UFC 135 Results: Rampage Wants Shogun, Why Does This Fight Make Sense?

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's professional record dropped to 32-9 last night when he succumbed to the rear naked choke applied by current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones early in Round 4.

Despite the loss, Rampage has looked in much worse shape post-fight than he did last night (refer to Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva I and II or Jackson vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua for proof).

In fact Jackson seemed to be feeling so good after losing to Jones that he was already calling out his next opponent during the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.

A rematch with Shogun to avenge the the third and last time he has ever been knocked out in MMA is what Jackson wants. Not only does Jackson want to avenge his loss to Shogun, he wants it to go down where it went down the last time they fought, in Japan.

Shogun is already set to face former Pride and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson, who has been finding a lot of recent success despite the fact that he is 41 years old. That fight is set to go down November 19 at UFC 139.

It would be unlikely that the UFC would put Shogun up against Rampage if he were to win against Henderson, but a fight with Henderson or Shogun would be a good fight to schedule, especially if they are able to make it happen in Japan.

Like Shogun, Henderson has a history with Rampage as well except that Henderson was on the losing end of a five-round decision for the unification of the Pride Middleweight and UFC light heavyweight championship unification. 

Henderson, Shogun and Rampage are all former Pride stars, so a Rampage vs. Shogun or Rampage vs. Henderson fight would go over well with the Japanese fans and be great for the UFC's return to the Land of the Rising Sun.

November 19 to February 26 is a short period of time, but if Shogun or Henderson are asked to fight in Japan against Rampage it would be very surprising if they turned it down despite the quick turn around, unless of course an injury is stopping them.

UFC president Dana White chimed in on setting up Rampage vs. Shogun II in Japan, and although he didn't rule it out, he realises that having guys fight twice in a span of three months isn't always easy to do.

"[Shogun] is fighting Dan Henderson in San Jose, so we'll see what happens there," White said.  "What Rampage said to me was, 'I want to fight in that Japan fight.' I said, 'Cool.' I'm never going to argue with you when you tell me you want to fight.'"

Whether or not Rampage fights Henderson or Shogun, it appears as if he will be fighting in Japan come February and that is great news for the UFC and Japan.

Putting the timing and probability of Shogun or Henderson making a February fight aside, Jackson really wants that Shogun fight to happen.

""It would be very special because I've got a lot of respect for Shogun," Jackson told the media. "That's been one that's haunted me for a long time. So I want to rematch Shogun in Japan."

"That would be like a dream come true," Rampage said.

If the UFC can't make a Shogun vs. Rampage fight or Henderson vs. Rampage fight happen there is one other guy who would make for a great fight with Rampage over in Japan.

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal started his career in Japan and a feud between the two has been brewing, so it would be an easy fight to sell.

Whether or not Lawal can get out of his Strikeforce contract is debatable, but if Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem and Dan Henderson were able to get in to the UFC, King Mo might be able to do the same.

Despite the Rampage's loss, he seems more motivated than ever and there are a lot of fights available for him at light heavyweight and fighting in Japan just seems like the right move for both him and the UFC to make.

Leon Horne is a writer for Bleacher Report, Follow @Leon_Horne

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