This is the second time this rumor has surfaced, but this time it may be true. Rampage has landed the role of B. A. Baracus in the upcoming “A-Team” movie, which is currently being filmed for a mid-2010 release. Rampage is scheduled to fight Rashad Evens at UFC 107, but now the fight will have to be pushed back until early 2010. The new headliner for UFC 107 will be BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez, which I would like to see, but I would love to see Rampage in the octagon.
I have no problem with a fighter making money they deserve, but moving fights back, no way. What happens if he gets hurt or Rashad gets hurt, we the fans miss out on a great fight for what? So, Rampage can play movie star?
Now other fighters are getting into the movies, Randy is doing movies and Gina Carano is playing the lead role in a movie called Knockout. Chuck Liddell is on Dancing With The Stars, but Chuck doesn’t have any fights in the near future.
I really hope this is not become the standard for MMA fighters who gain some fame from fighting and use it as a spring board to Hollywood. I have a feeling that this will not last very long and they are going to put a stop to it soon. Postponing a fight to make a movie is unacceptable, if you are under contract to fight. If a fighter has the time to make a movie without interfering with his contract then good for them. MMA is evolving into a huge sport and a lot of stars are emerging. It’s a very exciting time to be a MMA fan, but don’t short change us on great fights because a fighter has to shoot a movie.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You don’t think he got the blessing from the UFC and Dana? I think he probably did because this is going to be a huge movie and will get the UFC a lot of mainstream publicity. Not saying, I’m happy with having to wait for a fight, but in general it’s an excellent business move.
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MMA Punk Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Daily Shot Mike Rampage got a the blessing from Dana White to do the movie. Rampage really wanted to play BA in the movie because him and his dad watched it together when he was a kid.It is going to be a huge movie and a ton of publicity for the UFC. If Rampage get hurt or doesn’t preform well I think they will say no in the future.
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Twitter: extremejohn
September 8, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I think it’s a great move for the UFC, minus moving the fight. As long as it doesn’t become the “norm” I won’t mind it.
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