While Frank Shamrock (Pictures) fancies himself the most sought after free agent in mixed martial arts, that honor, if one is to judge by the magnitude of rumor and resulting fan interest, clearly belongs to Quinton Jackson (Pictures).
Most recently the rumor mill spun a yarn that has Rampage deciding to fight under the banner of the UFC. But, as he told Sherdog.com Thursday afternoon, thats simply not the case. In fact, negotiations between Jackson and any promoter save PRIDE cannot start until April 1, at which point he expects to be recruited like a blue-chip prospect.
In this exclusive interview, published in its entirety, Jackson discusses his free agent status; what it would take for him to return to PRIDE; how he would cope with losing his manager to the WFA; and just how much he believes hes worth.
Sherdog.com: Are you currently under contract with any fight promoter?
Quinton Jackson (Pictures): No, Im not under contract with anybody right now. I am a free agent right now. I dont have a contract with anybody. Im not allowed to negotiate until April 1st and its not April 1st yet, so therefore Im currently still a PRIDE fighter.
Sherdog.com: At this point, the only company youre allowed to negotiate with is PRIDE? Is that fair to say?
Jackson: Yeah, until April 1st. I hear all these rumors that Im fighting in the UFC or K-1 or IFL. Something like that. Those are just rumors. Im thinking about re-signing with PRIDE if they give me what I ask for.
Sherdog.com: Recently you were in Japan to help Antonio McKee (Pictures) in his K-1 Heros fight. Some of the press asked you about K-1 and you talked about how much you thought it was a good organization. And also theres a video on your Web site where youre wearing a UFC belt and youre talking about Chuck Liddell (Pictures). Do you think those things are responsible for the rumors at all? Whats the point of all that?
Jackson: Thats just me being me. I like what the UFC is doing. The UFC is doing some good things. Chucks making a lot of money, you know what Im saying? And no disrespect to Chuck, but hes not really a marketable guy. I think Im way more marketable than a person like Chuck. He had some exciting fights, he knocked some people out and he got a Mohawk. Thats about it. I think if Chuck is making all that money, why cant the Black Man? So, I want to make some cheddar, too. Thats all Im saying. Whats wrong with black people making money? Aint nothing wrong with black people making money. Black folks need to survive too.
Sherdog.com: Do you have a particular choice on where you want to fight, or all along has it always been about whos going to take care of Quinton?
Jackson: Exactly. Whos going to promote me and whos going to pay me. Thats what its all about. Aint nothing else. Aint no prejudice or anything else. Im not biased towards any organization. I do want to fight the toughest opponents in the world these days, and I want to get paid what I think Im worth. I think Im worth a whole lot. So anybody whos got that cheddar, come holla at me.
Sherdog.com: What do you think youre worth?
Jackson: Man, Im what do you think Im worth?
Sherdog.com: Well, I think relative to other fighters youre not Chuck or Randy just because people dont know you in the U.S. and youre not a champion. Youre almost there.
Jackson: Well, thats your opinion. I think Im worth more than Chuck and Randy combined because I have something neither of them had.
Sherdog.com: Whats that?
Jackson: Thats me. I got my fighting style, the way I fight. And the way I come across to people. As soon as I get promoted right in America, people will take to me very fast.
Sherdog.com: If you do sign with PRIDE, youll still be in the same mode where youre in Japan, youre promoted in Japan and American audiences wont necessarily know you as much as they could otherwise.
Jackson: Exactamundo.
Sherdog.com: In that consideration is that a situation where you would have to take more money from PRIDE, as opposed to an offer from an American promoter, say the UFC or someone else who stepped up?
Jackson: If I want to go back with PRIDE theyre gonna have to pay me a whole bunch of money and get me some good endorsements, which they havent done in all the years Ive been there. If PRIDE wants me back they gotta guarantee me some big-money endorsement deals. Really, in all honesty, I dont care to be famous in America. I just care so when I get done fighting I only want to fight until Im 30 then I want to retire from fighting and go on to another field I want to be set. These next couple years are very important to me. I want to be set so I dont have to work for the rest of my life because fighting, anything can happen. So in order for PRIDE to get me theyre gonna have to guarantee me some endorsement deals, and they havent met that aspect of agreement yet. Thats what I want. So until they meet that, you know, Im not gonna talk to them.
Sherdog.com: So, what happens on April 1st?
Jackson: On April 1st whoevers the highest bidder, thats where I go.
Sherdog.com: Whos doing the negotiating for you?
Jackson: My manager.
Sherdog.com: Jeremy Lappen?
Jackson: I didnt say that. I said my manager.
Sherdog.com: Thats why Im wondering. As far as we know to this point your manager has been Jeremy Lappen. But its my understanding he took a job with the WFA.
Jackson: If he is and if that is true and he offers me what Im looking for, Jeremy Lappen will no longer be my manager.
Sherdog.com: Youre talking with somebody else to possibly represent you?
Jackson: Yeah. If Jeremy goes there then I get me a new manager. If he can meet what I ask for. I gotta get what I want. Its all about me right now. Its all about the black man.
Sherdog.com: Could that put a delay in your negotiation? If you dont know where you stand with Jeremy a lot has got to happen in one day, two days for you to sign by April 1st.
Jackson: Well, I dont have to sign by April 1st. But April 1st is the first day I can start negotiating. I cant even negotiate until April 1st. It doesnt mean Im going to sign with someone on April 1st.
Sherdog.com: Are you looking at someone specific to start representing you?
Jackson: I already have a few people in mind. I pretty much know what I want. I dont know why I cant represent myself. Just hire a lawyer and represent myself. I know exactly what I want. I dont need no manager to if Jeremy Lappen, I dont know if its true if he is a promoter of WFA. I dont know. He hasnt said anything to me. Ive been hearing stuff too. If hes been keeping it away from me maybe he has reasons to keep it away from me.