As of late, Rampage has utilized Twitter in the worst of ways, Tweeting frequently; all but demanding he be released from his contract with the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. Rampage’s recent quips haven’t gone unnoticed by UFC brass. In fact, UFC president Dana White is prepared to, in effect grant all of Rampage’s wishes; he’s informed Quinton that he will indeed release him from the promotion upon completion of his final contracted fight. He’s also offered Rampage a fight he’s been requesting for years (which just so happens to, theoretically, be a favorable stylistic match; IE not a wrestler), a rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. And, that my friends, leads us to the strangest fork in this well-trodden path.

No sooner did White step up willing to meet the voiced demands, only to be countered by Jackson with some strange news. Now, he’s apparently not willing to meet Shogun in the cage this summer (a timeframe outlined in White’s offer). He’s declared that he’ll undergo double knee surgery, and will require additional time to make the Rua rematch a reality. For a man so hell bent on avenging a loss and exiting a promotion, the sudden swing comes as a bit of a shock, and leaves one burning question in the minds of fans and critics: has Rampage simply been posturing for an increase in pay? If so, it seems there’s been a little backfire.

What becomes of Rampage at this point remains to be seen. As a longtime fan (I had the pleasure of watching him fight at Gladiator Challenge 2, way back in 2001), I’m not displeased with Jackson’s actions so much as concerned for his mental state. His behavior has become increasingly unpredictable over the last few years, and it’s time people stopped dismissing the man’s strange actions with meager excuses such as “that’s just Rampage”, because it’s not. Quinton has exhibited a knack for violence for a long time; he doesn’t duck fighters, and he’s generally a decent man. To see such a downward spiral in such a short time frame is a little unsettling. Here’s hoping the man has some genuine friends in his presence, because some professional help looks to be required.

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