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Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:30 pm EDT

White breaks silence on Quinton Jackson

By Steve Cofield

We finally tracked down UFC president Dana White for an update on Rampage Jackson's condition. There's still much that is unknown and doctors are far from an official diagnosis. White told Yahoo! Sports that Jackson was initially going to stay in care for 72 hours but that has now been extended.

"I think it's going to be a while before we get him back. I'm talking as a friend. It's a sensitive issue. Rampage, the UFC fighter, who cares about that. We're concerned about Rampage, the human being. What matters is his personal life."

White also talked about some strange circumstances that led up to Jackson's episode Tuesday.

"He was up for four days and he was doing some crazy fasting thing. He was up for four days, drinking water and energy drinks, that was it. It's not good.
 

White said he knew that as soon as he arrived in Southern California on Tuesday night that something was seriously wrong with Jackson.

"Rampage doesn't do drugs. Rampage really doesn't even drink. This whole thing made no sense to me. (Then) when I got there it made a lot of sense."

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE YAHOO! SPORTS EXCLUSIVE WITH WHITE:

It sounds like the stress of stardom took its toll on Jackson before and after the Forrest Griffin fight.

"As this thing continues to grow and people will get more famous," said White. "Fame isn't easy to deal with. Harder for all the fighter are all the cling-ons. I can't police every fighter. As soon as something goes wrong I'm there and I'll help them."

This will serve as a test case, much like the Chuck Liddell ordeal in 2007. Liddell appeared on a Dallas television morning show and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Liddell was dozing off on live television. It turned out that Liddell's handlers allowed him to appear on television under the influence of the sleeping aid Lunesta and cold medicine Nyquil.

It's becoming more obvious that UFC needs to educate its fighters and their management teams on crisis management. Other sports have huge support staffs to help their athletes with the media and life management. It doesn't always work as exhibited by the 60+ run-ins with police this offseason amongst NFL players but it certainly couldn't hurt UFC fighters. There are simply too many opportunities in 2008 for fighters to get overwhelmed by fame and money.

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208 Comments

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  1. Mark S
    1. Posted by Mark S Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:29 pm EDT

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    Water and energy drinks - breakfast, lunch, and dinner of former champs!
    Seriously, hope he snaps out of it. I can't believe the loss to Griffin did this - he can win his next two fights and be back in a title bout.
  2. DalaiLamaPoo
    2. Posted by DalaiLamaPoo Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    Rampage makes me sleepy. I feel headaches and induced depression, maybe too many knocks to the head. What is this life for? about? Hi.
  3. Jeff C
    3. Posted by Jeff C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Judging by the pervious idiotic posts I would have to say that it must be recess for the local 3rd graders. I doubt any of you posers even train.
    Dana gets plenty of flak but he obviously cares about hit top fighters. I hope Rampage can get it together and get some perspective on things, he seems like a good guy where it counts. So many people place all their values on being the “champ”, Rampage is still young and there is plenty of time to get the belt again, several times over.
    He needs to realize the LHW division in the UFC is the BEST in the world.
  4. abdiver12
    4. Posted by abdiver12 Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Rampage is not only a great fighter but a great guy as well. He's been nothing but humble and accomodating to the fans and his fellow fighters during his career. I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery. Something obviously snapped inside him and I hope this episode doesn't lead to any serious jail time. If anyone deserves a second chance, its him.
  5. dealsforwheels
    5. Posted by dealsforwheels Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Neither one of them is a champion in their hearts. Forest is OK but he is lacking skills in every aspect , he wins because of his steel chin and quick recovery and CONDITIONING. Nobody works as hard as he does. I'm already looking up to the next champ and with the UFC popularity it better be a guy that the kids can look up to.
  6. T Stizzz
    6. Posted by T Stizzz Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    I love rampage because hes a great character as well as a fighter. I don't know what kinda fast that is or where he got it from but I know if your up long enough u start to go insane, but I hope the evaluation helps him and he gets help so he can come back and fight. Get well Rampage
    Energy drinks are bad please dont harm yourself drinkin them
  7. steven m
    7. Posted by steven m Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    why would he be fasting AFTER his fight with Griffin? Sounds like a story to tell the judge so he can plea temporary insanity.
  8. Yahoo91
    8. Posted by Yahoo91 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:39 pm EDT

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    hope he doesn't end up like chris benoit, that would be a shame. rampage is a cool guy, i think he might be little sensitive, he's good hearted person.
  9. Roger L
    9. Posted by Roger L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Rampage gave us plenty of good entertainment both as champion, on the Ultimate Fighter series and then in the fight with Griffin. I got my moneys worth out of him and he's not done yet. I cant wait for him to get back to his game and give us the rest of his performance. God be with you Rampage.
  10. Ken Wilder
    10. Posted by Ken Wilder Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

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    Please stop writing for yahoo, you are terrible
  11. guess who
    11. Posted by guess who Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    well it was a matter of time before it happened. here goes another mike tyson,breakdown.rampage.i wonder if he will bite somone's ear off.or go bankrupt. i guess when he ran from the police he was just doing as what his name say's on a RAMPAGE. WHO WILL HE BLAME THAT ON. don't get me wrong he is a good fighter.he just need's to pick his a*** up and be smart about what he is doing.if you can't handle defeat do something else. cya in the funny papers
  12. Chris
    12. Posted by Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    i can care less about him....so he cant take the fame.....go cry me a river...cuz you know its so har being rich and fighting for a living which he only fights like twice a year!!!!
  13. sjonat68
    13. Posted by sjonat68 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    His wife left him.......
  14. Sandman
    14. Posted by Sandman Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:37 pm EDT

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    Yea, it sounds to me like White is cooking up a great cover story. Rampage is such and great guy....bla bla bla...(he nearly killed people but that is beside the point).....he went "crazy" by fasting.....bla bla bla........He is being "institutionalized" for psychiatric problems bla bla bla...........COVER STORY!!!!!!!! There is reality and, then, there is fantasy.
  15. Tokai37
    15. Posted by Tokai37 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

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    They said he was talking on his cell phone at the time,
    this is typical cell phone driving
    Cut him a break
  16. datucatu
    16. Posted by datucatu Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Sounds like bipolar a la Iron Mike.
  17. bjnhouse
    17. Posted by bjnhouse Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    A 230 pound man goes insane from drinking energy drinks, Right! oh and I forgot the fasting. Thats why so many at the gym are crazed. Dana White, I had respect for you and your UFC, but not anymore. Your lies are no different than those of the Hollywood cases that wont face reality and really expect the public to believe that story. We are pretty cumb, but just not that stupid.
  18. Tonka
    18. Posted by Tonka Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    I had always thought Rampage was a little mental, I remeber them talking about his temper problems. I hope he get's better and can take care of his mind.
  19. jack
    19. Posted by jack Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    I think all the BRUTAL BEATINGS he took in Pride finally got to him.
  20. Jacob
    20. Posted by Jacob Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    here is Chuck on that morning show
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7fDft4jJLY
  21. WANGUSMAXIMUS
    21. Posted by WANGUSMAXIMUS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    HOLD IT - - IF RAMPAGE WON THEN WHY IS FORREST THE CHAMP???????
    Booooooo Hoooooooo - Read the scorer cards, tell me that this fight was fixed, go ahead and say it. . . The fact remains that the Champ is Forrest and Rampage is gonna have to consum something more than energy drinks to beat him. Maybe skills, that would be nice, punching power goes along ways - if - you can hit the opponent and put him down. Sorry I can't agree with you boohooers
  22. Eric M
    22. Posted by Eric M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    To me it sounds as though he was dealing with a bout of depression...granted losing the belt isn't the end of the world, but to lose it could have caused him to spiral down into it. I am sure there are folks working with him to overcome it and he will be back and in better condition mentally to deal with the ups and downs of the sport. Prayers go out to him for sure.
  23. Julie
    23. Posted by Julie Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

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    Good luck Rampage.
  24. A Yahoo! User
    24. Posted by A Yahoo! User Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:48 pm EDT

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    Move over Rover let Griffin take the seat you spoiled baby and i must say get rid of the dog sound and gold chain , what a looser. The day has come for all those who get a big head out there, and Rampage's has come. Goodbye
  25. H H
    25. Posted by H H Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I remember in history class that Gandhi went nuts from fasting too, I think he tried to allude the police, drive on a sidewalk endangering everyone as well. Oh wait, no he did not, he just liberated a Country, sorry my bad.

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