawk man I see all over the place. It was real busy the one night back in May, so I couldn’t see any screens, but in the sea of people I could of sworn he knocked out that “Iceman” ESPN Magazine cover boy with one punch. That couldn’t be though. He seemed so crazy and yet well spoken when I saw his interviews from PRIDE. I’d imagine he’d be all over ESPN, the Tonight Show, in magazines, and at least in a hip hop community cross over project. He must really be enjoying sleeping in up in Big Bear.

The above thoughts are my typical sarcasm, but they aren’t that far off the mark. I saw UFC and specifically Dana White pull off a brilliant snow job to the world that cool looking but charismatically false Chuck Liddell was some kind of poster boy for the UFC. He had the look. He agreed to the gig. But he doesn’t have the interest himself, let alone the general publics. Still, the UFC has been hot for two plus years. The peak of this so far was Jackson’s win over Chuck. So why did I see Jackson on a Sunday afternoon for 3 minutes on ESPN NEWS, and then never again?

Let’s not be cute. Jackson is a well spoken African-American. He can be as non-threatening to an affluent white community as much as he can be a street tough ghetto hero to a poor black community. Studies have shown both spend a consistently large amount of disposable income. He should be selling all of us a beer, shaving razor, or a car. Heck, he doesn’t even get the clichéd energy drink endorsement so he can pretend to drink for 18 different takes.

Personality sells to all religions, races, and ethnicities. I don’t see any reason why Quinton couldn’t be on BET and 10 influential hip hop radio stations the same day he’s on ESPN radio and 20/20. The great thing is, Quinton seems to have a face for everyone to enjoy. Poor white folks and affluent African Americans find him just as charming too.

Rampage was absent through most of the summer, and I realize his media for the Dan Henderson fight was best served in the British market, but it’s been over two months. Jackson is injured. No fight is set for him, and it could be April until we see him again. Why isn’t he all over my TV, radio, and print radar? I certainly spend enough looking for him. UFC bought a whole new building in Vegas to house an over-growing support staff for a billion dollar company, and they didn’t hire a publicist, Public Relations people, or even a gossiping neighbor? I know they have some connections to the media. I keep reading Dana White is having a press conference and it’s streaming into my living room. So I decided to go on search of Quinton Jackson today.

I decided to start with the almighty Google. Certainly Mr. Jackson is big enough to get on Google. Before I filter it to search news I find out Rampage has a Wiki entry, personal website, and an affiliation to those fine Affliction t-shirt boys. I type in “Kit Cope” and find that a 1-4 record gets you pretty much the same thing (and a Myspace page).

Rampage is an also-ran in the news stories. They mention him as a champion in articles about Bisping, Evans, and Houston Alexander. Oh, he’s been spotted partying in Vegas at parties with the likes of Chris Ferguson. Who? Professional poker player Chris Ferguson! Oh…. Moving on.

I found him! Well, I just missed him. He was in Georgia over the weekend with the Cott Corporation and Throwndown Enterprises. He is gonna get to drink an energy beverage no one will buy. Awesome.

There is no TV appearance or magazine article to be found. If there is, no one is promoting it. Deflated by that bias news media, I turn to the sworn enemy of UFC, the MMA Internet sites. A lot of casual fans go on the ever-popular Sherdog.com. Who doesn’t wanna get Beatdown by that lovable TJ DeSantis? Apparently Jackson himself, as he’s not really anywhere on the site right now. I have to things to report. The 28-6 Rampage is ranked #1 by someone is some poll at lightweight. And Round 5, a figurine company, has made one of Jackson. I guess that’s kinda like a Budweiser, or even Mickey’s Malt Liqueur endorsement deal. Your getting a check either way, right?

I try Sam Caplan’s site (fiveouncesofpain.com) to see if there’s even MMA news on Rampage. In the last month it’s his figure for Round 5, Shogun mentioning him, also-ran stuff in op-ed materials, and a this poignant reminder in an Oct. 6^th article where UFC and HBO stopped flirting:

“The network’s Sept. 8 airing of the UFC 75 event featuring UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson drew 4.7 million viewers, the most watched UFC event ever in North America and the most-watched non-World Wrestling Entertainment show in Spike’s history, according to the network.”

Get well soon, Champ. Maybe that busted hand is holding you back. Maybe they’ve got a pinky ring endorsement deal lined up the minute you can grip a pen. Until then I’ll be waiting for the next Randy Couture press conference he’ll either be announcing that he’s found you and your now tag team champs in his backyard wrestling fed, or he’s just lonely, and press conferences are a great way to stay in touch.

E-mail John Philapavage at johnnyp@mmaopinion.com