According to a Jan. 28 report from NYPost.com, a boxing match between former UFC standouts Quinton Jackson and Kimbo Slice is inevitable.
Jackson said before and after his UFC on FOX 6 with Glover Teixeira that he will leave the UFC now that his contract is up. He said the UFC never treated him right, and he wanted to join an organization where he would feel appreciated.
UFC boss Dana White countered with the fact that the promotion has paid him $15.2 million in 11 appearances. Jackson did not dispute White's claim, so most MMA fans won't be feeling too sorry for "Rampage."
Jackson said prior to UFC on FOX 6 that he wants to follow in Kimbo Slice's footsteps by making the transition from MMA to boxing.
Is a boxing match between Jackson and Slice inevitable? It makes perfect sense at this point in both fighter's careers. Jackson, at 34 years old, is on the downside of his fighting career, whether it be in boxing or MMA.
In recent years, he has done his best work when he can keep fights standing. It seems as though the sport has evolved and caught up to him, as he's no longer able to avoid takedowns.
"Rampage" has been taken down at will in many of his past few MMA appearances. He clearly wants to put on a show by entertaining the fans with his standup striking skills, so making the move to boxing seems like the right one at this point in time.
He still looks sharp when it comes to striking, so it's likely he has some fight left in the tank. That "fight" may be in boxing, rather than MMA. Bellator MMA CEO Bjorn Rebney even stated that signing "Rampage" probably wouldn't work for his organization, which leaves Jackson without a legitimate MMA organization to sign to that would be willing to offer him the money he'll be seeking.
Slice is in the same boat, as his dynamic striking works well for the boxing ring, while his limited wrestling skills keeps him out of the UFC.
The only thing that may get in the way of a Slice vs Jackson boxing match is the weight difference between the two, as the former walks around at least 30 pounds heavier than "Rampage."
However, a catchweight somewhere around the 225-pound mark could seal the deal on the bout.
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