UFC 144: Rampage Jackson Vs Ryan Bader

The Japanese crowd was thrilled to have Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on the card and for a moment it looked like the Rampage of old was back as he slammed a dazed Bader in the second round. That moment would be fleeting however, as Bader would assert his control shortly after and refused to relinquish it.

Rampage looked to be just a step behind all night as his power shots were consistently a split second away from landing on the younger and faster Bader. While Jackson said he injured his knee before the fight, Bader held a distinct advantage in speed and on the ground.

Bader has now won two bouts in a row after consecutive losses to Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz. This is, by far, the biggest win of his career and will allow him to re-enter the top 10. A bout against the winner of the Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira match up UFC on Fuel would be an excellent next fight for him.

Rampage says he wants to press forward with his career, so you know he's going to continue to get showcased fights. He has lost two in a row and could get a lower-level opponent next, but that's unlikely. The best options for him (if his knee heals quickly) are rematches against Dan Henderson or Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Shogun is the more likely of the two.