Rampage Jackson leaves UFC unceremoniously at the hands of Glover Teixeira

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 | 11 p.m.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson contends that he has two personalities. There’s Quinton and, of course, there’s Rampage.

The easygoing, lighthearted Quinton typically occupies Jackson’s body most of the time before a fight, when the ruthless, savage Rampage takes over until the moment he steps out of the cage.

The pattern seemed to come in reverse order at UFC on Fox 6. Rampage was evident in the build-up, bashing the UFC and detailing his plans to leave the organization. The most significant trace of Quinton came to surface at the end of a unanimous-decision loss (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) to Glover Teixeira in the co-main event at the United Center.

Teixeira said he tried to tell Jackson he was a big fan, but was interrupted.

“No, I’m your fan,” Jackson told Teixeira. “Go get the title.”

With that last remark, Jackson left the octagon for good. He says he’ll never be back, even though UFC President Dana White revealed the organization has the right to match any contract offered to Jackson.

It was an unceremonious sendoff for the former light heavyweight champion and first man to unify UFC and Pride titles when the two organizations came together six years ago. The UFC aired no tributes and Jackson didn’t receive an octagon interview or attend the post-fight press conference.

His only comments came in a statement emailed by the UFC.

“I fought like Rampage tonight,” Jackson said. “I tried to knock him out with every punch. Wasn’t so smart, but if it was fun for the fans, I will take that and be OK with that.

“I’m happy to end on an exciting fight for them. I came into the UFC exciting and I left exciting.”

Jackson blasted Teixeira with several blows. But he could never land them consistently. While Jackson arguably won the first minute of every round, Teixeira’s punches never appeared to lose any power as the fight advanced.

If Jackson accomplished anything in the final fight of his UFC career, it was further building up Teixeira. The 33-year-old Brazilian has now won 18 straight fights, including all three in the UFC. He’s seen as one of the last 205-pound fighters with a chance of knocking off champion Jon Jones, a viewpoint that only grew more popular after what Teixeira did to Jackson.

“I honestly believe if Glover was fighting anybody else, he would have knocked them out in the first round,” White said. “Rampage got hit with some shots, and not only can he punch hard but he can take a shot.”

Teixeira lived up to his word, which Jackson didn’t believe before the fight, that he would stand and trade punches. This was despite the audible protest of everyone in his corner.

White said legendary former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell — Teixeira’s mentor who was famously knocked out by Jackson at UFC 71 — went “crazy” screaming at Teixeira to take Jackson down the whole fight. Teixeira didn’t even mention Liddell, but he heard another one of his coaches rather clearly.

“I got his back in the first round and I got the hooks in,” Teixeira said. “My jiu-jitsu coach was freaking out because I took the hooks out and let him stand up. I told myself, ‘He has a hold of my arms over here so I’ll stand up and see what happens.’”

No wonder the Brazilian so thoroughly endeared himself to Jackson. Jackson, who departs from the UFC with a 7-5 record in the octagon, wants fans to remember him as someone who valued entertaining fights over everything — even victories.

That’s one of Rampage’s attributes. Quinton was the one who screamed a parting message as he headed for the exit doors at the United Center.

“You’re going to miss me,” Jackson yelled, according to White.

White’s response: “I miss you already, buddy.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.