June 1, 2007
UFC champ denied entry by 'racist'

UFC champ Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson lands a punch on former heavy weight champion Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell. (Photo courtesy of the UFC)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship's newest king is convinced racism is behind the reason he's not allowed into Canada.

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson told the Sun he'd relish the opportunity to fight north of the 49th parallel, but he's on the banned list.

"Tell the Canadian government to let me back in your country," says Jackson, the UFC's new light-heavyweight champ.

"When I got in trouble in college, that was years ago, Why you all hating on me, because I'm black?"

Jackson says he has an assault conviction on his record dating back to his college days, which never stopped him from entering the country in the past.

That was until a few years back, when Jackson says he ran into a 'racist' immigration official.

"One guy, I can tell he was racist, I won't lie to you, he was racist big time," says Jackson, 28.

"I was with two other white dudes and he let all of them go and then he just chose me."

Jackson said the official went above and beyond in researching his background.

He was denied entry into the country and since that day, he's been on the banned list.

And while Canada may not want him, the rest of the world is lining up.

A week ago, Jackson dethroned the most popular man in mixed-martial arts, Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell, with a devastating right that floored the 'Iceman' less than two minutes into the first round.

"I guess Chuck was right about one thing, the fight didn't go past the first round," says Jackson.

The Memphis native will now inherit Liddell's long list of public appearances and autograph sessions.

"I'm on the cheddar train now. Choo. Choo," jokes Jackson.

"But I'm not going to let none of that change me. I'm gonna stay grounded you know."

Next up on the new champ's hit list: Dan Henderson.

The Pride welterweight and middleweight champ was introduced by UFC president Dana White shortly after Jackson won the belt last Saturday.

And Jackson admits, Henderson is a formidable foe.

"He's tough," says Jackson

But as far as Canada is concerned, the only fight Jackson will be hosting here will be against the feds.

And he has a message for Prime Minister Stephen Harper: "Let me in, dawg."

FIGHT NOTES:

Quinton (Rampage) Jackson received US$225,000 for taking the belt from Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell. Liddell, in the loss that took less than two minutes, made $500,000 not counting bonuses - that's more than $4,400 per second. Canadian Kalib Starnes got $10,000 for beating Chris Leben in the UFC 71 undercard.

Canadian David 'The Crow' Loiseau has reportedly been in talks with UFC president Dana White about returning to the big show.

Mike 'Quick' Swick told mmanews.com he is dropping from the 185 lbs. class to fight at 170 lbs. Swick lost a unanimous decision to Yushin Okami in his last outing. Okami will headline the UFC 72 card on June 16 when he takes on former middleweight champ Rich 'Ace' Franklin in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

This one's a heartbreaker. Seems it doesn't matter what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman does, hockey's a hard sell south of the border. The most recent episode of "The Ultimate Fighter 5" on Spike TV more than doubled viewership for GAME 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in the U.S. The reality show garnered an average audience of 1.7 million viewers compared to the NHL's 769,000 viewers.