Rampage back?

[Panzerfaust]

I just watched the fight again and i am so impressed by Rampage last night, i know alot of people think Eastman is a pushover but the fact is that he is'nt and is a very good Muay Thai striker and of course has KO power.

But it was the small details that i noticed in Rampage last night. For one, he was in damn good shape and his legs looked bigger than ever. His footwork and head movement was very good. He brought the fight to Eastman and never played counter striker.

If you will look back when Rampage started to decline, he no longer pressed the fight and would try counter punches. He would block and then maybe try to get his strikes in.

I have not seen him look this good technically since the 2003 GP Final against Chuck. Go back and watch that fight and notice his foot work and head movement, it is damn near identical to last night.

His fight against Lindland was right after he started training with his new coach (Juanito) and obviously that relationship was not yet solid at the time (training wise etc). It looks like they have Rampage on the right track physically and technically.

I thought it was the best fight of the night, the tempo was high, the strikes were all with huge power. It was awesome and i cannot wait to see more from Rampage..it looks like Rampage is back folks.

[QuieTSToRM33]

he def looked a lot better

[sonar1234]

Rampage came in with a great rip look, i love to see him back and KTFO people again.

[armbar83]

i know you said he wasnt counter punching as much but when he did it was very effective. he looked pretty good and is fun to watch. he doesnt look near ready for chuck though....jmo

[TheDfromGC]

he looked good but not good enough for chuck, it seemed eastman landed a few punches which were some close calls. he is good fighter no doubt, but i think hes had better performances. could be nerves and pressure being in first ufc fight, we'll see what happens with his next fight

[mullcap]

I don't think rampage was really ever in a slump he just couldnt beat silva or shogun if his life depended on it but those are the best two in the lhw class. i hope rampage drops chuck on his head to quiet all the ufc chuck jockies that never heard of pride just like the same ufc fans never heard of crocop who is the 2nd or 3rd best heavyweight in the world.

[CJC1981]

Rampage did look good, but watching that fight only reinforced my opinion that he isn't ready for chuck. As for the rest of the card, i thought it was interesting how luttter kept taking down silva so easily. The cro cop vs sanchez fight was about what i expected. Hopefully crocop won't be fighting anymore scrubs on his way to the title shot. I think his next opponent needs to be arlovski. Can't wait for that one.

[BG]

Ialso didnt see him put his head down as much and throw those loopy punches.

[Panzerfaust]

I think he just had some jitters to work out like he said post fight.

His coach Juanito was on the radio saying how nervous Rampage was before this fight, all the hype and weight the UFC put on his shoulders. Said he even threw up a few times before the fight not because of his opponent but it being his "debut" in the UFC.

[J.S.N.]

it was hard to tell details because i watched it on dailymotion, but yeah he dominated eastman on the feet, and was in total control of the entire fight. i honestly don't know what people are smoking who think chuck has the goods to beat him now, but i want a beeper # 'cause it sounds like some top grade shit.

[fatrock]

He looked real good.

[$$TML 4 LIFE$$]

I don't think rampage was really ever in a slump he just couldnt beat silva or shogun if his life depended on it but those are the best two in the lhw class. i hope rampage drops chuck on his head to quiet all the ufc chuck jockies that never heard of pride just like the same ufc fans never heard of crocop who is the 2nd or 3rd best heavyweight in the world.

Chuck will Knock the **** out of rampage.... and i cant wait till dat happens so pride fans can stop sayin how overrated chuck is and how he will get killed by silva, shogun and rampage......CANT WAIT TILL U GUYS R PROVEN WRONG!!!!

[QuieTSToRM33]

I don't think rampage was really ever in a slump he just couldnt beat silva or shogun if his life depended on it but those are the best two in the lhw class. i hope rampage drops chuck on his head to quiet all the ufc chuck jockies that never heard of pride just like the same ufc fans never heard of crocop who is the 2nd or 3rd best heavyweight in the world.

Chuck will beat Rampage. (and I'm not a Chuck fan)

I am a UFC fan and yes, I have heard of Pride.

I am a UFC fan and CroCop is my favorite fighter.

Stop riding PRIDE's nuts and learn to appreciate the sport of MMA rather than different organizations.

[pepperoni]

Chuck will beat Rampage. (and I'm not a Chuck fan)

I am a UFC fan and yes, I have heard of Pride.

I am a UFC fan and CroCop is my favorite fighter.

Stop riding PRIDE's nuts and learn to appreciate the sport of MMA rather than different organizations.

thank god somebody said it. Chuck would beat Rampage if they fought right now, its pretty hard to deny. anything can happen of course, but he got caught with afew shots against Eastman, and with Chuck you dont get many chances, you get caught and thats it.

[BgMc31]

IMO I don't think Chuck will beat Rampage in a re-match. From what I've seen of both fighters, Rampage is a better boxer and physically stronger than Chuck. Chuck throws wild, looping punches, and gets caught with a lot of shots. Rampage has a tremendous chin. Plus Rampage has youth on his side. The only advantage Chuck has, again IMO, is championship experience. Rampage showed he has a little problem dealing with the pressure of being in his first UFC fight. I can only imagine how difficult it will be to handle the pressure of a UFC title match. Plus he doesn't seem to confident in his abilities yet and is asking for a couple more fights before he fights Chuck.

By the way I'm a huge fan of both Chuck and Rampage. Each are my favorites and can't wait for the rematch.

[$$TML 4 LIFE$$]

IMO I don't think Chuck will beat Rampage in a re-match. From what I've seen of both fighters, Rampage is a better boxer and physically stronger than Chuck. Chuck throws wild, looping punches, and gets caught with a lot of shots. Rampage has a tremendous chin. Plus Rampage has youth on his side. The only advantage Chuck has, again IMO, is championship experience. Rampage showed he has a little problem dealing with the pressure of being in his first UFC fight. I can only imagine how difficult it will be to handle the pressure of a UFC title match. Plus he doesn't seem to confident in his abilities yet and is asking for a couple more fights before he fights Chuck.

By the way I'm a huge fan of both Chuck and Rampage. Each are my favorites and can't wait for the rematch.

I agree Rampage is stronger than chuck but I jus dont understand how u or n e 1 can say rampage is a better boxer...

[Sepsis]

rampage himself said he needed a few more fights before chuck after the fight. i loved the guy's attitude in the post fight interview. i wish him the best.

[J.S.N.]

I agree Rampage is stronger than chuck but I jus dont understand how u or n e 1 can say rampage is a better boxer...

didn't you see their first fight?

[$$TML 4 LIFE$$]

didn't you see their first fight?

Is couture a better striker the Chuck???? because he outstruck Chuck in there first fight. Ye i saw the chuck rampage fight but dat was 3 yrs ago. Chuck gotten a hell of a lot better and im sure rampage has but were gonna find out soon enough whos the better boxer and i guarantee dat fight ends by Chuck Knockin the hell out of rampage

[mullcap]

Honestly Chuck hasn't really had that many quality wins. Tito hasn't beaten anyone as of recent and is highly overrated because of his mouth. He's the most boring fighter on earth. Sobral was pretty good I'll admit and chuck manhandled him but before that who was there a 42 yr old couture gimme a break. Before that was Jackson who totally dominated him for two rounds it wasn't like it was a lucky punch it was total domination and Chuck then wasn't inexperienced he was 34 years old not exactly early in your career for mma standards thats about 2-3 years past your prime. I really hope rampage ends him. Chuteboxe wrote the book on how to kill rampage though and chuck although hasn't used it really has a muay thai background maybe we'll see it when they meet.

[BgMc31]

I agree Rampage is stronger than chuck but I jus dont understand how u or n e 1 can say rampage is a better boxer...

If you watch both of them fight, by boxing standards Chuck is horrible. He loops his punches, doesn't jab effectively, and doesn't throw many effective combinations. If you look at Rampage fights, his boxing is much crisper. He throws straight punches, bobs and weaves better, and has much better footwork than Chuck. Not to mention the fact that he is actually one of the few mma fighters with an effective jab. Being a harder puncher, which Chuck is, doesn't make you a better boxer.