Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader
Photo Courtesy of MMAStreamed.com
John Heinis: "Rampage" is coming off just the second submission loss of his career when he was outclassed by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at UFC 135.
Prior to that bout, he boasted back-to-back wins over Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill. Jackson is pumped up to be back in Japan, where he had a very successful stint in Pride, but 41 fights deep in his career, can he recapture the magic from his early career?
Well, Jackson hasn't put an opponent away in over four years (Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92), but he has found ways to grind out decisions over top notch opposition with his aggressive boxing and great takedown defense.
Ryan "Darth" Bader said he plans on throwing Jackson off balance by utilizing kicks, punches and takedowns the way "Bones" Jones did, but I wouldn't hold your breath on that one.
Bader was also submitted by Jones at UFC 126, tapping to a tight guillotine choke, which is fine, but then tapping to an ancient Tito Ortiz guillotine at UFC 132 is simply unacceptable.
Sure, he rebounded with an impressive knockout over Jason Brilz at UFC 139, but there's a reason "The Hitman" is no longer on the UFC roster.
Bader, a former All-American wrestler at Arizona State University, has quality takedowns and heavy hands...but even a past his prime Rampage will be too much for the former "Ultimate Fighter" winner.
Jackson via unanimous decision (30-27)
Dwight Wakabayashi: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is excited to return to the land where it all began for him in his mixed martial arts career.
I'm just not so sure he is as excited to fight, and that makes this fight a tough one to call. Rampage is not as motivated and not the fighter he used to be, but he is returning to a place where he has an incredible fan following—and that may be the juice he needs to get past Bader.
With Quinton, the game plan is always set around his punching power and improved head movement, and I think he will specifically be looking for the big bomb in this one.
Bader is looking for some redemption in his career and he is coming off a solid bounce back win over Jason Brilz. He will look to use his dominant wrestling strength to wear out the veteran and look to his his right hand to land the shot that spoils Rampage's return.
On paper, this one looks like absolute trouble for Jackson. His opponent is young and hungry, something that puts him at an immediate disadvantage.
Did Rampage want to be in Japan for the party and to see old friends and not so much for the fight? It says here that it really doesn't matter, because I am still not sold on the game of Ryan Bader.
Quinton Jackson via split decision
Dale De Souza: Quinton "Rampage'' Jackson isn't getting Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, but he is getting to fight in Japan. He's also getting to fight in Japan against a still-rising prospect in Ryan Bader, who packs a heavy set of hands and one hell of a wrestling game.
Rampage also has himself some heavy hands and a great wrestling game, but he also has the overall edge in experience over Bader, as well as something of a home-field advantage.
Rampage and Bader, according to Dana White, were originally scheduled to fight on a FOX card (unknown if it was the same one that'll feature Jim Miller and Nate Diaz), but the bottom line of this fight might be the matter of whether Bader can make this shot count.
Even Anthony McGann, one of Rampage's trainers at the Wolfslair MMA Academy, sees how a win over Rampage might instantaneously put Bader among the elite at 205, but it's likely not going to happen.
I'd like to think Bader will be unable to work his wrestling, and that he's getting dropped by Rampage en route to a vintage-style slam from Bader's guard.
However, if you want a vanilla prediction, Bader will come out like a gamer and yet still find himself unable to counter Rampage's best shots before getting dropped and finished on the ground.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson by round 1 TKO (punches)
Jeffrey McKinney: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will be making his long awaited return to Japan when he takes on Ryan Bader.
The last time Jackson was in Japan, he was one of the top contenders in PRIDE.
During his time in the now defunct company, Jackson was known for his knockouts, wars with Wanderlei Silva, and his memorable slams.
Now Jackson looks like a shell of his former self.
Although he still found ways to win during most of his UFC career, Jackson has not had a knockout since 2008.
Bader, on the other hand, is coming off a knockout victory over Jason Brilz.
Bader was 12-0 in his career before losing two straight fights by submission to Tito Ortiz and Jon Jones.
Submissions are one thing he won’t have to worry about against Jackson.
Jackson always goes for the knockout and should be even more motivated since he will be returning to Japan.
Bader could surprise everybody, though, by spoiling the party.
Japan is the fight that Jackson has been wanting, though, and I don’t believe that he will squander this opportunity.
Quinton Jackson by knockout