It’s perhaps fair to say that Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson hasn’t really been sticking to the script since signing for Bellator at the start of June.
In fairness, he’s been waxing lyrical about his new deal and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, but beyond that he’s made several admissions that would lead you to wonder just how motivated the 35 year-old is at this stage in his career.
“I don’t have the desire to be a champion. That’s not something I want,” ‘Rampage’ confesses in his latest interview with MMAMania.
Given that Bellator’s entire business model is built around fighter working their way towards becoming a champion via tournaments, that’s probably not what they wanted to hear from the former UFC light-heavyweight champion.
And he’s not too keen on the idea of coaching a season of Bellator’s new TUF style reality show ‘Fight Master’ either, though the promotion will no doubt breathe a sign of relief that he’s not completely ruled out the possibility of it happening.
“Let’s keep it real – I’m not a good coach. I’m not a good coach. I’m still learning and trying to improve myself,” he admits. “I wouldn’t have any interest in being on the show but I respect Bjorn Rebney so much that if he asked me to do it, I would do it. I’d do it for him.”
So he doesn’t want to be a champion and isn’t interested in coaching ‘Fight Master’…so what exactly is he interested in doing?
Well, he did mention upon first signing that he’d like to fight at heavyweight, and he’s now indicated that if Roy Nelson were to leave the UFC and fight for Bellator then he’d be happy to fight him.
That’d be a fun scrap for sure, but at this stage there’s absolutely no indication that ‘Big Country’ has any intention of jumping ship. Dana White has already confirmed that he will offer the heavyweight fighter a new deal despite his latest defeat and Nelson gave indications post-fight that he was happy to remain with the UFC.
As for when ‘Rampage’s’ Bellator debut will take place, he claims that he’ll fight before the end of the year.
