• UFC 144

'Big mistake' as Rampage says he's off Japan card

ESPN staff
November 22, 2011
Rampage Jackson had been rumoured to be meeting Stephan Bonnar at UFC 144 in Japan © UFC
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Rampage Jackson has doused talk of a return to action at UFC 144, claiming the UFC has made "a big mistake" by not including him on the card.

Jackson appeared to be heading for a showdown with Stephan Bonnar, who called out the former light-heavyweight champion at UFC 139. Bonnar had just defeated Kyle Kingsbury by unanimous decision.

UFC president Dana White revealed Rampage had sent him a text to say he was up for the challenge, but White seemed hesitant, saying: "I don't know, we'll see."

Rampage is desperate to return to Japan, where he enjoyed some of the best moments of his career in front of the Japanese support whilst fighting under the Pride banner. The veteran slugger even called to fight Mauricio Shogun Rua in Japan following his own defeat to Jon Jones at UFC 135.

However, it appears Rampage has been frustrated by the UFC, and his tweet on Tuesday expressed clear displeasure at the decision.

"It don't look like I'm fighting in Japan which I'm not happy about at all, I think it's a big mistake by the UFC... F*** it," wrote the former champion.

UFC 144 is headlined by Frankie Edgar v Ben Henderson.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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