Rampage vs. The Ax Murderer - UFC 91

[xtremebadass]

Co-headlining UFC 91: Lesnar vs. Couture is a match that has been much anticipated in UFC...

SOURCE: MMA Junkie

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (28-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has begun preparations for a UFC 91 fight with Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

Sources within Jackson's new camp at the Wolfslair Academy tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Jackson has agreed to the Nov. 15 bout and has already begun a six-week fight camp with the U.K.-based team.

However, the UFC has yet to announce the bout, and neither fighter could publicly confirm the match-up.

The Jackson-Silva bout will likely serve as the co-main event to UFC 91's headline fight of UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar. The fight card, which also includes Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson, takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

MMARated.com first reported earlier this month that the Jackson-Silva fight was close to being finalized.

Jackson, who faces two felony (and four misdemeanor) charges stemming from a July hit-and-run and subsequent police chase in California, will return to competition for the first time since the bizarre incident and his recent split with longtime trainer and friend Juanito Ibarra. Under Ibarra's guidance, Jackson had won six consecutive fights, which included a first-round TKO of then-champ Chuck Liddell in May 2007, before his May title loss to Forrest Griffin.

Jackson, who recently pleaded not guilty to the charges, is currently scheduled for a Nov. 3 court date at which time he'll learn whether or not he'll go to trial due to his recent arrest.

Silva, meanwhile, recently picked up his first UFC win in nine years when he defeated Keith Jardine in quick and brutal fashion at UFC 84. He needed just 36 seconds for the knockout victory.

Silva competed in some early UFC events before heading to PRIDE to become one of the organization's biggest stars and most recognizable champions. However, his final two fights in the Japanese-based organization were both losses -- to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Dan Henderson via knockouts -- and he stretched the losing streak to three straight when he dropped a unanimous decision to Liddell during his octagon return at UFC 79.

Silva owns two previous victories over Jackson -- one in 2003 and again in 2004 -- with both coming via knockout.

The winner of the Jackson-Silva fight will be in the thick of the UFC's light-heavyweight title picture, which also includes undefeated contender Lyoto Machida. However, Rashad Evans, fresh off a stunning knockout victory of Liddell, has been granted the first shot at Griffin's title. That bout is expected to take place later this year or in early 2009.

Tickets for UFC 91 go on sale to the UFC's fan club beginning Wednesday, and the general public can place its orders on Saturday.

 

[thedeadite]

Silva by knees!!!!
again!!!!


...or so I'd like it to go. Honestly, Rampage has improved quite a bit since 2004 and Silva hasn't really been the Silva of old (though his fight with Jardine did look like he might be back). I think this should be an interesting fight and am really looking forward to it. I enjoyed both their other fights so...

 

[J]

Damn there just putting everything they got into UFC 91. Definitely not going to miss this one. Which I wouldn't anyways. Lol.

 

[McLovin]

This is gonna be one of the best MMA events in the past 3 years. Lesnar/Couture and now Rampage/Silva. I'm definetly watching this for sure.

 

[Christian]

i might go home to newnan to watch this at my friends house. damn.

 

[xtremebadass]

This may be the first UFC PPV I order. There are two huge matches at this one and am looking forward to Rampage's first match since his incedent.