Interesting article in today’s Las Vegas Review Journal with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson talking about, among other things, race and his status as a ‘role model’:

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson knows the issue is there, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

Jackson, one of the sport’s premier fighters, will defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title against Forrest Griffin in the main event of UFC 86 tonight at Mandalay Bay.

He has made a name for himself as one of the most outgoing and humorous fighters around and has left his race out of it for the most part.

But it is hard to ignore the fact the UFC’s light heavyweight champion is by far the most prominent black in a sport that is exploding in other demographics but has been slower to catch on in the black community.

“Be honest, white folks need a sport like” mixed martial arts, he said. “Blacks and Mexicans took over boxing. Football and basketball have got black folks. And baseball.

“I’m not a hater. I’m happy for white folks that they’ve got MMA. It just so happens that I was pretty good at it.”

Jackson, a born-again Christian with four children, insists race is a nonissue and he doesn’t feel any added pressure to be a role model to younger black fighters.

“I’m not fighting so more black people will get into fighting. Black people can do whatever they want to do. White people can do whatever they want to do. I’m not a racial person,” he said. “I don’t care what race people do what. I’m just making money the best way I know how.”

Race no concern for ‘Rampage’ Jackson @ LVRJ