A Night in Tokyo With Rampage Jackson

best Ariel Helwani interview since 101 with Chael Sonnen, getting a in depth and inmate in site on the thoughts and emotions of Quinton Rampage Jackson really makes me respect him a lot more as a person and not just a fighter or persona. Ariel Helwani should have more interviews like this with other fighters

by leugim41004 on Feb 24, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Why is Jackson motorboating Ariel's ass?

by bjpurity on Feb 24, 2012 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

One of the best interviews Ariel has done. More like this please.

by Spike66 on Feb 23, 2012 4:01 PM EST reply actions

I agree

i love the whole walk down the street thing and being able to see whats it like over there. And this has to be one of the best rampage interviews

by Jason Robillard on Feb 24, 2012 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

Kudos

Never seen anything like this before – love the style & the fact that it’s raw and real. Great job Ariel

by spgreenwood on Feb 24, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Dope!

Walking interviews for the win. Great insight to a great fighter. Very well done guys.

by Tacoknight on Feb 23, 2012 4:01 PM EST reply actions

im not a big fan of rampage but im not a hater either, but this was a really good piece and i like to see more like this for other fighters and i thank ariel and rampage for possibly starting a big thing for mma and mmafighting.com with these walking interviews. Hopefully there will be guys out there that will open up like rampage because he really puts himself out there and love him or hate him got to respect that he does that.

by Kurama on Feb 23, 2012 4:17 PM EST reply actions

Awesome!

This was a great interview, wasn’t going to watch it all, but i ended up doing so.

Amazing.

By far my favorite interview ever.

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by NickaG on Feb 23, 2012 4:25 PM EST reply actions

Great interview, hopefully we see more like it soon. I would suggest investing in a nice Steadicam though.

by Bazarov on Feb 23, 2012 4:28 PM EST reply actions

LOL rampage

17:42 what a baller lmao

by Cubs944 on Feb 23, 2012 4:46 PM EST reply actions

Props to the cameraman

for being able to walk backwards through the city for that long without tripping. Great interview. I hope this becomes a more regular feature.

by shonuf1 on Feb 23, 2012 5:11 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

Yeah Casey is pretty awesome.

by NiN505 on Feb 23, 2012 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

thanks! it was a pretty difficult shoot but the payoff is worth it.

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by E. Casey Leydon on Feb 23, 2012 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

you and Esther do great work. keep it up!

by NiN505 on Feb 24, 2012 6:13 AM EST up reply actions

awesome interview

but check out the guy around 18:55 and 30:35 walking behind them haha

by Paquet90 on Feb 23, 2012 5:33 PM EST reply actions

Haha i think we're going to hell for laughin at that 18:55

by Jaba 23 on Feb 24, 2012 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

great interview

That was really great, next one: nick diaz while walking the 209, but bring a knife with you

by loudhugo on Feb 23, 2012 5:50 PM EST reply actions

One of the greatest interviews I’ve seen…Keep up the good work.

by Atomic Bologna on Feb 23, 2012 5:52 PM EST reply actions

Fantastic interview! Really insightful stuff.

Great job Ariel. Props to Rampage for opening up. He really has been in some legendary fights so to be criticised while he’s coming to the end of his career probably feels pretty horrible, especially when you consider he does indeed come to put on a show as opposed to hold someone down and win on points.

Also hats off to the cameraman for not falling over a single time; i’m guessing Ester Lin was guiding him as i saw her jump into the shot once, either that or he has eyes in the back of his head.

Great vid all around. The setting definitely added to it, Japan seems like a pretty intriguing place. Looking forward to more great vids from Japan, especially the customary local-fan-opinions vid.

by Xad on Feb 23, 2012 6:04 PM EST reply actions

awesome video

i really enjoyed it

by BmoreGoHarder on Feb 23, 2012 6:10 PM EST reply actions

Get a Lav mic

Seriously, for how many interviews you do. You should really invest in a lav mic.

by MMAjo on Feb 23, 2012 6:16 PM EST reply actions

like this interview

I like this documentary style interview

by MMAjo on Feb 23, 2012 6:17 PM EST reply actions

Do more of these with other fighters (or just Rampage) if you can.

Ariel, this was your Barbara Walters/Katie Couric interview, it was really awesome. You should do these for whenever a fighter is in their home base whether it’s in other countries or their hometowns. Keep up the great work.

by 50UL on Feb 23, 2012 6:19 PM EST reply actions

How many Japanese chicks did Rampage end up scoping?

There’s a reason why Ariel was MMA reporter of the year and it’s work like this that makes him deserving. Also, Rampage is an incredibly complex and hilarious dude.

by DX OX on Feb 23, 2012 7:19 PM EST reply actions

Great interview

I have always respected Rampage,but after this interview,I have so much respect for him. I remember when he beat Liddell in Pride,and in the UFC I was so upset about that,cause I’m such a huge ICEMAN fan. I wanted Chuck to win those fights so bad. But,Rampage was the better man in those fights,and I cann’t be in denial about it. Rampage is a good dude,and a great person to represent MMA/UFC no matter what bumps in the road he’s had. Win or lose I’m a Rampage fan to the bone. Btw Rampage is gonna win against Bader via KO/TKO I can see it happening!!!

by Dee1983 on Feb 23, 2012 7:27 PM EST reply actions

Yup!

by flapjaxGT on Feb 24, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

Ariel needs to do a segment like this for every fight!

by jdennis86 on Feb 23, 2012 8:18 PM EST reply actions

Awesome Interview

Great interview, it’s amusing to see how Rampage has an excuse for each loss really minus Wanderlei. But loved the interview it felt like a short documentary really.

by Vulkin on Feb 23, 2012 8:41 PM EST reply actions

Good stuff. Very unique.

Great interview, but two things must be said. Rampage let Ariel win at Tekken and I could not top starring at Rampage’s coat. His coat was way cooler than than Ariel’s.

by JubJub88 on Feb 23, 2012 9:25 PM EST reply actions

That coat is fresh as hell, anyone know what company that is? I love the fur collar and its mad cold where I’m from. Northface and Burton arent cutting it.

by Zmartin2244 on Feb 23, 2012 10:24 PM EST up reply actions

Ariel’s coat is nerdy, but that fits him so well. Quirky, nerdy, and (Im just guessing) does a good job at what it does. But Rampage coat it F’n great. Not since Drive has there been such a iconic jacket (or Grease).

by JubJub88 on Feb 23, 2012 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

Ariel needs a new jacket, he looks like a damn bum with it being 4 sizes to big

by bmarqsic on Feb 23, 2012 9:35 PM EST reply actions

Sweet Interview

Ariel is awesome

by ShonofWar on Feb 23, 2012 10:02 PM EST reply actions

What is with the facemasks? Is it that smoggy over there?

by Hulka's Big Toe on Feb 23, 2012 11:14 PM EST reply actions

Great interview

I like long interviews by ariel their great and the video work came out good too, overall just a great job

by Aohco on Feb 23, 2012 11:16 PM EST reply actions

Awesome Job Ariel

Great interview. One of your best. I love the casual documentary vibe.

by AndrewPr33tz on Feb 23, 2012 11:57 PM EST reply actions

How many guys would've done this 2 days before a fight?

Props to Rampage

by Bigs- on Feb 24, 2012 12:01 AM EST reply actions

as always

great stuff

by Diesel A on Feb 24, 2012 12:21 AM EST reply actions

No cheap 80/20 instigating, well done Ariel.

by jyveturkey on Feb 24, 2012 1:14 AM EST reply actions

cool interview

rampage is a beast and i want that jacket

by brown_pride310 on Feb 24, 2012 1:16 AM EST reply actions

Quality stuff

linking this over at HKL, cuz, who doesn’t need 2 more pageviews?

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by Cory Braiterman on Feb 24, 2012 2:15 AM EST reply actions

That was a great interview.

Great to see Rampage take that much time and open up a lot. Love that he’s still got Wanderlei on his mind after all these years.

What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?

by Kwisatz Haderach on Feb 24, 2012 3:04 AM EST reply actions

Fans gon fan!

God damn, now THAT was an interview. You line’em up. Ariel noses’em down. Excellent job Ariel!

by SoyJimmy on Feb 24, 2012 3:27 AM EST reply actions

Did Ariel say the jews built the pyramids?

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by Robust23 on Feb 24, 2012 3:55 AM EST reply actions

Let's not even get into that

That’s one argument you can’t win

by Bigs- on Feb 24, 2012 6:11 AM EST up reply actions

yeah, he's not blood type B

by iboneu89 on Feb 24, 2012 9:55 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

cause unless Jews were worshipping the sun god Ra and dog headed Anubis, it seems unlikely

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by Robust23 on Feb 24, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

This should be obvious...

It was a reference to the time the ancient Israelis spent as slaves in Egypt.

Oh, great interview, by the way. I’ve always been a Rampage fan, but this interview definitely showed a more candid and chill side of him. More importantly, it didn’t seem contrived, unlike 90% of MMA journalism out in the wild.

Keep up the good work.

by bluesdealer on Feb 25, 2012 1:42 AM EST up reply actions

Long time lurker, first time poster...

…and I registered just to say that this was absolutely excellent. Great job, Mr. Helwani!

by Viriathus on Feb 24, 2012 4:05 AM EST reply actions

That was great!

Nice to see a pre fight interview without any smack talking and silly stuff, just a really interesting and friendly chat with the fighter, awesome.

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by jim-ma on Feb 24, 2012 7:17 AM EST reply actions

Great piece of work!

Ariel you’re awesome.

Best regards from Israel!

by maxk on Feb 24, 2012 8:44 AM EST reply actions

Bromance looming

I like the chemistry between .these 2. Mostly because of Rampage does Ariel look a little more comfortable in the interview which almost looks like a conversation u have with a good friend.

.

.Ariel is by far the biggest reason I am addicted to this website, and rampage delivers in interviews as always

by iboneu89 on Feb 24, 2012 9:19 AM EST via mobile reply actions