Jones e Rampage se encaram. Foto: UFC.

It’s UFC day in Denver, Colorado. In the evening’s main event, Jon Jones’s talent will be put to the test against Quinton Jackson’s considerable experience. The light heavyweight champion will be defending his belt for the first time, and Rampage wants it back.

“Before his fight with Forrest Griffin, Rampage said: ‘Forrest Griffin couldn’t squash a grape, and he lost. He said the same thing about me, that I couldn’t squash a grape with my fists, that I have no power in my punch. So I think he doesn’t realize that this is MMA, not boxing, and the game isn’t based on punching power, it’s based on skill, discipline and a passion for the game,” said Jones.

“I think I’m outdoing Rampage in all those departments. He’d love to be champion again, but I don’t think he really lives the lifestyle it takes to be champion again. And I can’t imagine giving the belt to someone who doesn’t love doing what it takes to be champion,” he added.

Jackson sticks to the same playbook that made him famous since the days of Pride FC:

“My personality is not going to change – not titles or money, none of that can change it. I don’t think I’m better than anybody else because I’m a professional fighter. That’s why people don’t understand when I say this is my career and my work. It’s not that I don’t love the sport, it’s a job I do. This is me, I’m living the American dream,” he said.

“I feel it’s really important for me to get the belt back to show the world they made a mistake,” said Jackson, referring to his second title defense, against Griffin back in July 2008, “I want to show that I’m still here and am still training like a champion.”

Besides Jones vs. Jackson, there are other intriguing matchups on the UFC 135 card, like Matt Hughes versus Josh Koshcheck and Nate Diaz against Takanori Gomi.

Check out the video pics from weigh-ins:

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Check out the card:

UFC 135
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Pepsi Center – Denver, Colorado, USA

Jon Jones vs Quinton Jackson
Matt Hughes vs Josh Koscheck
Travis Browne vs Rob Broughton
Nate Diaz vs Takanori Gomi
Ben Rothwell vs Mark Hunt
Tim Boetsch vs Nick Ring
Tony Ferguson vs Aaron Riley
Cole Escovedo vs Takeya Mizugaki
Ricardo Romero vs James Te Huna
Junior Assunção vs Eddie Yagin