Prediction: Rampage will go down...

BLACK-R0B · 01-12-2008, 12:41 PM

AS THE GREATEST LHW IN UFC HISTORY!!!!

Let me start by saying that I have been a Rampage fan since his early PROID FC fights. But I never really think he had what it took to rise to the tip top. I really didn't see him beating Wand. I always thought he had the best chance to beat him as anyone, but even while watching the second fight during the original broadcast, I was just kinda waiting for Wand to win. I really seen him decline against the smaller Ninja, but I didn't see the Shogun fight going the way it did.

But that is all in the past now. He has said numerous times that if he trains good and has good sparing partners, he is unstoppable. And I think he is right!!!! He has the potential to surpass Chuck's legacy as the best LHW ever, especially since he beat him twice, and might beat him a third time. Pair that with the fact that the LHW division is better that it has EVER been, he has a great shot. Here are a few reasons.....

1) Every fight in Chuck's title reign was a rematch. Every single one of them. Even the championship fight. WoW. Jackson's championship fight was a rematch with Chuck and his first fight in the UFC was a rematch with Eastman, but other than that, there are only 2 other fighters in the UFC that Jackson has faced before, Shogun and Wand. With Wand and Shogun comming off of losses, it will be at least a year of two before he has to fight one of them.

2) Rampage is not "Dana's boy". that means no "easy" style mismatches for Rampage like Chuck had until he got there. There are only two fighters that can give Rampage a style mismatch, Shogun and Wand, so refer to the first point. That means the top fighters will have to step in there with him with no real predetermined advantages on their side. But Rampage will ALWAYS have a strength and power advantage over the entire division.

3) The UFC rules were made for him. No early stand up's. No favorites for the victory, ala Wand, Sakuraba. Stronger drug testing. Shorter rounds. No kicks or knees on the ground. Elbows allowed. It's like he wrote them himself.

Of course he still has to win. But I just don't see anybody having to good of a chance. He does everything well, strike for KO's, wrestle for takedowns, and strength for sub defense. Training and shorter rounds will keep him from gassing and professional sparing partners will keep his technique tight. I don't see anyone besting him at all. His legacy is totally in his hands.

To quote Rampage, "If I come in close to 100%, and have good sparing partners, I'm unstoppable."

I think he is right!!!