Despite a long, winning career with the UFC, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has had a rough relationship with the promotion recently. In an interview he did with Middle Easy (transcribed by Bloody Elbow) Jackson said the UFC hasn't compensated him well enough for his loss of privacy.
Leaving the UFC would make me happy. I don't think there's anything they can do to fix it. I don't think they're even willing to fix it. I'm not upset with them. The UFC is a great organization, they've done a lot of great, positive things for the sport. It's mainstream now. I can't walk anywhere without people wanting a picture or attention or talking or anything. That's good, that's what people like. I just feel like...honestly, I just wish I could be compensated a little bit more for the privacy that I gave up. People don't understand that. I traded my privacy and my kids' privacy for...the living that I'm making now which is...Football players and basketball players these days, they're making MILLIONS!
Now, what's odd about this statement is not that Jackson wants more money. Who doesn't want to be paid more for their job? But Jackson's popularity is not solely due to the UFC. He was a beloved fighter with Pride before fighting with the UFC. He has been in several movies. He starred in "The A-Team," a movie that made $177 million at the box office internationally. He does autograph signings, and has appeared on talk shows and on the WWE Raw show.
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If privacy was the concern, Jackson could have kept a lower profile. He didn't. He chose to go into movies and fulfill its publicity requirements. He chose to sign on with sponsors who required he make appearances. He chooses to tweet pictures of him and his family. If privacy was his biggest concern, he could have just been a fighter.
His concerns are about money, and you know what? That's OK. A lot of people grumble about how much they are paid. It makes Jackson more like a regular guy. Just don't couch it in lost privacy.
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