Had Quinton "Rampage" Jackson been successful in taking the UFC light heavyweight title from Jon Jones last year, we would likely be set to witness his retirement fight later this month at UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson. Instead, Jackson was defeated via submission and is still looking to wear UFC gold at least once more before hanging it up.
"To retire as UFC champion and to have defended the belt in Japan? Oh man, that would have been perfect. Believe me, I still want to retire as champion, I want to hold the belt once more," said Jackson, in a recent interview with Fighters Only Magazine. "I guess if I had won that Jon Jones fight and if the Japan show wasn't next, then there would have been a very good chance I would have retired already. It would have been a great time to bow out."
Jackson, who made a name for himself in MMA while competing in PRIDE, will take on Ryan Bader in Saitama, Japan on February 25 (February 26 in Japan) in the co-main event of the evening. Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson are the main event, with Edgar's UFC lightweight title up for grabs.
Fightline.com