DANA WHITE has hit out at Quinton Jackson's decision to quit the UFC and branded the fighter 'a baby'. The UFC president was left reeling after former light-heavyweight champion Jackson called time on his mixed martial arts' career to pursue acting full-time. Rampage will play BA Baracus in the forthcoming A-Team movie and his decision to accept the part meant he had to pull out of his UFC 107 clash with Rashad Evans, playing havoc with the promotion's fight schedule. White publicly mocked the former Pride star for agreeing to take the role made famous by Mr T in the 1980s TV series, and Rampage hinted his comments were a key factor behind his shock retirement. But the UFC boss has stepped up their war of words by criticising the 31-year-old's choice to swap the Octagon for Hollywood. White said: "Believe me, if you think this is the first time I have dealt with people who think they want to become actors and they are going to make millions and millions off making movies and acting, [its not]. "Because I got so p***** off with him pulling out of the fight with Rashad, I am speaking my mind — he thinks I am trying to ruin his career. "Rampage is a grown man. He is acting like a baby right now but he is a grown man. "If he wants to be in the movie business, Rampage, good luck to you man. "I hope you make it big, and I am not being sarcastic, because Rampage Jackson is a guy that I actually like and Rampage Jackson is a guy that I know doesn't always make the best decisions. "I hope the movie thing works out for him, if that is what he truly wants to do and what he thinks his career is, I wish him all the luck in the world. I like Rampage, I have no ill will towards him whatsoever. "He has decided to walk away from guaranteed good money right now — money he will never have the opportunity to make for the rest of his life, because he wants to make movies. White again vented his frustration at Jackson's decision to pull out of the December 12 bout with Evans — which was set to take place in Memphis. White added: "All he has been telling me since he got in the UFC is he wants to fight in Memphis, which is his home town. "We make the fight in Memphis and he pulls out because he wants to do a movie instead, because it has so much sentimental value to him. "Come on man, he is a fighter, that is what he does for a living! Now I am going through all this crap again, another fighter going 'You know what, this isn't what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to make movies, I want a movie career.' Like I haven't seen this before!" But White insists he will remain on friendly terms with Jackson. Speaking to the Carmichael Dave radio show, he added: "I have nothing bad to say about Rampage, he is a grown man. "What I have done with Rampage is I have spoken to him as a friend and tried to talk him out of making a bad decision, but he doesn't think it is. "He thinks he is going to have this movie career but there have been so many fighters over the years that thought they were going to have these movie careers [and didn't]."
I don't understand how taking a shot at doing something other than get beat up for a living is 'acting like a baby'. Sounds smart to me. :dunno:
You are exactly right and as other fighters see guys leave to other orgs or different careers and make decent money you will see this more and more. Roger Huerta is a perfect example. And watch when Silva's contract comes up. Dana plays the dictator role and these fighters are growing tierd of it. Whatever side you are on Dana's or Rampage's, the sport is changing and there are going to be more and more options for these fighters. Dana knows it, that is why he gets so pissed.
I have always been a fan of White's 'tell-it-like-it-is' style. But sometimes the dude just says too much to the media. There is almost never a dispute that stays behind closed doors in the UFC.
