UFC 144 weigh-in Results, ‘Rampage’ Jackson misses weight badly, Ryan Bader fight still on

The rumors of Quinton Jackson having a lousy training camp appeared to have been true based on his condition when he stepped on the scales tonight in Tokyo.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion missed the 205-pound limit by six pounds at 211.
The non-title fight will go on as planned with Jackson giving up 20 percent of his purse to Bader. Based on Jackson's salary from recent fights, that amount could be in the $50,000 range. Jackson was paid $250,000 in his fights at UFC 130 and UFC 135.

Even at 211, Jackson's face showed the wear of trying to make weight. He was also a little softer than normal in his chest. Both main event fighters, Frank Edgar and Benson Henderson, made weight for their UFC lightweight title fight at 154 pounds. Henderson, the much bigger fighter, was incredibly cut in the midsection.
Rich Franklin, serving as an analyst on Fuel TV, called Jackson's miss "ridiculous."

During his interview with Fuel's Ariel Helwani, Jackson said he suffered an injury early in training camp and couldn't get in his roadwork. The injury, which Jackson would not disclose, was healed later in camp, but by then he was still very heavy. Jackson said he woke up at 3 a.m. local time to cut weight and he was only able to go from 232 down to 211.

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

Frankie Edgar (154) vs. Ben Henderson (154)
Ryan Bader (205) vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (211)
Cheick Kongo (229) vs. Mark Hunt (264)
Yoshihiro Akiyama (169) vs. Jake Shields (170)
Tim Boetsch (186) vs. Yushin Okami (185)
Hatsu Hioki (145) and Bart Palaszewski (146)
Joe Lauzon (156) vs. Anthony Pettis (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)

Takanori Gomi (155) vs. Eiji Mitsuoka (154)
Vaughan Lee (135) vs. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (136)
Steve Cantwell (185) vs. Riki Fukuda (185)
Chris Cariaso (136) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (135)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Issei Tamura (145) vs. Tiequan Zhang (146)

UFC releases countdown to UFC 144 Japan

As we all know UFC 144 the UFC's return to Japan is in a couple of days, now the UFC has released its countdown to the upcoming event.

Catch it in the video link below:

UFC 144 is headlined by a lightweight title fight between Champ Frankie "The Answer" Edgar and Ben "Smooth" Henderson, and the co-main event between Rampage Jackson and Ryan Bader. The event is a very stacked card which will held at the Siatama Super Arena in Japan.

On Tap: UFC Return to Japan

On tap this February 26, 2012 is UFC 144 Japan. Yes the UFC makes its way back to Japan where Frankie "The Answer" Edgar meets Ben "Smooth" Henderson for the lightweight title and Rampage Jackson makes his way back to the Saitama Center across the up start Ryan "Darth" Bader with both looking to go back up the ladder in the UFC light-heavyweight division.

The card is stacked fro top to bottom and the UFC seems bent on putting on a great show in their return to Japan.

Heart of a Champion: Jon Jones wants to Fight 4 Times This Year'

After having an unprecedented run last year, Jon Jones is ready to return to the Octagon and continue his dominance throughout the light heavyweight division.

After defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, Jones went on to capture the UFC light heavyweight crown from Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. He then successfully defended it against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida. Following his recent victory over Machida at UFC 140, the 24-year-old said he would like to take some time off and relax.

However, it looks like Jones might ditch that idea and come back sooner than later.

"Originally I said I wanted to take off four or five months, but I may reconsider and come back sooner and have three or four fights this year," Jones told ESPN.com.

Should the 205-pound champion decide to return, it is expected that he would compete in April, which would likely see him square off against either Rashad Evans or Dan Henderson. Evans is scheduled to meet light heavyweight prospect Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2 on January 28.

Jones' four consecutive wins have led many fans to consider it the most successful year ever produced by a mixed martial artist. And after having such a remarkable year, Jones is poised to replicate that same success.

"I've been thinking recently about trying to compete four times in the year again. I grew so much as a person that by doing that again in 2012 will just make me a better athlete," he said. "My goal is to finish every fight in 2012. If I do that, a lot of other things will fall into place naturally."

Now that's what I call having a heart of the champion, Jones is really bent on defending his title and becoming the best MMA fighter in history.

'Rampage' Jackson vs. Ryan Bader Set for UFC 144 in Japan

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson may have prematurely announced in his twitter account that he would not be fighting in Japan. As it turns out the former Pride FC star and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion will be heading back to Japan's Saitama Super Arena for one more time against Ryan Bader at UFC 144. As confirmed from ESPN:

"The UFC has granted Quinton Jackson's request to fight in Japan in February.

The former light heavyweight champion will meet Ryan Bader at UFC 144. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the matchup to ESPN.com."

Rampage is coming of a loss to Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones, in a title last UFC 135, and while recently called out by TUF 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar, the UFC decided that they instead want Bader who also won last UFC 139 to fight Rampage.

The bout is likely to be the co-main event of the UFC 144 card, with the main event being a UFC lightweight title matchup between champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Ben Henderson.

More news on this card as it develops.