Quinton Jackson File Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Brian Warren: I want Quinton to win because I know him. I believe if he does, it will be by KO. But Rashad is fast at running his mouth as well as fast in the ring. He might be able to use his quickness to stick and move. It will be a great fight.
Romie Aram: You better stop all this Jibba Jabba. Quinton “BA Baracus” Jackson wins by sucka punch, you crazy fools. That’s the best I got!
Nam Phan: I think the more ghetto black guy is gonna win this fight, and that would have to be Rampage. Also, Rampage lives in Orange County, so that gives me another reason to root for him.
Tim Kennedy: I'm going with Rashad Evans. I think his footwork will be too much for Jackson to keep up with. I also believe Rashad is the better wrestler. As long as he sticks to Greg's game plan and doesn't rush in or stay in the pocket too long, he should squeak out a unanimous decision.
Tom Vaughn: Two tough guys at different stages in their careers. I don't know either one personally but educated guess is Quinton Jackson probably struggles to get his ass in the gym anymore. He has been there, done that and was on top of the world in his prime. I'm sure he is still capable of putting anyone to sleep if he lands that big punch, but I don't think Rashad will stand there long enough for that to happen. Rashad Evans is young in his career, and I picture him being in top condition for this fight. He will chip away at Quinton Jackson, avoid heavy exchanges and run him like a sled dog to a safe unanimous decision. I expect some great pre-fight chin music, but at the end of the day, Rashad Evans by unanimous decision.
Rob McCullough: I believe this fight will be a fight of endurance. Rashad Evans is a very explosive fighter with a decorated wrestling history and good striking, punching and kicking. Rampage Jackson is a heavy-handed unorthodox fighter with great strength and big slams. Rampage has excellent anti-wrestling skills as well as big punches. I truly believe if Rampage keeps this fight on his feet and is in top cardio condition, he will KO Rashad. I think Rashad will have to move a lot to keep Rampage thinking and try and hack away at his legs, but will he have it mentally to take it to him?
Jason Von Flue: Rampage has the size and strength but lacks Rashad's speed. Rashad is fast, has lots of movement and better takedowns. Most importantly, he has Greg Jackson on his side. With that being said, I see this fight going Rashad’s way however Greg Jackson has planned it out, most likely similar to the Rashad/Liddell fight.
Trevor Lally: Everybody knows that guys from (Greg) Jackson's camp come in great shape. They train in areas with high elevations like New Mexico and Colorado, so we know their cardio will not come into question. The (Greg) Jackson Camp is full of high-quality fighters, so you know every day that Rashad is being pushed hard. Rashad's standup is getting a lot sharper. He's light on his feet and starting to look a lot more comfortable in the cage.
Keys to Rashad's victory are his footwork, movement, pushing the pace, getting Rampage to move his feet and tiring Rampage out by making him work every round. Rampage's weaknesses are going to be the ring rust he is going to have, his questionable commitment to being a fighter at the present time, the lack of ability to block a low kick, the fact that Rashad's camp knows that Rampage is more of a boxer and likes to punch and that it seems that Rampage is in charge of his own training camp. Rampage is a true fighter and has been in many wars and proven he is a warrior. We don't know if Hollywood has made Rampage a little soft and if fighting is something he still wants to do.
I get the feeling Rampage is in charge of what goes on in his camp, and it’s been my experience that a fighter won't push himself as hard as someone watching from the outside. Rampage flies to England, flies to Vegas, has a new striking coach in Lance Gibson, who is a competent coach who I know well. But this is the first time they have hooked up, and does he know how to push Rampage, motivate him and be able to give him what he needs out of every practice? From what I've seen on the Primetime UFC shows, it appears they are trying to change Rampage's style and squaring him up and making him a kickboxer. It might prove to be mistake since his strength is staying low and leading with his left hook like a boxer. Standing tall like a kickboxer would make him too slow and not as explosive with his hands.
Keys to Rampage’s victory are no secret here: He needs to make it a fight. He needs to pressure Rashad into fighting him and trade punches with him. He can do this by cutting off the cage and not following him around. He needs to bite down on his mouthpiece, be first and throw punches in combinations. If he can hurt Rashad early and make him feel his power, Rashad might show him too much respect and Rampage can win the rounds with forward pressure if he doesn't catch him and knock him out. Rashad's weaknesses are that he does not like pressure and doesn't have the best chin in the division. He tends to cruise during fights and is not the best finisher in the division. If he lets his pride get the better of him and stands in front of him, he would be doing Rampage a favor.
My final thought is that if it’s a short fight, Rampage will win by knockout. If it goes the (full) three rounds, Rashad wins by decision. I'm leaning towards Rashad by three-round decision.
Ray Elbe: In a fight worthy of its own BET Award, Rampage Jackson is going to run over Rashad Evans like a runaway monster truck cruising down Newport.
Gabe Ruediger: There seems to be a lot of buildup for this fight. Both guys seem to genuinely dislike each other as well, which should make for a good fight. Rashad is the better wrestler and is a bit more diverse than Jackson, though. I also think it comes down to game plan, and that seems to be Rashad’s strong suit. I’m going with Rashad by decision.
Stephane Vigneault: That’s a tough one. I think the first who gets hit on the button will go to sleep. For the first time since I’ve been doing the Pros Pick, I can't give a prediction!
Kultar Gill: As much as I like Rampage, I don't see him getting the W. Rashad will out-cardio Quinton and get the unanimous decision.
Mike Ciesnolevicz: I think Rashad has a better training camp, might be a bit more athletic, but I believe Rampage is the stronger fighter in this matchup and has something to prove. He seems really hungry to get back on top. I don’t think Rashad would be wise to trade with Rampage. I can see Rashad being a bit tentative and worried about Rampage’s power. Rashad might win a few flurries, but I see him eventually getting hit with a big shot. Rampage Jackson by KO.
Keith Berry: I really think this fight could go either way. It’s no secret Rampage hates to train, but I’ve heard very good things from his camp. Plus they hate each other (and) that makes it more interesting. I’m going to say Rampage by KO in the third.
Donald Cerrone: Rashad by TKO in the second.
Billy MacDonald: FINALLY! The two questions to answer on this one is will Rampage catch Rashad before he gasses? Will Rashad be too overconfident and try to stand with Jackson or use his wrestling to try and defuse Rampage's power? I think Rashad is going to try and KTFO Rampage, but I think he's going to try to stand a little too long and Jackson is going to catch him. Rampage jumps on Rashad and gets the TKO in round two.
Kit Cope: Rashad wins this one by every way that you can win a fight. More speed, better footwork, better takedowns, better technique. I'll be surprised if Sugar doesn't kayo Q. Though many will blame it on the fact that Rampage has been focused on his movie career, which I am sure is pretty awesome, Rashad needs to get full credit for this one. The same thing would have happened and I'm going to say it's because of the training. Q's nutritionist isn’t gonna win this one for him. Watch the Primetime show. Look at the difference in training. Rashad by domination in every aspect sans mean face.
Shonie Carter: I am expecting a violent, organized sanctioned occasion of black-on-black violence that will sweep the airwaves for all endtimes in MMA as we know it! I am just wishing that I would be there in the venue, but I will be in town mos def. I don't really have a favorite in this match since I know them both personally. I expect a lot of punches to be thrown, with an occasional kick or two from Rashad, and as for Quinton a lot of slam attempts. I just hope all the s--t they were talkin’ wasn't all talk and they go out there and be cautious and sissy-bootied like some fights I have seen of late. If I do, they better get ready to stand by for my international old ass to talk more s--t than a little bit! Ya dig? I will talk s--t with the best of them and they just better deliver or I will deliver a tirade that will be epic and serve up a fresh batch of WHA THE F--KISTHIS?! out of the oven with no lovin’ for the both of them.
Tom Gavrilos: Come fight night I will be rooting for Rampage, but my pick is Rashad. Boxing -- Rampage. Kickboxing -- Rashad. Punching power -- Rampage. Wrestling -- Rashad. Stamina -- Rashad. Speed -- Rashad. Chin -- Rampage. In the end, too many important fight attributes go to Rashad. He will do what he needs to wear Rampage down. I believe starting with leg kicks and then moving to the clinch. Fight night I hope to see Rampage score a knockout and I think it’s very possible, but it would be unwise to bet against Rashad in this fight. Rashad by decision.
Dean Lister: I think this will be a definite "don't blink” fight. I expect Rampage to come out as the aggressor from the get go. I think Rashad’s best bet is to make Rampage work hard and then start looking for a knockout shot like he had against Liddell late in the fight. But I pity the fool who don't think Rampage wins in the first round via KO.
Bart Palaszewski: I got Rampage on this one. It’s definitely gonna be a standup war, but like I said, I got Rampage via KO in the second round. First round is gonna be all feeling each other out and then they gonna go to work. Rampage is gonna put a nice combo together and drop Rashad. Both fighters are bad ass, but Rampage takes it.
Jaime Fletcher: Rampage by grown-man ass whoopin’.
Thiago Alves: I like Rampage better just because he’s funnier. But I think Rashad is a better fighter -- more complete -- and is gonna take it to him.
Pros who picked Evans: 21
Pros who picked Jackson: 17
Pros who couldn’t decide: 9
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