The Constancy of Fabio Maldonado
MONTREAL --- UFC light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado stood leaning on a balcony railing inside the Pavillon Jacques-Cartier Thursday, about fifteen feet above the gathering press in attendance for UFC 186's Media Day fighter scrums, and twenty feet to the left of the man he hoped he wouldn't have to fight on Saturday.
The Brazilian, having wrapped up beer ad obligations on the pavilion's second level, considered the scene below that he would soon join, taking questions from media members with his manager, Alex Davis, while sitting in his little station with the black UFC logo backdrop and sign with his name written in white block letters to the left.
As the fan-favorite looked below, he could see Steve Bosse taking interview questions from media members. Soon, Bosse would leave his own little station, and the black sign with white block letters spelling his name would be switched out for one reading Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and the former champ would take his turn conversing with reporters.
When Jackson re-joined the UFC, Maldonado quickly called for a fight with the popular legend. The fight was made, and Maldonado was overjoyed at the opportunity.
Then, an injunction forced "Rampage" off the card and he was replaced by former hockey player Steve Bosse, who had been retired from MMA as well. Up until two days before Ultimate Media Day, traditionally held the Thursday before an event, Maldonado had then been focused on fighting the former ice enforcer.
Then, another injunction put Jackson back on UFC 186, and Bosse was taken out. Sort of.
On Thursday, Bosse told us that he still held hope that Jackson's contract saga and legal difficulties with his immediate past promoter would yet prevent him from fighting Saturday in Montreal and that he'd still get to fight in the co-main event in his hometown. Though Maldonado would appear not to particularly fear a fight with any man, he most certainly was in no mood to fight Bosse.
Bosse, tough as he is, with an excellent record, is not "Rampage." Maldonado says he's wanted to fight Jackson for over a decade, ever since the Memphis native fought in the now defunct Pride promotion.
We spoke with Maldonado and asked him if he was in a mindset, after all this drama and opponent switches, of just fighting a man, any man, instead of focusing on a particular opponent. The boxer would have none of that, and let it be known that he wanted all the talk and speculation to just end, already.
"Yeah, I have wanted this fight for a long time. I've wanted to fight 'Rampage' for 12 years," he began.
"Things have been on, off, he's been in, he's been out, he's back in. Please, can we just keep him in the fight, already? (laughs)"
He chuckled, but there was no levity in the fighter's eyes. The wear of not just knowing who you will fight for the past couple months, weeks and days would be mentally draining enough, to say nothing of the let-down of losing your career's dream fight.
That said, the "Iron Hillbilly" left little doubt as to whether or not he would be ready to face anybody once that cage door closes on Saturday. Throughout the lead-up to UFC 186, there has been lots of uncertainty and upheaval.
The one constant through it all has been Maldonado, himself. Come Bosse or come "Rampage," come hell or high-water, we know Maldonado will be there, fighting in what he has said he hopes will be a bloody battle.
"A real gladiator doesn't choose his opponents," he said, in closing.
