• UFC 130

Bisping backs 'crazy' Rampage to 'kick Hamill's ass'

Ben Blackmore
May 27, 2011
Rampage Jackson has been sparring six five-minute rounds © UFC
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Michael Bisping claims Rampage Jackson is "training like a crazy man" ahead of his UFC 130 showdown with Matt Hamill, and the Brit insists his training partner wants his UFC title back.

UFC president Dana White revealed on Wednesday that Rampage is at the front of the queue to fight champion Jon Jones, if he beats Hamill this weekend. In Bisping's eyes, there is no 'if' in the equation.

"Rampage is training his ass off, he always says he's not a fan of training, but he's been doing six hard rounds of sparring. I usually only do three!" Bisping told ESPN.

"He wants his title back, no disrespect to Matt Hamill because he's a fantastic fighter but it didn't initially look like he would put Rampage into immediate contention. Now the fight is definitely happening, Rampage is committed and training really hard. He'll be able to fight hard for three rounds. He's focused and on Saturday he'll kick ass.

"Matt's a great wrestler and he'll try to take him down, but Rampage has crazy power, and if he lets his fists fly he'll knock him out."

Victory over Hamill could set up a Rampage v Jon Jones encounter, handing Jackson his first chance to regain the light-heavyweight title since losing it to Forrest Griffin. And Bisping believes he would provide an extremely stern test for the champion.

"He's training like a crazy guy, he's training three or four times a day. If he gets the job done against Hamill, he'll do everything in his power to beat Jon Jones.

"Rampage has fought a who's who. Everyone said Machida couldn't be beaten, but that got proved wrong."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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