This fight has been years in the making. It was teased by Triller as Jackson and Briggs coached team MMA and team boxing, respectively, during the Triad Combat event. Nothing came to fruition then but it finally goes down this Summer.

A broader sense of a schedule in Qatar is there for the burgeoning promoters. Events are tentatively targeted for August/ September and then also November/ December. Plus, it’s not just boxing they want to promote. But SDK and Hossama also mentioned desires to promote mixed martial arts this calendar year.

Brian Rose will also be vying for gold on this card. This is against Apichit Pimsen as the IBA Intercontinental Super Middleweight title is on the line. This card is continually taking shape beyond the anticipated main event.

The themes of team boxing vs team MMA are strong here as the event grows. Even with the promoters, SDK is ardently team MMA and Hossama is unabashedly team boxing as are Rampage and Briggs, respectively.

Rampage vs Shannon Briggs Promoters

The broader team around the event that the promoters wanted to give credit to includes Nahla the event manager, Keith & Kim from Fite TV, Stephen from IBA, Cosmin from PlatinumList.NET, Saf from Apex.

When asked if there was a certain level of excitement getting to finally be the one promoting this fight that so many have talked about for years now, SDK told us that “Yes of course and I think one of the selling points for us was also the chemistry between both fighters. Rampage and Champ (Briggs) is unbelievable on the screen and off the screen also the chemistry is phenomenal. I think that both have been very professional boxers. I’ve dealt with some boxers in the past as well and combat sports, I think I’ve never worked with anybody who is this professional and this easy to work with.”

“Because you know how the boxers are and stuff but think that both have been being very professional and being very easy to work with. So of course I think this chemistry which has been, I think three or four years been going on, and you know the very famous (laughs) Shannon memes has been as we know, has been the talk of the town.”

“Of course, I think that was one of the mega-selling points for us. Because I think this fight has been in talks, the fans wanted to see this fight, and I think we’re just trying to make it happen.”

Quinton Jackson vs Shannon Briggs

When asked if he had a final parting thought to end our chat, Hossama Khan added “I would just say two things, you know. Once again a big thank you to my team for taking all my tantrums and always supporting me in all those conditions. So that is one thing that I really want to say. Secondly, to wrap this up, I would say, you know, I hope that fans get the time to watch this exciting event and it’ll be an amazing event.”

“I want you to come because when Team Boxing wins, I want; when an ambulance is picking up Rampage to take him to the hospital, I want my champ Shannon Briggs to give a live interview from the ring. So an exciting time for Team Boxing.”

The post Rampage Jackson vs. Shannon Briggs Promoters on How Fight Came Together appeared first on Cageside Press.

This prizefight has been discussed for years and Zab Judah facilitated setting up this bout finally. Briggs actually worked for Zab’s dad doing demolition in Brownsville at 16 as a homeless teenager.

The Brownsville connections also extend to Mike Tyson and Briggs intends to set up a gym there. Not only to honor the legacy of world champions from that 1.8-mile Brooklyn, NY space like Briggs, Tyson, and Riddick Bowe but to create a space to generate many new world champions for the future.

Shannon Briggs

Zab Judah introduced him to Hossama Khan (one of the event promoters) with an appearance at a meet and greet leading to eventual contractual agreements for this contest.

Triller and their Triad Combat show teased this match years ago with Jackson and Briggs captaining a team MMA vs team Boxing event, respectively, with hybrid rules inside a triangular ring.

Considering that context, when Briggs was discussing this bout, he told Cageside Press’ Dylan Bowker on Bowks Talkin’ Bouts that “I’m gonna make an example of him to all the MMA fighters. He should never have took this fight.”

Briggs did praise Rampage’s work ethic leading into this fight however. It’s not lost on Shannon Briggs that Jackson will be a very powerful fighter inside the ring. The bombastic bruiser playfully claimed each man needs the KO here. Just to stave off the residual embarrassment of being knocked out by the other, more than the glory of the win itself.

‘The Cannon’ laughed and said Jackson’s pro debut in boxing will be his last fight in the sport. It has been years since Briggs fought and per his account, many fighters ducked him and he ardently wanted to compete this whole time.

Rampage Jackson vs Shannon ‘The Cannon’

Beyond his accolades as the former WBO and lineal heavyweight boxing champion Briggs has done K1 and garnered a kickboxing win in that outing.

To that point, he seems intrigued in an MMA bout with Rampage as a rematch and when asked about that idea, Briggs said, “I asked SDK and Hossama [the promoters] ‘can we do a contract now saying that the second fight will be in Qatar in MMA?’ I know the world would want to see him choke me and beat the sh*t out of me and have me sh*t on myself. I know that.”

“He would love that, choke me so bad that I can’t breathe, and put me unconscious. The world would want to see that but I got a trick for them, champ, I’mma kick his ass in MMA too. I could fight bro. I could fight. I’m a street fighter, I could fight. So he gonna see and I’m fast.”

“Once I knock him out in boxing, he gonna try to, in an MMA fight, he gonna try to wrestle me. When he go to wrestle me, I’mma punch him so hard in the top of his head. They gonna have to have the fight in the hospital; in the waiting room of the hospital. That’s; I told SDK and Hossama they should build a hospital right next to the fight.”

Rumble of Titans: Duel in Desert

Shannon Briggs was frequently talking about MMA pies during our chat, which was his preferred language for a “can”/lesser opponent. When Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury was mentioned, Briggs felt like he would have knocked out Ngannou and wasn’t sure why Fury underperformed there to such a degree. He also does not highly favour Ngannou’s chances against Anthony Joshua during their Friday fight.

The post Shannon Briggs Wants to “Make An Example Of” Rampage to All MMA Fighters appeared first on Cageside Press.

On another off-week for major mixed martial arts action, Cageside Press looks back at a classic event in the history of the sport.  For this holiday, we reflect on Bellator 106 on November 02 in 2013.

Though the landscape of mixed martial arts has changed drastically since 2013, one thing has remained the same: it is difficult to put on a successful pay-per-view.  The UFC has largely built a monopoly on holding pay-per-view events behind their brand recognition and promotional resources.  With one pay-per-view event per month on average, the room for most die-hard fans to allocate funds for a non-UFC MMA card often seems non-existent.

That is what made Bellator 106 so interesting.  After years of being the kid brother to the booming UFC, Bellator was set to make their first foray into the pay-per-view business.  Until then, the company had aired exclusively on cable television and was largely known for using their tournament format to build stars like Eddie Alvarez, Ben Askren, Douglas Lima, and Hector Lombard.

For their first night on pay-per-view, Bellator stacked the event with the biggest fights they could make with their roster.  The centerpiece was set to be a battle of former UFC champions and free agent signings in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Tito Ortiz who were set to make their Bellator debuts.  In the co-headliner, lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former champion Eddie Alvarez were scheduled for a rematch of their Fight of the Year candidate two years prior.  The undercard also featured featherweight champion Pat Curran taking on Daniel Straus, the heavyweight tournament final between Cheick Kongo and Vinicius Queiroz, and the final of Bellator’s reality series Fight Master with UFC veteran Joe Riggs taking on Mike Bronzoulis.

On paper, the card was about as good as Bellator could hope to put on with the talent and star power available.  The promotion invested heavily into promoting the event, with the commercial running during most programming breaks on Spike TV and the card being a frequent talking point during the events leading up to it.  But the question remained, would fans pay for the pay-per-view when the only product for years that they had paid for was from the UFC?

Fight day! Three titles are on the line, including @MikeChandlerMMA vs. @Ealvarezfight live at 9/8c on @SpikeTV. pic.twitter.com/GjogUdhccL

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 2, 2013

In the end, the jump to pay-per-view (at the time) was not meant to be.  Roughly a week out from the event, it was announced that Ortiz was out of the fight due to a neck injury which led to the card being demoted from a pay-per-view to becoming another free card on Spike.  A day later, the bout between Kongo and Queiroz was also rescheduled due to an injury to Queiroz.

The action that night at the Long Beach Convention Center was a slow burn.  After a solid start to the prelims and a first round finish to open the main card, the card saw three straight decisions that included two five round fights.  It seemed as if the proverbial MMA Gods had simply conspired to put a damper on the evening.  By the time the main event rolled around, all the anticipation had funneled into whether Alvarez and Chandler could deliver once again.  What happened next made everyone forget most of what had taken place earlier in the night.

Alvarez and Chandler went back-and-forth in a battle that many argue was even more competitive and exciting than their first.  After being stopped in the fourth round in the first fight, Alvarez rallied to have a strong finish in the final round of the rematch that was enough to get him the nod in a split-decision.  With one victory apiece and two Fight of the Year candidates in the books, then Bellator President Bjorn Rebney said that having the two potentially headline a pay-per-view with the rubber match was a no-brainer.

Look what's in the works! Who's ready to complete the trilogy? @Ealvarezfight @MikeChandlerMMA pic.twitter.com/aFUxK7lw4w

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 10, 2014

Unfortunately, the third fight never materialized.

Rebney did indeed schedule the trilogy as the pay-per-view headliner months later, but an injury to Alvarez forced him to withdraw.  Alvarez would then enter a contract dispute with Bellator, being inactive for nearly a year before being granted his release.  Alvarez went on to sign with the UFC and won the championship in 2016.  He would leave for ONE Championship in free agency a little over a year before Chandler came to the UFC.  The two remain even at one victory apiece over the other.

Months later, Bellator would go on to finally hold a pay-per-view, but it was far from what was expected at Bellator 104.  Quinton Jackson headlined the event against tournament finalist Muhammed Lawal.  Tito Ortiz competed in the co-headliner against middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko who was moving up in weight.  Some of the names that rounded out the included future UFC contender Alexander Volkov and current Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page.

The sales of the pay-per-view did not do well enough to make another attempt a priority, although they did try again in 2018.  Today, the pay-per-view business for combat sports as a whole has been reinvented.  The UFC remains king for MMA, but now sees more competition than ever before with offerings from boxing, bare-knuckle, and the hybrid events from Triller.  Superstars like Canelo Alvarez have blown up the pay-per-view model, forgoing traditional pay-per-view contracts to now negotiating for more money in a flat rate up-front to compete on streaming services like DAZN.

On paper, Bellator 106 may seem like the night that Bellator was in over their head and paid the price for it in losing their pay-per-view headliner.  However, the electric lightweight clash lives on as the bout that made bonafide MMA stars out of Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler.  Alvarez entered the UFC as an immediate contender, a rarity in today’s game.  Chandler went on to become one of the best fighters in Bellator history and was considered one of the best talents outside of the UFC until getting to finally enter the Octagon earlier this year and compete for the title.  Today, Bellator has never been bigger and it is off the back of continuing to build on ambitious events like Bellator 106.

The post Throwback Thursday: Bellator 106 Exceeds Expectations After Setbacks appeared first on Cageside Press.

Fedor has 🧱's for 👊's. #BellatorJapan goes down this Saturday LIVE & FREE on @ParamountNet!

_________________________________________

ヒョードルの氷の拳、その破壊力がヤバい！

ベラトール日本大会は、日曜日にDAZNにてライブ配信！#ベラトール pic.twitter.com/iebdyuHnrv

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) December 25, 2019

Let’s go back.

The year is 2003 and the UFC is still two years from airing The Ultimate Fighter on SpikeTV.    But in Japan, two of the most prolific stars of the 2000’s are beginning to embark on what would become legendary careers.  “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko was just six fights into what would eventually become a 27 fight run where he would not suffer a single loss.  Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was a new upstart in PRIDE after having been a powerful force on the regional circuit in the United States.  By the end of the decade, both men will have reached single name recognition among the MMA fandom.

This Saturday’s contest harkens back to the classic match-ups seen in the early 2000’s in the days of PRIDE.  The entire event has been poised to feel like a true throwback: The two are not only fighting again in Tokyo, but they are even fighting back in the Saitama Super Arena that was the site of many of their classic fights in PRIDE.  Even the undercard has touches of the classic feel, with the entire card being a cross-promotional event between Bellator and RIZIN at a level that is hardly seen in today’s MMA landscape.

But while many expect the energy in the arena to feel like 2003, questions linger about what we may see when the two finally collide.  Emelianenko is fighting for the first time since losing in the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix against Ryan Bader back in January.  The event capped off a 2018 run that saw him shock Frank Mir with a first round knockout and bulldoze Chael Sonnen in the semifinals.  Many wondered if he would step away from the sport a second time, and months later he answered those questions by announcing that he had signed a new contract with Bellator in what has been viewed as a retirement tour with President Scott Coker saying he plans to bring Emelianenko to several markets so people can see him fight for presumably the final time.

#FullFightFriday – Rampage vs Wanderlei brought to you by @cbdmd_usa!

Use code "Bellator" for 20% off and Free Shipping at https://t.co/OCujAqwDhD.@Rampage4Real returns to the cage December 28th to take on Fedor in Tokyo! Catch the action Live on @ParamountNet.#BellatorJapan pic.twitter.com/NLuUwlJDKq

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) December 13, 2019

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been clear that it is his desire to compete in the most exciting fights possible for the remainder of his career.  He is coming off a fourth fight with arch-nemesis Wanderlei Silva where he added another stoppage to his already impressive collection.  Emelianenko is a similar dance partner and a fitting opponent for what is shaping up to be an incredible event in Japan.  While Jackson has not indicated that Saturday is his last fight, it is not lost on anyone that a knockout victory over the legendary Fedor in Japan could be as fitting a finale for his career as he could possibly script.

Jackson’s early days in Japan are filled with startling displays of his power.  His knockouts over the likes of Kevin Randleman and Chuck Liddell stand out, and his slam of Ricardo Arona remains one of his most iconic moments.  His days in the UFC saw another stoppage of Liddell to win the title and a victory over former PRIDE double-champ Dan Henderson to unify the titles at 205 pounds.  They also saw battles with the likes of Jon Jones, Ryan Bader, Lyoto Machida, and Glover Teixeira during his run.  His run in Bellator has seen him hit a stride of fights that suit him at a pace that has seen him compete once a year.

While the year is no longer 2003, their last several fights have many feeling that being back in front of the Japanese crowd at the Super Saitama Arena will bring out the familiar magic for both men to have an exciting contest for as long as it lasts.  Jackson is reportedly expected to weigh in roughly 260 pounds, five pounds more than his last fight back in September of 2018.  It will be a sizable difference compared to the 236 pounds Emelianenko weighed for his fight with Ryan Bader.  On paper, Emelianenko figures to be the faster fighter and should mix up his attack with takedowns and crisp boxing.  By getting in-and-out efficiently, he gives himself the best chance to outwork Rampage over the course of the fight. By comparison, Jackson should come forward with his usual plodding style and batter Emelianenko with heavy shots to accumulate damage.  Jackson figures to win a fire-fight in the middle of the cage with Emelianenko and is favored to be able to land the knockout during the fight, but he should look for an early lead on the scorecards by trying to deliver damage in the opening rounds in case he doesn’t land the finishing shot.

Jackson could find himself in an interesting spot with victory after having a brief post-fight scuffle with current Bellator double-champion Ryan Bader back in September.  Emelianenko is expected to be matched-up with the most intriguing opponents possible as he fulfills the rest of his contract.

The post Bellator 237: Fedor and Rampage to Engage in True Throwback appeared first on Cageside Press.

Some interesting news from Bellator MMA on Tuesday. The Viacom-owned promotion has announced a multi-year, nine figure distribution deal with streaming provider DAZN which will see Bellator events air live, without tape delay, in multiple markets including the U.S. Bellator will continue to air on Paramount Network, but DAZN earns the rights to seven events exclusively on its service.

“The exciting new partnership with DAZN is a game-changer for Bellator,” said Bellator President Scott Coker via press release. “The investment will enable us to continue expanding our roster with free agents that make sense, so we can put on PPV-worthy fight cards that fans want to see. Plus, on DAZN’s worldwide platform, our fights will be seen live for the first time to new audiences around the globe.”

“It’s simple; fans want to see great fighters in competitive fights so we’ve handed the keys to Scott Coker and his venerable team to go out and recruit even more top-level talent to further stack Bellator fight cards and build on their success,” DAZN CEO James Rushton was quoted as saying.  “With the combination of this investment and our recent announcement to bring more than 30 nights of boxing to the platform annually, DAZN will be a must-have for fight fans in the U.S.”

The DAZN deal is valued at nine-figures, per Tuesday’s release. It will begin in time for the promotion’s hotly anticipated show on September 29 in California, which sees Wanderlei Silva meet Rampage Jackson for the fourth time, as well as a champ vs. champ fight between Gegard Mousasi and Rory MacDonald, and the launch of the Bellator welterweight Grand Prix.

The post Bellator MMA, DAZN Sign Multi-Year Distribution Deal appeared first on Cageside Press.

It looks like Wanderlei Silva vs. Rampage Jackson 4 is happening — just not in Brazil. After talk of the fight headlining Bellator’s Brazilian debut fizzled, ‘The Axe Murderer’ announced Wednesday that he’ll be facing Jackson anyway — in California on September 29. Although no official announcement has been made, Bellator do have a press conference scheduled next week to unveil a new distribution deal, and it’s likely the fight will be announced at the same time.

Silva, however, was more than happy to spoil the surprise on social media, posting messages to Twitter and Facebook announcing his return to action. On Jackson’s birthday, no less (Rampage turns 40 today).

É com muita honra que anúncio meu retorno ao MMA, no dia 29 de Setembro na Califórnia, farei o Main Event do @bellatormma contra @rampage4real será o nosso 4º combate, estou muito feliz com meu retorno e… https://t.co/iBYfg6SwAL

— Wanderlei Silva (@wandfc) June 20, 2018

“It is with great honor that I announce my return to MMA, on September 29th in California,” Silva’s statement read. “I will do the Bellator MMA Main Event against @ rampage4real it will be our 4th match, I am very happy with my return and it will undoubtedly be a great show for everyone you guys” he added (translated).

Brazil’s Silva also posted an accompanying video to Facebook, including clips from he and Jackson’s past encounters.

Silva (35–13–1 (1)) twice defeated Jackson in Pride, both times finishing ‘Rampage’ with knees. Their first meeting in 2003 ended after 17 (!) consecutive knees; the rematch in 2004 infamously ended with a knee to the head that sent Jackson crashing onto the ring ropes, dangling unconscious as Silva celebrated. A third fight, in the UFC in 2008 at UFC 92, saw Jackson finally get his revenge, knocking out Silva in the first round.

In recent years, both men have hit a slump, with Silva arguably worse off. The Brazilian was handed a lengthy suspension by NSAC after dodging a drug test prior to UFC 175 in 2014. After being handed an initial lifetime ban from the sport, Silva’s punishment was reduced, though he would not return to action until June 2017 in Bellator. There, he suffered a unanimous decision loss at the hands of another rival, Chael Sonnen.

Jackson (37–13), meanwhile, had managed to string together a five fight win streak between the UFC and Bellator between 2013 and 2016, all while feuding with both promotions at various points. However, he has dropped two straight fights to King Mo and Sonnen, each via decision. The most recent loss to Sonnen at Bellator 192 in January also saw him bounced from Bellator’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix.

The post Wanderlei Silva Says He’s Fighting Rampage Jackson in September appeared first on Cageside Press.

Chael Sonnen surprised many by picking up a unanimous decision win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on Saturday at Bellator 192. The main event battle was the opening fight of Bellator’s Heavyweight World Grand Prix 2018. What was more surprising than the win, however, was the amount of time Sonnen spent engaging on the feet. Despite the going theory that Sonnen would be looking for the takedown, constantly, given Rampage’s power, the first round was more of a kickboxing match.

Sonnen, addressing the media following Saturday night’s big win, addressed his approach and more.

The good news, beyond the win, is the time Sonnen now has to heal up. “If Rampage and I got lucky, anywhere, it’s that we got to go first” Sonnen said. “So we’ll have the most recovery.”

As for the surprising amount of time Sonnen spent engaging on the feet, he stated that “I don’t know if i ever thought about it too much, but I always try to punch my way in and get close, see where the other guy’s at and set him up.” He also pointed out that “I think I’ve boxed more than any of these guys have. I don’t know if they’ve ever competitively boxed. I used to competitively box. It’s definitely plan B for me, but I know how to box.”

That said, he later added “I felt like it was a really hard fight, and I felt like finding that range was really important. Because I stepped in it a couple of times, I got too close and he hit really hard. Whether you could see it or not I’ll tell you he hit really hard.” In the end it was all about finding his range. “I was trying to find out where to be, and it was a bit of a process.”

“I kind of needed all three rounds to do it, quite frankly” he said of figuring out his Bellator 192 foe.

Next up for Sonnen will be the winner of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir. That fight will take place in April in Chicago.

The post Chael Sonnen Discusses Using More Than Wrestling In Defeating Rampage Jackson at Bellator 192 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Muhammed Lawal, better known to MMA fans as ‘King Mo,’ was minus his crown in the lead-up to Bellator 192 on Saturday. The ‘moneyweight’ took a few minutes to discuss his participation in Bellator’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix, however, and for King Mo, it’s all about one thing: staying busy. When asked about participating in the tournament over waiting for a title shot, Mo made it clear he wasn’t about to wait.

“I like to fight. Tournaments mean more fights. So I just jumped in the tournament” he told us.

“Why would I want to wait? At least in a tournament, I know what’s next” he continued. “In a fight, you don’t know what’s next. You fight, you wait around, you call the promoter, you call the organization, and nobody would get back to you. Well, in a tournament, you win the first round, you know there’s a fight guaranteed in the second round. So why not do it?”

The big talk leading into the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix has been an eventual rubber match for King Mo with rival Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. Rampage won their first meeting, back at Bellator 120. Last year, Lawal evened the score. At 1-1, a third fight might not settle their feud, but would at least settle the score. So how does King Mo stay focused on the opponent immediately ahead of him in the quarter-finals, Ryan Bader?

“I don’t worry about it. Just one fight at a time” he said, adding “don’t forget, I came from a wrestling background. In wrestling, we get tournaments every weekend.”

When it comes to Bader, the man Mo would have been challenging for the light heavyweight title in other circumstances, what’s his prediction for when they finally meet? “I’m gonna whoop his ass. Plain and simple.”

Lawal and Bader are expected to square off sometime in May.

The post Bellator’s King Mo Lawal Discusses His Participation in the World Heavyweight Grand Prix appeared first on Cageside Press.

The opening round of the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix served as Bellator 192’s main event Saturday. In it, Chael Sonnen moved up to heavyweight to face Quintin ‘Rampage’ Jackson. Like Sonnen in recent years, Rampage is better known as a light heavyweight, and is not a natural heavyweight. That said, he’s always been a big 205lb’er, and had been creeping up into the weight class in recent fights.

At The Forum in Los Angele Saturday, the pair collided, with the winner set to face the victor of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir later this year. Sonnen entered the night off a win over Wanderlei Silva at Bellator NYC last June, while Jackson had a five-fight win streak snapped last March when he dropped a decision to King Mo in a rematch of their Bellator 120 bout.

With a scheduled three rounds, could the wrestler Sonnen overcome the powerful Rampage?

Sonnen opened with a left, and threw out a leg kick for good measure, then a kick to Rampage’s thigh. Chael stayed light on his feet, and mixed up his striking, going to the body with a punch, and continuing to touch Rampage’s legs with kicks. After a minute no takedown had been attempted. Chael landed an overhand left more than once, though it didn’t seem to bother the bigger man much. Chael then ate a counter, to the roar of the crowd. Chael took it well, however, and continued to slip the majority of Jackson’s strikes. Finally clinching, Jackson quickly reversed, Chael looked back in control, but Rampage dumped him on his back with the crowd cheering. Jackson then waved him back to his feet. Sonnen was still connecting with the left, and you’d have to wonder whether Rampage should have got on top for ground and pound.

Chael next tried a bit of a jumping knee. Then another left. In an exchange, another to the side of Rampage’s head. Of course, the threat of a Rampage Jackson knockout was ever-present. Chael then scored an uppercut, a takedown, and quickly took Jackson’s back. He looked for the rear-naked choke, but Rampage turned in and escaped. Still, a surprisingly effective approach on the feet for Chael Sonnen.

In the second stanza, Chael Sonnen went for a takedown early, but it wasn’t to be had. Chael broke out a foot stomp, while Jackson worked in some short punches. Staying on Jackson, Chael finally dragged him to the canvas. From there, he worked his way to half guard. While the crowd wasn’t pleased, he did just enough to prevent the standup, working for a kimura. Jackson threw some elbows from the bottom, but simply didn’t have the angle for them to be effective. Sonnen would attempt a second kimura attempt, still in half guard. In the end, he’d ride out the round on top, and was likely up two rounds to none.

The third round saw a visibly tired Rampage and Sonnen tie up along the fence. Jackson worked in some shots to the ribs, getting more aggressive the more he landed. Sonnen was wrapping his arms around Jackson’s head, which exposed his ribs and midsection. Chael had a single overhook, and was able to clasp his hands around Rampage. However, the ref restarted the action, which played more into Jackson’s favor. Jackson went head hunting, stalking ‘The American Gangster.’ He then waved Sonnen forward, and later turned his back on his opponent to goad him in. Jackson continued to rip the body when Chael was in range, but more often than not, he wasn’t in range. With a minute to go in the round and Rampage Jackson in desperate need of a finish, it was Sonnen taking the former UFC champion down. He couldn’t do much, but a last minute stand-up really didn’t matter.

With Rampage negated on the feet early and controlled in the second, his last-minute flurry in the third was too little, too late. Shocking many, it was Chael P. Sonnen with his hand raised to open the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix 2018.

“Frank Mir, Fedor Emelianenko, none of you are the best, but one of you is next” Sonnen quipped after the fight.

Chael Sonnen def. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The post Bellator 192 Results: Chael Sonnen Surprises, Takes Decision Win Over Rampage Jackson appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bellator 192 main event attraction Chael Sonnen has a tough test ahead of him on Saturday at The Forum in Los Angeles. The veteran wrestler and self-styled ‘American Gangster’ has never walked away from a fight — but he’s giving up a lot of weight mixing it up with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

He spoke to Cageside Press on Friday, just a day shy of stepping in the cage, about the weight issue, who his pick for the best of all time is, and more.

When asked about the weight discrepancy between himself and Jackson, Chael wasn’t phased. “When I got in this sport, we didn’t have weight classes. I think I had 4, 5, 6 fights before I even saw a scale” the always quotable fighter said. “So I don’t get too tied into the weight classes, but I’ve also never done it before. I don’t completely know what I’m getting into, but I’ve got no problem with it.”

Just how important is this fight, and the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix, to a fighter who contested for UFC gold on three separate occasions?  “It’s a main event, it’s at the Forum, it’s the quarter-final of a world championship, so in my life competitively right now, it’s the most important thing.”

Sonnen is in a unique position as one of the few men to have fought both Anderson Silva and Jon Jones (Vitor Belfort and Stephen Bonnar have as well). The pair have had their troubles of late, with both facing suspensions from USADA, but what’s his take on who the greatest of all time is?

His answer is GSP. “I think that Jones is a very special talent, it’s just that St. Pierre going as long as he did – running through a division is one thing” Sonnen explained. “Running through it a second time is a whole ‘nother, and he gave some guys three opportunities.”

“He retired, he came back looking terrible, he came back looking slow, he came back looking weak, and he still was the baddest dude in the world.” That cements Georges St. Pierre as a special fighter. “If you can be the best fighter in the world  on a bad day, you’re something very special.”

Over the years, Sonnen has been known for, shall we say, his promoting, as much as for his fighting. Or, as he has put it before, his “truth talking.” There’s not any one line he’s most proud of, but Chael Sonnen did admit that “I had a lot of fun over the years, I could tell you that much.”

As for the fight on Saturday, “I’m going to jump on Rampage from the very start. I’m going to fight as hard as I can the entire time, and if he’s got an answer for it, god bless him.”

Bellator 192 takes place Saturday, January 20 at The Forum in Los Angeles, CA.

The post Bellator 192’s Chael Sonnen On Weight Discrepancies, the Greatest of All Time, and Having Fun “Truth Talking” appeared first on Cageside Press.