Quinton Jackson: UFC 114 Bout with Rashad Evans a 'Warm-Up' for Shogun Rua

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans have engaged in one of the most entertaining smack-talk sessions MMA has ever witnessed. For all the "yo momma" jokes that were flung between the two, Jackson may have just laid down the ultimate diss.

“I feel like fighting Rashad is a step backwards, because he doesn’t have the belt anymore,” Jackson told FightersOnly of facing his rival in UFC 114 on May 29 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “But if things go right, this will be a nice warm-up fight for Shogun (Mauricio Rua). If everything works out it will be nice.

“Everybody knows I took time off. It would be stupid to go right into a title fight with Shogun so this will be a good test for me.”

Did Jackson just indirectly say he was looking past Evans, a fellow former champion?

The arch enemies were originally slated to fight at UFC 107 after completing their assignments as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” however, Jackson opted to turn his back on MMA, and accept the role of B.A. Baracus in the movie remake of “The A-Team.”

Jackson holds an impressive 30-7 professional record, but hasn’t fought since taking an uneventful unanimous decision over Keith Jardine, Evans’ Jackson Submission Fighting teammate, at UFC 96 in March 2009.

Despite his extended absence, Jackson has already mapped out his comeback trail, and it isn’t an easy light heavyweight path.

“I want to go get Rashad. Nice warm-up fight, kick his ass. Fight Shogun, redeem myself for my sleep, for my mind. Then go and beat the hell out of Forrest [Griffin], retire him," Jackson said.

“If I lose to Rashad I don’t even deserve to get my belt back!” he added.

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