Triller promotion Triad Combat gets underway tonight with a series of MMA fighter vs. boxer match-ups featuring the likes of Frank Mir and Matt Mitrione, but at yesterday’s pre-fight press conference it was two stars who aren’t even fighting on the card that stole the show – Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Shannon Briggs.
The two veterans of their respective sports were serving as team captains for the event, but they ended up in a war of words on stage at the presser, briefly engaged in a shoving match during the fighter staredowns, and later continued to jaw at each other backstage.
In fact, at one stage Briggs, a former heavyweight boxing champ, attempted to take down former UFC and PRIDE champion ‘Rampage’, but quickly abandoned ship after the MMA star easily shrugged it off.
As dramatic as it sounds the back-and-forth between the two was mostly humorous and light-hearted, though it does appear that the two may have an interest in fighting against each other next year.
“Me stepping into a boxing ring with somebody like Shannon’s caliber of boxing, I have that rush,” Rampage said earlier this week. “In training camp, I have that rush. It’s like, ‘Oh if I don’t get this right, there’s a chance I can get knocked out.’ I lost that over the years in MMA by fighting everybody and doing that.
“I accept the challenge. I think Shannon would be a real tough boxing match.”
Check out videos from the presser and backstage afterwards below.
