"I just don't think it's the right time for Rampage to be fighting Wanderlei right now. I think it's a bad time. I see the mistakes Wanderlei makes. I was at the Liddell fight, which was a helluva fight, but I see the mistakes he makes in there and Rampage could have beaten him. I also know in teaching Rampage and having him become undisputed champion under me and knowing his weaknesses still, I just know what Wanderlei could do to him easily," stated world-class trainer Juanito Ibarra as he talked about the upcoming third fight between Wanderlei Silva and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Check out what else he had to say about the fight, Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and much more.
PC: Who do you like between Rashad and Forrest in their upcoming fight?
JI: I talked to his manager and I told him that Rashad has a good chance. I think Rashad has to fight Forrest; he has to fight him. Forrest has learned to be patient and that's his groove now. He's patient, he's opened up his stance and he's going to battle with you of course. He will get into a dog fight with you and leave himself open, but you gotta get off first on Forrest. You get off first on him, it really throws off his tempo and then if Rashad uses his movement, I think he could beat him. You gotta remember, I really respect Forrest, I do, and I hope he knows this. He could be a good champion because he works his butt off in the dog gone gym like no other. I still think Rampage beat him on a decision. Not taking anything away from him. Rampage didn't beat him up by no means. I just think Rampage won and I'll stick to that. I definitely think Rashad can beat Forrest.
PC: I have to ask, who do you like in the fight with Rampage and Wanderlei Silva?
JI: Ohhh, I feel with everything that's going on right now, I think Wanderlei has the edge. If I was still with Page and there were some problems and we got over them, I would say, "Son"
because I've wanted Wanderlei and Shogun for a long time
I would say, "Son, I think we should take another fight." Or if he was really messed up from what had happened, I would say, "You know what, I don't know if we should fight." My concern for Rampage is him being Quinton Jackson. He has to go in there being sane enough, healthy enough, knowing where his money is at and making sure our team was all back in order; the smaller the better. And then I'd tell him, "It's time to go after this guy." But with it not being that way, I just don't feel like everything is there for him to beat a guy like Wanderlei Silva right now. I don't think its skills or the fact that I would favor a guy like Wanderlei, but it's just the way I'm feeling right now. I'm really feeling that and I wish Wanderlei would be fighting him at a different time. That's what I truly wished because this is a fight that I truly wanted to be a part of.
PC: You weren't involved in any of the Wanderlei losses or the Shogun loss, right?
JI: No! And I know how to beat those guys. I know how to beat both of them guys. And I respect both of them kids. When I had Vitor Belfort back in the day, Wanderlei used to always fly back to Japan with us. I've always liked the kid and I think he's a helluva fighter. I just don't think it's the right time for Rampage to be fighting Wanderlei right now. I think it's a bad time. I see the mistakes Wanderlei makes. I was at the Liddell fight, which was a helluva fight, but I see the mistakes he makes in there and Rampage could have beaten him. I also know in teaching Rampage and having him become undisputed champion under me and knowing his weaknesses still, I just know what Wanderlei could do to him easily. If they're going to fight, let them fight. I think I would know Rampage's strategy, knowing him as an individual and as a fighter. I think I know what he's going to do and we'll see if it's enough.
PC: Are you ok with the fact that he's training in the UK?
JI: If he was with me, he would never be in the UK training. If we were fighting in the UK, we would go there a couple of weeks before to get acclimated. That was my system the last time, but we trained here and worked on our technique more. But all of the hard training with me is done in the States; end of story! I love the kid and I don't think I'm going to watch the fight to be honest with you. I may change my mind, but I just don't think I'm going to watch the fight. It's just too tender in my heart still and I love the kid (getting emotional) like my son and all of the crap out there and all of the lies out there are ludacris and I always want him to be ok. I never want him to get hurt in a fight, but I just think, at this time right now, he should not be fighting Wanderlei.
PC: What ever happened to the immediate rematch with Forrest? I'm not saying Rashad doesn't deserve the shot, I just know you were adamant on getting that rematch.
JI: You know what? In the cage, I went straight up to Dana and I was a little upset and I normally don't get that emotional like that, but I told him we needed a rematch right away. Dana said, "You know what Juanito, that's funny because Forrest said the same thing so we'll talk about." I told Rampage all of the way back to the dressing room, "Don't worry son, I'm going to fight for my life to get you that rematch; it's going to happen." Then Dana told me after all of this stuff started happening that he met with Rampage and Rampage said he didn't want the rematch so who was I to say he should get the rematch? And then, a couple of days after, I found out in the press that I don't work for him anymore. When I mentioned it to Dana, I truly thought it was going to happen. Dana told me right to my face, and I had 2 guys off of the team there with me at the jailhouse, and Dana says, "I'm telling you Juanito, Rampage told me over dinner Sunday that he didn't want the rematch with Forrest." And I said, "Wow!" If I could talk to the guy, maybe I could ask him, but that never happened so who am I?
PC: You guys kind of started the downward spiral of Chuck Liddell when Rampage knocked him out. What is it that you think Chuck is doing wrong?
JI: Chuck has never changed his style and he's a little too old to change his style. I don't mean that in a bad way, but he's an older fighter. He does what Chuck does and he depends on his power. I left Chuck a message recently just to say, "Hey man, if you ever need some advice, give me a call." I really like his trainer. I've known his trainer for years and I just wanted to tell him good luck and if he needs some tips, I know I can show him some things. I really like Chuck. I think he deserves everything he's got, but he refuses to change some things in his game and they're little things. They are very little things that he needs to change and go into fights looking for them and be conscious of certain things. I told Rampage after he beat Chuck that Chuck would get knocked out again. Rampage softened him up and it happened. If I was some kind of influential guidance in his career, I would have him fighting at heavyweight. He's 40 years old. He's a heavyweight anyway because he drops weight; get in shape and fight at heavyweight. He has a big punch; use it and go for the heavyweight title. He keeps coming down in weight to these guys that are younger and faster and they have more tenacity now and a little more confidence going in to fight Chuck than they used to. I think Chuck has a little bit left, but he should fight at heavyweight. Chuck comes in there and fights and I like Chuck. I like his style and all of that stuff, but there are some things that you should always have in your head as a student and that's to never stop learning. Chuck just needs to tighten up his ship a little bit. He's gotta know what punches he starts with and ends with and why. He shouldn't just be throwing punches and looking to knock a guy out. That's why I think he should be fighting at heavyweight because it's a different tempo. He could use his speed because it's a bit of a slower tempo.
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