Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson are barely a week away from what is likely to be the biggest non-championship match in UFC history, in terms of fan interest.
Evans and Jackson added fuel to the already blazing fire on Tuesday, when they engaged in the most heated media teleconference in company history.
People have already witnessed the two former UFC light heavyweight champions trash talk each other more than any two fighters since the heyday of the Tito Ortiz-Ken Shamrock feud.
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Last fall’s Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” in which Evans and Jackson were rival coaches, was the highest rated season in the series’ history. The two were scheduled to end the season with a match on Dec. 12 in Jackson’s hometown of Memphis, the time everyone figured interest in the fight would be at its peak.
But Jackson got the opportunity to play B.A. Baracus in “The A-Team” movie, which debuts in theaters next month, and pulled out. Any thoughts that the time lapse would let hostilities die down, though, were destroyed Tuesday. It was clear, just as on the show, that there is something about Evans that gets under Jackson’s skin. Evans knows it and seemingly enjoys pushing those buttons.
When Jackson was asked if he’s ever fought anyone he dislikes more than Evans, it was a one word answer: “No.”
“I just don’t like the way he talks to me,” Jackson said. “He’s just real fake, and real cocky, you know what I’m saying. For someone who really, he ain’t really done much in this sport, what I’m saying is I don’t … “
Jackson didn’t finish the sentence before Evans broke in, noting that he was a former light heavyweight champion.
“That belt, where’s your belt at?” Jackson said.
And the two were off to the races.
Evans: “I got the belt from the guy that beat you.”
Jackson: “Hey, Forrest [Griffin] didn’t beat me, I beat myself.”
Evans: “You defended the title one time [a match with Dan Henderson], and that fight was horrible.”
Jackson: “Your fight with [Lyoto] Machida was horrible. You couldn’t defend your belt.”
When Evans said the two were at the same level, both as former champions, Jackson wouldn’t accept it.
“Nowhere near the same,” he said.
Apparently, to get under his skin, Evans sent Jackson two packages in the mail, the contents of which neither would discuss.
“I’m a grown-ass man and you’re playing these little boy games, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jackson said.
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