Jackson faces Machida, Silva next in pipeline
This November, with Lyoto Machida, Quinton Rampage Jackson appears to be heading for a light-heavyweight showdown. Jackson’s could be a meeting with Machida’s friend and training partner, Anderson Silva, if he gets past the Brazilian.
As Jackson completes the outstanding fights on his contract, his MMA career is understood to be winding down, with Machida is next on the agenda. On Twitter, “The Dragon” confirmed the bout. Before Rampage hangs up the gloves, he wants to avenge defeats to Rashad Evans, Mauricio Shogun Rua and Forrest Griffin.
However, at UFC 117, Anderson Silva is eyeing up another 205lb challenge after he faces Chael Sonnen, to face Georges St-Pierre. Silva, in his last light-heavyweight venture, had destroyed Griffin. UK president Marshall Zelaznik is a big supporter of a Silva/Jackson encounter and Silva will be targeting a major name as his next opponent.
Zelaznik said, “I’d love to see something like that happen. When he fights at light heavyweight, nobody comes away complaining from his fights. He can obviously fight at either weight, but it’s almost as if the anticipation surrounding Anderson Silva only brings out the man we all imagine him to be when he takes these light-heavyweight challenges.”
He added, “There’s such a size thing surrounding the GSP v Anderson situation. If you hang out with Anderson, he is such a big guy. The difference between him and GSP is significant. Obviously that is a factor in this sport, can skill overcome size? But in this situation Anderson has the frame of a light-heavyweight.”
