What if Rampage Jackson stayed in the UFC in 2015?

[TheBrownRanger]

Does anybody remember when Rampage fought Fabio Maldonaldo in the UFC while he was under Bellator contract? It was a crazy situation looking back and it is never talked about these days. Bellator dragged Rampage back to Bellator so maybe he could have fought Phil Davis or Liam McGeary for the title. Instead, fought Satoshi Ishii and a rematch with King Mo, both of which nobody wanted to see. I imagine he lost motivation after being pulled from the UFC and decided to become a fat shell of his former self from the Ishii fight on.

Personally, I don't believe we would have seen HW Hampage in the UFC. However, after beating Fabio, let's say Rampage is able to stay in the UFC from April 2015-on. Would he have gotten close to a title? Would he have been able to reach Cormier or Jones for title contention? I know he was interested in a Shogun rematch so that definitely would have happened (Would have Rampage winning). How does he do against guys like OSP, Gus, Rumble, Manuwa, Cummins, Villante, etc? Does he hang around long enough to fight current top 15 guys like Walker, Lionheart, or Reyes?

 

[Leinster Rugby]

just an IMO but Rampage never really evolved in mma.

don't think it would have gone too well for him.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Rampage was pretty much done after losing to Forrest.

 

[theincognito]

Probably would have squeezed in a rematch with Shogun. Maybe another win or two. Eventually would have been fed to the up and comers. Overall not much different than how his Bellator run went.

 

[corrupted]

His trajectory would likely have been the same except he would likely have been tied down to a shittier contract. He was already out of love with the sport. The only reason he came to the UFC at that point was that he had been offered a reality show and more PR at Bellator. When Bellator negged on their end of the deal and he walked, or tried ... Ironically this was the same kind of promotion that the UFC had already given him with TUF. After that one fight, he lost in court and went back totally defeated and got massive while fighting for Coker, who looks like he let him do what he wanted. Got two easy wins over a shadow of Wanderlei and then lost to shadow Chael and Shadow Fedor.

I'm not sure who was doing what... weather he wasn't really in it to win it anymore and as a result people cooled their interest in him. Or weather their behaviour towards him caused this and staying at the UFC and letting Dana "Tough Love him" in to shape would have moved him in to a different path?.. I doubt it.

I think we had seen the best of him by that time and wherever he was, roughly the same thing would have happened.

 

[Poirierfan]

Rampage liked food and women too much, it's his kryptonite just like many of us.

 

[Luthien]

Rampage liked food and women too much

Reminds me of a livestream I watched of Rampage a few years ago

It was nothing but women and tables of food <45>And BIG CARS !!

 

[Poirierfan]

Reminds me of a livestream I watched of Rampage a few years ago

It was nothing but women and tables of food <45>And BIG CARS !!

Oh yeah, big gas guzzlers as well. Lol

 

[Tweak896]

As soon as Rampage didn't have to stay in shape at 205 he was really done. He never looked close to the same fighter when he let himself go. Bellator really was shafter with the Rampage they got to sign.

 

[G10]

I’ve been a Rampage fan for a while, and I’ve noticed that his motivation for the sport has gone up and done for a long time. I got the sense that he was really eager to compete against Maldonado, but I’m sure the contract situation left him feeling burnt out by the end of it.

To answer your question though, I think he could’ve done well as a UFC heavyweight in 2015 going forward, but I doubt he would’ve become champion. That was the time when Cain was injured with the belt, Werdum was the #1 contender, and Stipe was on the rise. Arlovski, Mitrione, and Travis Browne were also in the mix. I could picture Rampage beating Werdum, but not Stipe and DEFINITELY not Cain. Maybe a few others too, but really tough to say.

 

[doggo]

Rampage was pretty much done after losing to Forrest.

This yes, never the same.

He was on a serious tear at that point and lost a lot of motivation losing to forrest

 

[Th3Sav4ge]

all depends on the match ups. he was still a rough ass match up for other strikers in his division. even if u feel machida bested rampage, jackson still stood toe to toe on the feet. he was bested by glover but look how glover is competing with the new breed

vs strikers he was still among the best imo, when u start grappling and pressing his cardio and injuries he was lower end top 15