FightHype.com recently caught up with world-renowned trainer Juanito Ibarra to discuss how training camp has been going for Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as he prepares to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Pride light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. You don't want to miss what he had to say about Henderson, Liddell, Rua, Silva and much more. Check it out.

PC: How is everything going my man?

JI: Everything is fine. We're just working our tail off towards this tough battle with Dan Henderson.

PC: Is Rampage in full training right now?

JI: Oh yeah. You wouldn't believe it. He's crying like a baby.

PC: How proud are you of Rampage, not only with his success in the cage, but for being nominated for an ESPY as well?

JI: I was unbelievably proud of Rampage being up for an ESPY. Rampage isn't a big sports fanatic, so he really didn't understand the demographic behind it, but people were really in awe that he was there. Unfortunately, he was disappointed, not that he didn't win, but that they didn't even mention that there was an MMA fighter nominated; actually two MMA fighters nominated because so was Randy Couture. He felt like, "Why am I here?" I'm proud of him. I told him, "Son it's an unbelievable honor to be nominated for an ESPY." It's equal to the Grammy's or better.

PC: What do you feel are some of Henderson's strengths and weaknesses that you feel you need to work on with Rampage?

JI: I think Dan has great strengths. I think he has more strengths than weaknesses; that's why he's a champion. That's why he's a champion in two divisions. He has no fear, he's strong in the clinch, he's not scared to trade and he shows it. And he's an intelligent fighter. He has a lot of pluses. His negatives I'll keep to myself and we'll work on trying to adapt, overwhelm the negatives and keep moving forward.

PC: How do you feel about the fight being in London?

JI: Well, does it make sense? Not really when you got a UFC card in his backyard two weeks later. It doesn't make sense. Does it make sense in a business or promoting kind of way because he's a fighter that fought abroad and so did Henderson? I could say it makes sense there as a promoter and the fans because in that part of the country, they know of these two guys. Does it make sense to have Henderson fight Rampage in America where they kind of know Henderson and know Rampage a little bit more? Not really. It depends on what angle and how you want to look at it. As his manager/trainer, I'll just say it doesn't make sense.

PC: I'm sure Rampage has been super busy since winning the title. How has he handled returning to camp and getting back to the tough part of MMA? Was it an easy transition to get him back focused?

JI: A lot of people are talking about this, but it's small talk. What people don't realize is Rampage is bigger than King Kong in Japan. Literally! He's used to that fame, people pulling at him and him being himself. I think God prepared him for this. That belt goes in the drawer because to me, he's not world champion yet. But now the UFC is trying to put the pressure on Rampage right after the fight. The guy couldn't even walk to the dressing room and he had another champion in front of him. OK, you want to play that, we'll play it. Let's throw the belts in the drawer. We're going to fight a 5 round fight against a guy that can fight and we're going to find out who's really the champion of the world. That theory has kept him humble. Yes we've been busy, but let me tell you, I have an incredible marketing plan for Rampage. We don't rest. We've had 13 days off this whole year. It's not because he won the belt. When he won the belt, there's just bigger things now. We're work dogs. My hours are 20 hours a day, because I manage and train this kid, and 6 days a week, so we're used to working. The belt is just a metal strap around your waist where the world sees you as the best fighter in the world, but we still have a lot to prove.

PC: Was it tough having Henderson brought into the ring after the fight as far as Rampage getting a break?

JI: He hasn't had a break. He tried to go on vacation. He went back to Memphis, that's his hometown, and it almost got worse. He has like 50 cousins that he don't even know and then he's got all that love from his hometown people and he really couldn't rest. Like I said, we've had 13 days off this year. I'm counting them, believe me.

PC: Liddell is already lined up to be in the main event at UFC 76 and he was the one to go on Letterman after the fight with Rampage. Is that frustrating to you?

JI: It is frustrating to me, but me knowing the way television works, that kind of stuff takes time. I'm sure the UFC had that planned already, but they could've called David Letterman and said there's a change in plans as far as the guest goes. The most frustrating part for me is not that Chuck Liddell was on the show, but they should've had them both on. There could've been some love there, but like I said, people make their choices. They can live by them, we're ok with it. I'm not in a rush because God gives us things in moderation like we're supposed to have them and I'm sure we'll get our due at the David Letterman show or any other show like that.

PC: When you are training Rampage for a fight like this, are you training other fighters too or is all the attention on Rampage right now?

JI: I have Michael Bisbing up here and Cheick Kongo, who are both fighting on the card. We have a lot of diversity in this camp right now. I like these kids because they have a lot of respect and they work their ass off. That's what I respect. They're real people.

PC: Everyone talks about how much Rampage's boxing has improved under your guidance. Is that the reason why the Bisbing's and Kongo's have come to you?

JI: I don't know. I've been involved with MMA since Vitor Belfort back in the day. I trained Marco Ruas, Josh Barnett and a lot of other MMA fighters. I've always turned out talent. I have to have chemistry with my fighters before I even get involved with them. I don't just teach them, "Ok let's go work some mitts." I was always taught by some great mentors to me, Jackie McCoy and Bill Slayton, that we're not trainers because trainers train animals. We teach athletes how to fight. It's not just the fighter, it's their nutrition, their mental, their strategy. It's training them and it's having my assistants work with them on the ground and trying to make a complete fighter. When a fighter comes to me, the first thing I say is, "Hey son, let's see if we have chemistry." If we have chemistry…it's not about the money. It sure isn't about the money. Cheick came to me for my last camp. Great kid. Does he have a chance to beat Cro Cop? Hell yeah! Michael Bisbing saw us when we were doing the tour after the Dublin fight and said he would like to come up and train with us. I talked to his people about his future and what's going on and if everybody is telling the truth and if their integrity is on the line, I think it's going to be good for us and helping Michael Bisbing because he's a hell of a worker.

PC: I know Dan and Rampage are friends. Although him and Chuck didn't hate each other, they had history and they had some trash talk. Is it tough for Rampage to get up to fight his friend?

JI: No. No it's not. They are friends. They have respect, but you have to remember, there are things along the way with the growth of MMA where people help each other or people don't help each other and relationships build as friends. How do you evaluate a friend? It's all business. They respect each other as friends and that's why they say, "Hey let's make some money together whooping each others butt." When it comes down to fighting a friend, because Dan's his friend; Dan has known him all of his life, I think he has a distinction there. This is a guy that he knows really well, respects and knows that he can fight, but he's trying to take something from him. He's trying to take his belt, his status and his growth. If you ask Rampage, he probably won't say he's the best fighter in the world, but he feels he's one of the best fighters in the world. That's the way he analyzes himself. So he wants to be the best. I think that's one of the things that makes him hungry; knowing that Dan is one of the best fighters in the world and him wanting to be the best fighter in the world. The motivation isn't a problem.

PC: I know you guys aren't overlooking Dan, but with the UFC bringing in Shogun Rua, is that a rematch you would like to get for Rampage?

JI: Absolutely. Who wouldn't? The fans would want it, Rampage wants it and I'm sure Rua would want it because of the strap that Rampage owns and he will continue to own, as well as the Pride strap. So of course! I always say this though, yesterday is the cancelled check, today is the cash in hand and tomorrow is the promissory note. So ultimately, the Silva's, the Liddell's and the Shogun's or whoever else is just the promissory note. Right now, we're working for the cash in hand today and that's Dan Henderson.

PC: Juanito, it is always a pleasure. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

JI: I appreciate all of the fans in Europe. Rampage is looking forward to entertaining the fans out there and God bless everybody.