Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, renowned for his explosive career in mixed martial arts and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion status, has recently made headlines by returning to gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training after more than two decades away. Interestingly, despite his lifetime of elite-level wrestling and success against numerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts in professional MMA competition, Jackson still carries the rank of a blue belt—a designation many view as blatant sandbagging.
Jackson was spotted at Paulo Gazze Jr.’s academy in Huntington Beach, California, stepping onto the mats where his MMA journey in California first began. During a recent appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast, Jackson reminisced about his initial move from Memphis and how this particular gym had been pivotal in shaping his fighting career: “That gym is the first gym I trained at when I moved to California,” Jackson explained. “I moved from Memphis to train at that gym. That was Fabiano Ihas’ old gym. And then Tito (Ortiz) came with Team Punishment. That was [where] everything started.”
Returning to gi training after such an extensive hiatus, Jackson admitted feeling initially disoriented but quickly demonstrated that his grappling prowess had hardly diminished: “I haven’t done gi jiu-jitsu in over 20 years,” Jackson admitted. “I wanted to know how would I do. And so I went with another blue belt and I did good. And then I went with a brown belt and I did well.”
Given Rampage’s decorated wrestling background and proven track record of dominating high-level BJJ black belts in MMA, his continuing status as a mere blue belt raises critical questions about the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt ranking system. How can a former UFC champion, who spent decades consistently besting top grapplers, remain ranked alongside novices and hobbyists? Such inconsistencies highlight inherent flaws in the rigid and sometimes arbitrary nature of BJJ promotions.
Adding humor to his recent return, Jackson addressed a viral video clip from his training session, where he spun his partner around by the ankles—a move so unconventional that some mistakenly believed he was wrestling a child. “He’s a grown-ass man,” clarified Jackson, amused by the confusion, suggesting the technique was a “hidden secret” he’s perfected over his career: “Bro, I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
@bunchofclipz #rampagejackson #ufc #jiujitsu #fyp ♬ original sound – bunchofclipz
Rampage’s return to traditional BJJ has sparked excitement among fans, though it simultaneously exposes the absurdities and inconsistencies of the belt ranking process. For an athlete of Jackson’s caliber, clearly operating at an advanced skill level despite a prolonged gi absence, continuing as a blue belt seems less an accurate reflection of ability and more a peculiar oversight—or perhaps deliberate sandbagging.
In the past, Rampage Jackson has made fun of BJJ:
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