Rampage/Bellator

[The5thgod]

I know this is a little late but what does Rampages refusal to fight Newton really mean? We all know he has no problem fighting a friend/training partner since he had no problem fighting Hendo. And I think we can rule out being scared. So for a former UFC champion is it just not important enough to be a Bellator champ? So in an indirect/unintentionally way does this kind of show us how far ahead the UFC is of Bellator and other orgs?

 

[MajJamil]

Could be on worldwide

On topic tho I thought Page said he'd fight him?

 

[gohard305]

maybe Rampage has had a change of heart regarding black on black crime.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

That's one way to spin it.

 

[fightdonttweet]

I think he wants to fight specific guys rather than defend a belt against tournament winners.

 

[TheWolfsHowl]

I think he wants to fight specific guys rather than defend a belt against tournament winners.

Bellator is moving away from tournaments.

Maybe he wants that Tito fight?

 

[Quilled Mind]

I know this is a little late but what does Rampages refusal to fight Newton really mean? We all know he has no problem fighting a friend/training partner since he had no problem fighting Hendo. And I think we can rule out being scared. So for a former UFC champion is it just not important enough to be a Bellator champ? So in an indirect/unintentionally way does this kind of show us how far ahead the UFC is of Bellator and other orgs?

This is incorrect. Hendo and Rampage were friends from Pride and they had a bit of training together...they were never part of the same gym or training camps or had the same coaches, in fact, they had opposing gyms and camps, like when Rampage fought Lindland, Hendo's old training partner.
Rampage trained directly with Tito and they were friendly but Rampage always said Tito was a douche, as most people know.
Newton is directly linked to his gym and training camp...

 

[evolvedMMA]

I think Rampage needs to smash Tito after Bonnar does.

 

[Quilled Mind]

How come Rampage versus Bonnar still hasn't happened?
That would be a great fight and exactly the type of fight Rampage loves, straight up toe-to-toe Boxing/Sprawl-n-Brawl.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

This is incorrect. Hendo and Rampage were friends from Pride and they had a bit of training together...they were never part of the same gym or training camps or had the same coaches, in fact, they had opposing gyms and camps, like when Rampage fought Lindland, Hendo's old training partner.
Rampage trained directly with Tito and they were friendly but Rampage always said Tito was a douche, as most people know.
Newton is directly linked to his gym and training camp...

What gym/training camp is that? I don't know much about where Newton used to train but according to Sherdog he's at Kings and Reign and to my knowledge Rampage has never trained there.

 

[Rematch]

Or maybe, just maybe, Rampage has his head up his ass... AGAIN.

 

[The5thgod]

This is incorrect. Hendo and Rampage were friends from Pride and they had a bit of training together...they were never part of the same gym or training camps or had the same coaches, in fact, they had opposing gyms and camps, like when Rampage fought Lindland, Hendo's old training partner.
Rampage trained directly with Tito and they were friendly but Rampage always said Tito was a douche, as most people know.
Newton is directly linked to his gym and training camp...

I didn't know that but still don't think he'd have a problem fighting Newton if say they were fighting for UFC gold

 

[The5thgod]

Could be on worldwide

On topic tho I thought Page said he'd fight him?

My mistake should've prob been on worldwide. And to my knowledge he refused to fight him, or else I'm pretty sure the fight would have happened.

 

[Quilled Mind]

What gym/training camp is that? I don't know much about where Newton used to train but according to Sherdog he's at Kings and Reign and to my knowledge Rampage has never trained there.

Newton trains wrestling directly with Rampage's wrestling coach/training partner, Antonio McKee, especially for his fight with King Mo...so if they have a common wrestling coach for a training camp...it becomes problematic for loyalties.

 

[Quilled Mind]

I didn't know that but still don't think he'd have a problem fighting Newton if say they were fighting for UFC gold

I hear ya...but loyalty is a good thing in a sport called Mixed Martial Arts...it isn't just streetfighting...there's a degree of honour and loyalty still in fight camps and gyms.
See my comment above regarding Antonio McKee...

 

[The5thgod]

I hear ya...but loyalty is a good thing in a sport called Mixed Martial Arts...it isn't just streetfighting...there's a degree of honour and loyalty still in fight camps and gyms.
See my comment above regarding Antonio McKee...

I agree

 

[mkt]

Newton trains wrestling directly with Rampage's wrestling coach/training partner, Antonio McKee, especially for his fight with King Mo...so if they have a common wrestling coach for a training camp...it becomes problematic for loyalties.

Is sort of like the "we both got a BJJ black belt under a Gracie so we won't fight" thing? If so, that's ridiculous. I understand full-time, long-term training partners not fighting (Cormier-Cain, Nate-Gil), but this is a huge stretch. Sounds more like a prima donna who wants to cherry pick his own fights.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Newton trains wrestling directly with Rampage's wrestling coach/training partner, Antonio McKee, especially for his fight with King Mo...so if they have a common wrestling coach for a training camp...it becomes problematic for loyalties.

Thanks, that makes sense, I wouldn't want to have to give up my wrestling coach to fight someone either that is also coached by the same person, it's not fair to either fighter.

 

[Quilled Mind]

Is sort of like the "we both got a BJJ black belt under a Gracie so we won't fight" thing? If so, that's ridiculous. I understand full-time, long-term training partners not fighting (Cormier-Cain, Nate-Gil), but this is a huge stretch. Sounds more like a prima donna who wants to cherry pick his own fights.

Then you literally don't understand honour.
There is honour in respecting what your teacher has gifted you with.
This is why the Gracies were very offended by certain students, like BJ Penn for example, who begged to learn the Gracie BJJ then turned from them and called them out to fight; they thought it was disrespectful to use the gift they gave him against their own loyal family.

 

[skylolow]

Maybe Rampage didn't want the belt because of Bjorn's championship clause when he signed his deal.

Plus I think Rampage more or less would like to pick his own fights.