UFC
Fabio Maldonado wants to be Rampage Jackson's return fight to the UFC
Dec 26, 2014 - 3:15:24 PM Fabio Maldonado wants to be Rampage Jackson's return fight to the UFC

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Rampage Jackson is hoping to fight in the Octagon again in early 2015 - depending on how things pan out regarding Bellator's belief that they have a valid contract with him - and he's wanting some interesting and entertaining matchups upon his return.

One man throwing his name in the mix for that fight is Fabio Maldonado, who made his case in an interview with Guilherme Cruz at MMAFighting.com.

"I think this fight is interesting not only for me, but for a lot of people. It's an exciting match-up," Maldonado said. "He has better wrestling and I have a better jiu-jitsu, and we both like to brawl. It would be a fun fight to watch, and you don't know what to expect. I think it's a good fight."

Maldonado also argues that because a man he beat in the UFC, Joey Beltran, wound up fighting Rampage in Bellator, it's a fight he deserves himself.

"When I beat Beltran in the UFC, he went to Bellator and got the fight I always dreamed about," Maldonado said. "I always wanted to fight 'Rampage,' and the guy I beat got the chance. I want to fight him."

"I'm sure 'Rampage' will stand and trade punches with me. He's dangerous. He knocked out a guy that I couldn't finish, a guy that I won a close split decision. I'm sure he'll stand with me. He won't shy away from a brawl. His hands can knock anyone out in the UFC."

Penick's Analysis: Given the fights Rampage had in Bellator, there are a lot of UFC fighters who would be bigger and more entertaining than Beltran was, and Maldonado could certainly fit that bill. It would be in the style of fight Rampage wants at any rate. Still, there are bigger names than Maldonado who could be in line for a fight with Jackson, and ultimately it all depends on just whom the UFC has in mind. Rampage-Maldonado isn't the worst idea in the world, though.