Rampage vs. Evans possibly off? Dana White is not happy...

[jmt225]

Rampage’s management are en route to the US to have an urgent weekend meeting with the UFC regarding this development. It is understood that they will be asking for the fight with Evans to be moved to another date, allowing Jackson to get a full training camp.

That would create a headache for the UFC as it would lose the main event of 107, which is being held in Jackson’s home town of Memphis, Tennessee.

But the potential benefits of Jackson’s participation in the movie may outweigh the downsides. The A Team remake is a big-budget, mainstream Hollywood affair that will receive massive publicity around the world.

Dana's response:

He is none too thrilled about the possibility and hopes Jackson does not get the part. White made it clear that he thinks fighters should fight and actors should act. He said as much to Jackson when the former champion came to him and told him of his plans, stating he had a sentimental reason for wanting to play Mr. T’s old role. Apparently, he had grown up watching the show with his father and told White how great it would be to get the role.

White’s response to Jackson?

“Guess what Rashad Evans is thinking about right now? He’s thinking about beating your fucking ass. OK? He’s not sitting around thinking about how him and his mom used to watch ‘The Love Boat’ together and he wants to get the role of Isaac the Bartender. Get a fucking grip, dude.

“Evans hates Rampage more than anyone on the planet, and all he is thinking about is killing him. And Jackson wants to play B.A. Baracus on The A-Team. This shit drives me fucking nuts, so, no, I am not a big fan of fighters doing movies. When your career is over and you turn into a movie star, that’s awesome.”

Wow... so, I guess I'll just ask: Whose side are YOU on in this?

Personally, I have to take Dana's side, even though once more he's showing himself to be such an unprofessional dick. Seriously, I like Dana a lot, but my God he reacts like a little fucking baby every time something has a chance of not going his way. He's almost as bad as Donovan McNabb in that aspect. I completely understand him being upset, but that gives him no excuse to handle it in the typical Dana White way, especially when it comes to one of his main fighters.

That said, Rampage needs to do this fight. It's in his hometown, and they shot an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter to hype it up. He cannot let the UFC and the fans down. I understand him being in this film is a big dream of his and I respect that, but he needs to try his hardest to make both the fight and movie happen, and don't let one ruin the other. If he ultimately has to make a choice, then he has to choose the UFC over the movie business. If he doesn't, then his UFC career will probably be over and I'd hate to see that happen. Hell, just the possibility of Evans/Rampage not happening is depressing enough, but Rampage out of the UFC all together is just a terrifying thought.

But yeah... the UFC stuck by Rampage after his big incident and everything else. Hollywood is not that kind. Rampage needs to stay loyal to those who got him where he's at.

 

[Marquis]

I was reading about this earlier, but wasn't sure if it was true since I remember reading he didn't get the spot for the A team, but if Dana replied with those comments there must be some truth to it.

Honestly I could care less about this. I'm a big fan of neither, I actually like Rashad more, so this effects me even less. Though I can see fans of Rampage obviously being mad about this. With Dana acting like how he is, Rampage can really fuck up his relationship here with the UFC who have been good to him if he goes through with this Movie star move. Really though, I can't blame Rampage if he goes through with this move. It's basically making a paycheck for getting punched in the face, or getting a bigger paycheck just for acting. So I can't blame Rampage for wanting to act instead of fight. Rampage doesn't come across as the type who really values respect and fighting over money.

All of this could have been avoided if the UFC didn't have him film not one, but two TUF seasons so close. Apparently it's fine for him to take time off filming two TUF seasons since it helps the UFC, but to take time off for a film for himself is not fine. If it wasn't for TUF he would have already fought Rashad and this wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[kingdirrtysouth1]

I actually think Rampage will get turned down for the role & the fight will happen as scheduled. I also think Dana just talks to hear his own voice. Sometimes I enjoy reading his comments, but other times i just think he's a mark for his own voice. If he has a problem with this, handle the shit in private! Talk to Rampage man to man! But, seeing how I complained about Cung Le shooting movies instead defending his title, I gotta do the same thing here. If Rampage is schedule to fight(which he is), honor the damn contract, then go do the movie. To be honest though, just like every other tv-to-big screen remake, I have a feeling the movie is gonna suck anyway!

 

[OIL]

I'll side with Dana White. Rampage is trying to move his UFC fight, his main event fight, to star in a movie. Sorry, but that just doesn't work for me. The UFC is his main income, it's his job. Therefore, why should Dana White & the UFC have to bend around trying to get their fighters into movie roles, when they SHOULD be fighting? Rampage can quite easily do movies when he's finished, no problem. But unless the shooting happens between fights, giving him enough time to train, it shouldn't happen.

 

[AdamBenjamin]

Rampage not fighting, no less in his own hometown, would be absolutely ridiculous. And over a fucking A-Team remake? It's such a poor example to the younger fighters most likely looking up to him.



As far as Dana White being an asshole... I'm not sure how I feel on it yet. I know UFC is a very professional, big time company these days.. But come on.. It's still a fucking fighter's world. Dana White has been dealing with these guys forever... You don't get anywhere being a pushover. He's established his dominance, wants to hold onto it, and he will. I think I almost applaud the guy for behaving the way he does, even now. He's confident enough, and with good reason, that there are very few guys that are irreplaceable on his roster, and the ones that are, he still has a firm hand with. The guy knows how and when to be professional, he just pushes things to that fine line. We'll see where his mouth takes him, however.

 

[BaconBits]

I hate to say it, but Rampage is ducking Rashad.

This is about more than the movie. It's about more than the money. It's about Rampage not wanting to get his ass kicked in his home town. With the amount of shit he's talking about Rashad, he should be willing to fight him when it was planned. All Rampage really has to do is cut the weight and go if he's really as good as he thinks he is. Big time fighters take the occasional fight on short training camps. Especially when that fight is in your home town. Big time fighters shrug that stuff off and mange to win under such circumstances. If Rampage was injured, cool, take the time you need. But he isn't, and this is a bitch way of getting out of an ass kicking in your home town.

The movie comes into play only in the instance of what happens if he gets his ass kicked by Rashad (Which I think is the most likely scenario) in between filming and release? He wouldn't really be a proper " Bad Ass" Baraccus, now would he?

 

[Marquis]

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship world light heavyweight champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson is in Vancouver to star as BA Baracus in an upcoming movie version of The A-Team.

Jackson has been removed from the UFC 107 card where he was set to face Sugar Rashad Evans in an Ultimate Fighter finale showdown, so he can appear in the film. He was spotted on Robson Street Friday afternoon, signing autographs for fans.

A Twitter user by the name @Reex posted an eyewitness update on the service Friday, saying, "Someone asked Rampage Jackson for an autograph and didn't have a pen -- I was scared for him."

Rampage will take the role played by Mr T in the 80's TV series. The character of BA Baracus made Mr T famous, and his "I pity da fool" line became a pop culture landmark.

Jackson will star as a coach on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series on Spike TV starting September 19, in which he and Sugar Rashad Evans coach opposing teams of heavyweight MMA wannabes, including former NFL football players and YouTube internet streetfighter Kimbo Slice.

But the movie role will take a toll on Jackson's UFC career, with his main event at UFC 107 rumoured to have been switched to a BJ Penn/Diego Sanchez lightweight title fight. The previously announced Evans/Jackson Ultimate fighter finale will be pushed back accordingly.

The Sun has learned Rampage was in Vancouver on August 19 to discuss the role with producers and arrived in town Friday to prepare for filming.

UFC President Dana White told reporters ahead of UFC 102 last week in Portland Oregon that he "hated" it when fighters decided to branch out into film careers.

"Guess what Rashad Evans is thinking about right now,” White said. “He’s thinking about beating your f**king ass. He’s not sitting around thinking about how him and his mom used to watch the f**king Love Boat together and he wants to get the role of Isaac the bartender.’”

Jackson will be in Vancouver shooting the film for the next six weeks.

More details as they come to hand.

Taken from the Vancouversun, and it's been confirmed over at the Wrestling observer.

Now even though all these different sources are confirming that Rampage is indeed off his fight with Rashad, I'm still a little skeptical about this since Rampage apparently confirmed on his twitter that he was starting his training camp in October. So until the UFC themselves or Rampage come out and confirm it, I'm still not sure exactly what to believe, but I'm leaning towards these reports of him being off the fight are most likely true. Like I said in my post before, Rampage has always come off as a guy who does it for the money to me. And well acting in a film not only brings him more money, but he doesn't get a beating for the money. I certainly don't think he's ducking Rashad, but he isn't underestimating him for sure if he's not willing to take this fight and film, which their should be enough time in between.