Heading into his grudge match with Rashad Evans at UFC 114, many questioned whether Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s recent inactivity and obligations as a star in The A-Team movie would cause too many distractions. That wasn’t an issue, according to Jackson, but he admits that some personal problems got in the way and he’d lost the fight before it even started.

In the showdown between the two former titlists and The Ultimate Fighter 10 coaches, Evans used his speed and transitions between boxing and wrestling to keep Rampage (30-8) off balance and secure a unanimous decision win. Rampage rocked Evans late in the fight but didn’t have much success outside of that moment.

“I knew I lost that fight before I even stepped in the cage,” Jackson said during a UFC 123 media call on Thursday to discuss his Nov. 20 main event bout with Lyoto Machida (16-1). “I lost that fight was a couple of weeks before the fight even started.”

Rampage would not go into any further details, only saying that they were personal reasons he would keep to himself.

“Sometimes we fight even when we know we shouldn’t fight,” Jackson said. “I felt like I owed it to my fans to fight.”

Jackson also said he did not discuss the thought of pulling out of the fight with any UFC officials. “I always keep stuff to myself,” he said.

In Machida, Rampage faces an elusive but effective striker that only current champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been able to solve. But Rampage isn’t concerned about possibly having to chase Machida down to get his hands on him.

“I’m not worried about anything because I’ve trained really hard for this fight,” Jackson said. “I’m going to fight my fight.”

Asked whether Jackson would rather secure a rematch with Evans or Shogun — who beat Rampage in PRIDE in 2005 — he said he doesn’t have a preference.

“Whoever has the belt,” Jackson said. “I want to beat everyone who’s beat me.”

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