UFC 130: Rampage sees retirement in the near future, but insists he still has work to do

Though merely days from fighting Matt Hamill at UFC 130, former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson is already talking retirement. Keen to be out of the game by the ripe old age of 35, Rampage has a plan and is intent on sticking to it, though admits reclaiming his old title is still very much on his list of priorities. “I've felt that way since the day I started fighting - I don't want to fight past 35,” says Rampage. “I said it years ago and I don't know why people are just now catching on to it.

 “I know I am older now and I've had a lot of wars. I've got little bumps and bruises that bother me during training. Now, I really like boxing more, I like trying to knock people out. I started off as a wrestler, but then I fell in love with trying to knock people out. My style has just changed over the years.” Known for his heavy hands and non-stop aggression, Jackson's adjustment has played out with success in knockout victories over Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. However, Jackson is also without a trademark stoppage win since December 2008 and, though he continues to excite, some critics have began to question whether 'Rampage's fire for mixed martial arts burns as brightly as it once did. “Some MMA fans, they don't understand,” says Jackson. “If you really get to know me, I'm not really excited about anybody I fight. It's just my job and my career. I don't get excited anymore, as I've got almost 40 fights to my name. “Yes, I want to do movies after I get done fighting. You can't fight until you're 60, and you need an exit strategy. You can tell which fans are smart and which fans are ignorant. What they think don't bother me at all.”