This coming Saturday, at the UFC on FOX 6 event scheduled for Chicago’s United Center, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will step into the Octagon for probably the last time as he faces off against Glover Teixeira. Jackson’s bizarre behavior in what is his last contractual fight with the UFC has led to a very wide line being set for this fight. As it stands today, Teixeira is a -295 favorite according to the MMA odds, with the comeback on Jackson at +235. Very few are giving Jackson a chance of winning the fight, and the line appears to be spreading as fight time approaches compared to where it opened. Jackson has been very vocal about his overall treatment by the UFC and has signaled he wants to sever ties, possibly fighting in smaller or overseas promotions. He has even spoken about getting into boxing or pro wrestling. Though his MMA record stands at a solid 32-10, he has dropped two fights in a row, and there have been open questions about his preparation and motivation in recent years. In 2010, Jackson got a taste of the Hollywood life, as he appeared in the Mr. T role as B.A. Baracus for the movie ‘The A Team” but also spent time living out of his car before breaking into Japan’s PRIDE FC and becoming one of the best-known MMA fighters in the world. He has seen the highs and the lows of the sport, but his recent performances and statements in the media have led to a fall from grace in the eyes of MMA fans. He has looked like a shadow of his former self. As for Teixeira, he is at a crossroads in his career. He is a rugged martial artist with a fantastic 19-2 record, and his reputation expanded a great deal when several top names refused to fight him over the past year. Motivation is not a factor with him, as Teixeira is a hungry fighter who is hoping to break into the big money, and he is hoping to achieve some of the heights that Jackson saw in his career. This is the perfect fight to wait on if your going to make a play. On Wednesday, the media circus around a UFC event starts with press conferences and appearances, and ends Friday with the weigh-ins. The conferences and appearances are worth watching because they may give you an insight into Jackson’s motivations and psychological state. Open training sessions and the weigh-ins will let us know how physically prepared Quinton is. Everything points to a Teixeira rout in this fight, but will Jackson come in motivated? Let’s face it, and I have said this before, no one is making “The A Team 2” while Jackson has also apparently shut the door on a UFC return. At 34 years old, Jackson may be motivated to start a new phase in his life, and any negotiations, be they with Bellator, pro wrestling, boxing or even the UFC again will go better for Jackson coming off a win. I’m not counting on Jackson winning this fight because it seems as if he has applied a lot of needless pressure on himself for this last fight against Ryan Bader in Japan. But with Jackson’s behavior and physical conditioning on display this week, I’m going to keep a sharp eye out for a sign that Jackson’s head is on straight. If it is, he is a better natural athlete than Teixeira, and he may be worth a play as a live underdog.
