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Manuwa honoured by link to 'ambassador' Rampage

Jimi Manuwa is ready to fight anyone in the UFC © Getty Images

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England's Jimi Manuwa says he is happy to be linked to a fight with Rampage Jackson, amid calls for the Brit to be thrown into a pyrotechnic-laden showdown with the former UFC champion.

Manuwa could barely have made a greater impact on debut in MMA's top promotion, dishing out a light-heavyweight beating to Kyle Kingsbury. Victory arrived when the doctor advised that Kingsbury should not continue, and there is a buzz surrounding the Brit's next fight.

Stylistically, a throw-down with Rampage carries plenty of appeal. Both men are lethal strikers, and Rampage has expressed a strong desire for his last UFC fight to not be against somebody who will take him to the ground.

Glover Teixeira looks his most likely next opponent after both men verbally agreed to fight following UFC 153, but Teixeira would be fancied to take Rampage to the mat, unlike Manuwa who boasts extreme confidence in his striking.

"Rampage is an ambassador for the sport, he's one of my favourite fighters. He's a great fighter, I respect him a lot and it's an honour that people link me to him," Manuwa recently told ESPN.

"I'm a big fan of Jose Aldo, Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva... obviously Rampage, but I'll fight anyone in the light-heavyweight division. I'm going to get straight back into training, I want to make an impact on this division.

"Stylistically, every fight in the division is a hard fight. Lyoto Machida is unorthodox, Jon Jones is long and tall with good wrestling, Ryan Bader has good wrestling. You can't pick one and say, 'I want to fight him'."

With the mention of Anderson Silva, ESPN asked Manuwa - who is currently undefeated - if he would fancy giving the Brazilian another challenge at 205lbs following The Spider's win over Stephan Bonnar. Manuwa, though, is convinced Silva belongs at middleweight.

"I don't think Anderson should go into the 205 division, he should have a couple of fights and then retire," said the Brit.

Follow Jimi on Twitter @posterboyJM

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