Newest Rampage interview in London (Sept. 7)

[soo2bhuge]

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson


The Ultimate Fighting Championship's light heavyweight champion on London ladies, chillaxing with Mickey Mouse and beating people up for a living

Paolo Bandini
Friday September 7, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


Mickey Mouse's homeboy. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Hello Quinton.
Hi Small Talk, how y'all doin'?
Not bad, ta. How are you finding England? Small Talk's heard that you think highly of the London ladies...
People lied to me! They said that women here weren't good-looking. I went out last night and I saw a whole bunch of good-looking women. I didn't know you guys had so many Asian women. Y'all don't know anything about me - I like Asian women. I've just been over in Japan with Pride - I was like a kid in a candy store, I should've been paying them to keep me out there.


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Is it nice being able to walk down the street and not be recognised?
I love it. I love it. I just like to be like everybody else.
Did you imagine growing up that you might be fighting in a cage for a living?
I grew up in a really tough neighbourhood, and a lot of kids used to get bullied, and my little brother used to get bullied, so I used to fight for my friends and family. And people used to love to watch me, they called me Mike Tyson. So none of them are surprised at what I do for a living, but I'm surprised, because I thought I was going to be a pro wrestler, a stuntman, or a fireman. I used to want to be a pro wrestler first, a stuntman if I couldn't do that, and a fireman to fall back on. The guy who used to live across the street from me was the fire chief, so he was going to help me out if I didn't succeed at the other things.

You've spoken publicly about finding religion. Is there any conflict between being a Christian and beating people up for a living?
If you know anything about the Bible, anything about Christianity, being a Christian is all about fighting. We got to fight every day. There's nothing wrong with killing. There's something wrong with murder - they're two different things. If you murder somebody out of hate or whatever, that's wrong, but it's OK if you're fighting for your country, or your family, or for your life... or even for your food - in a structured way, where you're not trying to kill them. It's a job.

We've heard from some other fighters that even if they were only getting paid nothing they would still show up because they love it. Is that true for you too, or is it more of a job for you?
It's a job more than I love it. I couldn't have your type of job, I couldn't put on a suit and tie [Small Talk briefly ponders how Mr Jackson has confused dirty jeans and a sweater for a suit, but decides to leave it]. I honestly think God made me just for this job. And I bet every time I fight, he's there watching it and getting entertained as well.

What's the story behind that whopping great chain you're always lugging about with you before fights?
The Rumble Chain? I started kinda late with wrestling in high school, and I wasn't doing so well - I lost my first five matches in a row, and my little brother said 'wear this chain for good luck...' and told me it might intimidate some of my opponents. Sure enough, when I wore the chain I went all the way to the regional finals. And I went on to place sixth in state with less wrestling experience than anyone in the tournament.

We'd heard you copied it off Junkyard Dog...
A lot of people say that but honestly, in front of God, I can say I didn't copy it off Junkyard Dog, though he did do it first. Some fighters wear camouflage shorts, and now I wear camouflage shorts, does that mean I copied it off them?

That is a little dif...
[Interrupting] Some fighters wear blue shoes; I wear blue shoes, does that mean I copied them?

Wel...
[Interrupting] Some fighters throw uppercuts; I throw uppercuts, does that mean I copied them?

[Small Talk pauses to let Rampage finish, then, once we're sure he's stopped:] Fair eno...
[Interrupting] Some fighters shave their heads; I shave my head, does that mean that I copied them?

If we try to ask you another question you're going to keep doing that aren't you?
[Grinning] You guys got a lot to learn about me here.

Are you the hardest man in the world?
I don't know, there's probably a lot of guys out there tougher than me. You asking the wrong guy.

Isn't that kind of what the UFC was set up to find out?
[Unimpressed look, followed by a shrug]

OK, moving on. There's a picture of you and Mickey Mouse "chillaxing" on your website. Would you say you two are close?
That's my homeboy. I live right by Disney Land.

Excellent, which is your favourite Disney movie?
[Deep consideration] Maybe Aladdin. I don't know what other movies they make, but I like that one. [Huge grin] I like Jasmine. I love Jasmine.

Small Talk prefers Pocahontas. What was the last CD you bought?
I don't really buy CDs, but I got one for Christmas. I had Marvin Gaye, Here, My Dear, but I lost it, so he [Gesturing at trainer - now fast asleep] had to get it for me for Christmas.

Do you like any sports other than MMA?
I like to watch boxing sometimes? Is that a sport?

Small Talk thinks that if MMA is a sport then we probably would have to also have to consider boxing a sport. Actually a little while ago Frank Warren claimed the biggest difference between boxing and MMA is that boxers know how much they should earn, whereas the UFC's owners keep money back for advertising and PR, and don't give enough to the fighters. Would you agree?
I agree with that. Everything has to evolve though, right? When we're supposed to make money it's going to happen. And I just hope I'm still around when that happens.

We see you've started a little sideline in acting. Do you think you'll ever get to do a film with Mickey?
I don't know Mickey.

Mickey Mouse? You said he was your homeboy.
Aah, I doubt it. Sorry, it's hard to understand your accent - I don't know if you meant Mickey Rourke, Mickey...

Don't worry about it. What's the strangest request you've ever had from a fan?
[Long pause] I get a lot of strange ones. My mind is going far because there was something one fan asked me to do which was really strange. You got me right now. You just put a brain fart on me.

Do they ask for used gear, used pants?
That ain't so strange, Japanese fans always want your used... wait, you call underpants pants don't you? [Suddenly disgusted] Ah no, that's sick!

Well Small Talk once heard about a Japanese fan who went around licking toilet seats because she thought David Beckham might have sat on them.
I believe that about Japanese fans. I believe that. They're a little bit crazy. And they asked for a bunch of my used stuff, but that wasn't the weirdest thing.

Cheese or chocolate?
[Deeply uncertain] Chocolate?

What's your favourite TV show?
I used to have a TV show I liked a lot... what was it now... [trainer suddenly wakes up and chips in: "Saved by the Bell", a suggestion met with loud coos of approval by assembled PR flunkeys]. He lyin'! I never watched the damn Saved by the Bell [chuckles]. No, right now some rappers from my hometown got a reality TV show and it's funny as Hell, so I watch that a lot.

We've heard you're the funniest man in the UFC, so can you tell us a joke?
[After lengthy cajoling Rampage tells Small Talk an incredibly long-winded joke with a punchline that we would almost certainly get sacked for publishing].

We would almost certainly get sacked for publishing that sadly Mr Rampage, but thanks for all your time.
Catch you later Small Talk.

[WHOADY4SHOADY]

Same old Ranpage.

[Lexed]

so thats whats up with the chain... wonder if its still teh same one