• UFC 135

Jon Jones should never be champion - Rampage

Rampage Jackson is coming off a win over Matt Hamill © Getty Images

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Rampage Jackson has told Jon Jones that he is currently walking around with a UFC belt that does not even belong to him.

Jackson v Jones has been confirmed for UFC 135 on September 24, in what will be the first defence of Jones' light-heavyweight championship. The youngster reached the top of the 205lb ladder by defeating Mauricio Shogun Rua, but Jackson insists Rua should never have had the belt.

His reason dates back to July 2008, when Forrest Griffin took a five-round decision from Rampage in one of the fights of the year. Jackson later watched that fight back and has been adamant ever since that he should have been awarded the victory.

Griffin went on to lose the title to Rashad Evans, who was then beaten by Lyoto Machida, who in turn suffered a knockout against Shogun. Therefore, in Jackson's eyes, Jones is only a fake champion right now.

"I am planning on bringing the belt back to where it belongs," Jackson said. "That belt is very serious and very dear to me.

"That belt should never have been taken off of me, and it's been a long time coming to get my chance to get my belt back. The proudest thing I've done in my career is unify that title with the Pride FC title, and in the next fight it was taken off me despite me winning the fight.

"I've had to wait since 2008 to get my chance to get my belt back, but anything that comes easy isn't worth having in the first place."

Meanwhile, president Dana White has warned against labelling Jones the pound-for-pound king of MMA. The 23-year-old is undoubtedly on the road to a sparkling UFC career, but White insists he has more to do before he can be ranked alongside Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva.

"Many people think that Jon Jones should be considered one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, but I wouldn't make that claim too fast," said White. "The 205lb division is and always has been the most stacked division in MMA.

"Rampage Jackson has been one of the top five light-heavyweights in the world since 2003. A win over Rampage Jackson will definitely put Jon Jones on the right track for becoming the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world."

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