Is the UFC Rushing "Rampage" Back Too Soon?

Over the past week or so, rumors have been flying that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will be returning to the UFC in November, potentially in a fight against Wanderlei Silva. Another name that has been mentioned as a possible opponent for "Rampage" is Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Unless you have been living under a rock, then you know that "Rampage" has been dealing with a number of issues over the past month, stemming from his mid-afternoon police chase last month. Not only is Jackson facing a number of criminal changes, but he could also be facing a civil action. One of the victims of the "Rampage" rampage was a woman who was sideswiped by the UFC star, and ultimately ended up miscarrying her baby. Doctors haven't yet determined whether or not the miscarriage was a result of the crash. If doctors can prove that it was, then "Rampage" could be facing a potentially massive lawsuit.

Dana White has downplayed the July incident, saying that Jackson was "fine" and blaming the craziness on too many energy drinks, not enough food and a lack of sleep. Others have said that Jackson may have suffered a mental breakdown, but White preferred to call it a "physical" breakdown.

The UFC have been taking steps to ease Jackson but into the swing of things. He recently appeared at a press conference before UFC 87, where he briefly spoke about his situation.

According to Jackson himself, he is training again and is focused on the future.

The big question - is Jackson being rushed back into the fold too soon?

I know what Jackson and the UFC are trying to do. They want people to stop talking about Jackson's legal problems, and instead focus on his next fight. Dana White and "Rampage" are obviously good friends, and White wants to help his friend out by getting him back into the ring as soon as possible. Not only will it distract "Rampage" from his legal problems, but he'll also be able to earn some money, just in case he gets sued and/or goes to jail for any significant period of time.

Let's say for a second that Jackson did have a mental breakdown, and not just a "physical" breakdown. What would happen to his mental well-being if he lost his fight in November? By all accounts, Jackson's downwards spiral started when he lost to Forrest Griffin earlier in the summer. From there, it really picked up momentum and culminated in him getting arrested. Could he mentally handle another loss, coupled with everything else that he is dealing with right now?

The UFC and "Rampage" are taking a huge risk if Jackson is truly not well. Jackson might be better served waiting until 2009 to fight, but I can certainly understand the motivation for a November fight.

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