‘Rampage’ Jackson savaged on social media after Fedor Emelianenko KO at Bellator 237
An anticipated match up between two MMA legends ended with accusations of diving, damaged legacies and a social media savaging.
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UFC legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been accused of diving after a first round walk-off knockout against Fedor Emelianenko in the Bellator 237 main event.
The former UFC light heavyweight titleholder was heavily criticised after he entered the fight at 265 pounds (120kg), 60 pounds heavier than he usually fights at 205 pounds (92kg).
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But the 41-year-old, fighting the 43-year-old Emelianenko, was no match for the Russian.
Emelianenko was prepared, putting together combos against the slow moving Jackson, before a right hook ended the fight as Jackson dropped face first to the canvas within three minutes.
It was an ugly look for the ageing fighters but particularly telling for Jackson.
Vintage Fedor performance against Rampage (via @BellatorMMA) pic.twitter.com/wARMH8jZns
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 29, 2019
It was the first time since 2005 that Jackson had been knocked out and the first time in his career he had been felled by punches.
Post-fight, he snuck into a celebratory Emelianenko photo and in a since deleted-Instagram post, said he would be back but needed to drop weight.
“Sorry guys we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but you know what, I knew one of us was going to get knocked out,” Jackson said. “But I didn’t know it was going to be me. But you know what? I ain’t mad, though. You win some, you lose some. You get paid for all. Y’all remember that.
“I got to get my damn weight down. I felt like a hippopotamus out there. But that’s my fault. No excuses. It’s all right. I’ll be back. But I ain’t coming back at heavyweight. I’ve got to lose this weight.”
But social media was quick to slam Jackson, who seemed unprepared for the fight with fans and pros sticking the boot in.
Rampage didn’t take a dive in the sense that he hit the canvas on a phantom punch. He looked like he got in there and tried to get what he could out of the fight.
— Zane Simon (@TheZaneSimon) December 29, 2019
But he also looked like a guy who made the decision a couple months ago that he’d just show up and see what happens
Fedor still fedor rampage not so much
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) December 29, 2019
Rampage looks really fat. He can barely move his feet.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) December 29, 2019
Rampage should be embarrassed to cash his check for this fight
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) December 29, 2019
Just watched fedor vs rampage and I love them 2 and fedor looked really sharp but against some1 who looked like he never trained rampage physically looked awful and was awful in there
— Enzo Maccarinelli (@theRealEnzoMac) December 29, 2019
That’s true lol but rampage coming in nearly 50lb above his weight no way he’s trained hard for this
— Enzo Maccarinelli (@theRealEnzoMac) December 29, 2019
Rampage is eating good these days . Lawdddddd ... 🤔
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 29, 2019
Wow. Easy work for Fedor. That extra weight really slowed Rampage down A LOT.#BellatorJapan
— Las Vegas Fight Shop (@LVFightShop) December 29, 2019
You have to question exactly how Rampage went about bulking up for this fight. Not all weight is good weight.
— James Goyder (@JamesGoyder) December 29, 2019
Post-fight, it appeared like Emelianenko was cutting his victory tour short and would retire immediately.
“Perhaps my career stops here in Japan where I started,” Emelianenko said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview. “Thank you for supporting me in my career. This is the end of my tour.”
But he hit back at the claims, saying he was misinterpreted with the fight his last in Japan with one more in the US and one more in Russia.
“I’m doing my tour and this is my final fights, and I wanted to do a fight in Japan, I want to do a fight in US, and I want to do Russia,” Emelianenko said, per MMA Junkie.
“It was my retirement fight [only] in Japan. So I’m not retiring.”
Originally published as ‘Rampage’ Jackson savaged on social media after Fedor Emelianenko KO at Bellator 237