Rampage Jackson sets the stage for a comeback
Just when it seemed that there would be no break from the upcoming showdown between Affliction and the the UFC, Quinton Jackson intervened. With a simple flight from the cops, Jackson managed to propel himself onto the center stage in the world of mixed martial arts. For at least a little while, the organizational war between Affliction and the UFC will have to take a backseat.
Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva’s names will also be uttered a lot less in the aftermath of Jackson’s run in with the law. However, it just proves how much weight Jackson carries in the mma circuit.
For if the UFC’s Marvin Eastman or Matt Linland pulled such a stunt, would it receive more than just a quick blurb or snippet in the back page of the sports section?
Jackson is more than just the former light heavyweight champion. He has been able to create a mystique that intrigues and captivates fans. By creating such a mystique, Jackson also has become more identifiable to the mass public. That in itself has enabled mma to make significant strides.
So now that Jackson has been a jailbird for less than a day, questions of whether or not the incident will hurt the sport start to possess more volume. Nevertheless, the ordeal simply thrust mma deeper into the limelight. Granted, with the incident comes a negative connotation, but it is almost as if Jackson deserves a sense of sympathy.
The reasons for his actions are unclear up to this point, yet many will speculate that depression over his recent loss to Forrest Griffin fueled yesterday’s incident. If that is indeed the case, more eyes will look upon Jackson with sympathy rather than animosity. That would ultimately set the stage for a comeback. And there is nothing more alluring in the sports world than a comeback. Down on their luck athletes always seem to have a cheering section on their way back to trying to recapture the glory they once knew.
So Fedor, Silva and company should enjoy their time out of the spotlight as the Jackson story gets played out over the next couple days. However, they will return to the spotlight this weekend as people will once again remember the escalating war between Affliction and the UFC.
For Jackson, he too will get a break from all the attention once this story dies down. Until then, he’ll face scrutiny in light of his recent actions. And as the public learns more, the early stages of Jackson’s comeback will start to take form.
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