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Toney urges Rampage to step up to the plate

Rampage Jackson has promised not to copy the blueprint laid down by Randy Couture © Getty Images

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Talk of a blockbuster showdown between Quinton Rampage Jackson and James Toney is growing after Toney told the former UFC light-heavyweight champion to "sign the contract" following a public war of words.

Jackson is one of several MMA fighters mocked by Toney in recent weeks, with the champion boxer claiming Rampage could not even sell out UFC 123 in Detroit.

A response was issued by Jackson on Inside MMA, where he stated: "I want to fight James Toney. He's been talking a lot of crap about me". Jackson went on to promise that he would knock Toney out.

UFC president Dana White had previously stated that he was "done" with what have been dubbed 'freak show' fights, after Toney's lack of wrestling was embarrassingly shown up by Randy Couture on his UFC debut in Boston. However, Jackson is promising to stand with "Lights Out", and Toney is urging Rampage to back up his words with action.

"The only thing that the Fake Mr T has to do is sign the contract," Toney was quoted as saying by FightHype. "Rampage is a decent club fighter but if he thinks his club fighting style can match my skills, then he is crazy as hell."

Jackson beat Lyoto Machida in his last encounter, taking a narrow decision, and he was widely expected to provide the next challenge to champion Mauricio Shogun Rua, if the Brazilian overcomes Rashad Evans. However, with that fight unlikely to happen until at least March, Rampage could be heading for what would surely prove a pay-per-view dream for the UFC.

"Is he mad because I called him an Uncle Tom or because I said Detroit wouldn't accept him?" laughed Toney. "I will go on record and say he is not dumb enough to stand and trade with me.

"Machida almost knocked him out, so what do you think I would do to him? I ain't hard to find; sign the contract."

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