UFC 144: Win over Ryan Bader Will Mean Nothing for Rampage Jackson's Career

Entering the UFC Octagon for the first time since falling to champion Jon "Bones" Jones at UFC 135 in September of last year, Rampage Jackson has been given another fight—one that will mean nothing for his career.

Jackson will be pitted against Ryan Bader, who has been a fine fighter, but he is nothing compared to what Jackson deserves to fight. Bader won his last fight against Jason Brilz in a first-round TKO, but that doesn't really pop off the page as impressive.

He lost his previous fight to an aging Tito Ortiz in a first-round submission, as well a second-round loss by submission at the hands of Jones before he took the title spot.

A fighter like Bader is just a gimme for a fighter like Jackson, who is the former light-heavyweight champion. Considering this is the first fight he has been given since his title shot—one he took to four rounds against Jones—one would think that the 33-year-old deserves a better opponent at this point in his career.

Who knows how much more time Jackson will have in the Octagon, and when you are going to give him the second-to-top fight on the card, the UFC should have respected him by giving him a fighter who will at least propel him into the right direction towards the end of his career, or a fighter that he would at least look respectable losing to.

This fight is like the Super Bowl to Bader, as he has a chance to knock off one of the strongest fighters in the division, as well as push his name to the front of the light-heavyweight division.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.
Follow @Real_Jeff_Chase