To pound his body into shape for the big-budget version of The A-Team, Bradley Cooper speed-hiked up the Grind, a famous trail outside of Vancouver that shoots up 2,800 feet of mountainside, completing the grueling trek in just 37 minutes. “The man,”says director Joe Carnahan, “is a beast.”
Another Beast
But I think there is another beast on the set. Former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
He takes on the role of Bosco “B.A” Baracas, which was played by Mr. T. A-Team is based on the campy NBC series that made a household name out of Mr. T.
Rampage sprints to keep in shape, too. Only he’s running 800m and 400m sprints to give him quick recovery times in the Octagon.
How that relates to his role in A-Team I haven’t a clue. There is no telling how Jackson keeps his beastly body in shape for his flexing scenes with Cooper.
I am pretty sure he has to stay loose and strong to keep his Ultimate Fighting Championship body in shape. Especially since he vows to return to the ring to fight Rashad Evans and finish his contract with UFC.
Don’t doubt Rampage will be back because there is big money for him; especially after a starring role in a promising blockbuster like the A-Team.
Rampage a Natural Athlete
I find it very interesting that Jackson had his first taste of combat sport as a wrestler in high school. He made All-State honors.
He ended up extending his career at the junior college level before taking on Mixed Martial Arts.
He made a name for himself in the MMA with an impressive record of 11 wins and 1 loss fighting for a variety of smaller scale American promotions.
Jackson made a name for himself in Japan during the Pride Fighting Championships. He was noticed for his powerful body slams including a famous knockout victory over Ricardo Arona.
Back in the states, he won notoriety for his dominance in the UFC. As a matter of fact Jackson held the UFC Light-Heavyweight title for some time.
Jackson appeared stoked and fit for a second time as a coach on the reality series The Ultimate Fighter. Jackson appeared on the show with co-host Rashad Evans, notable for victories over Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin.
I also wonder if Rampage offers advice to his fellow actors on how to stay in shape between shots. I have included a video that shows Rampage working out for quickness and agility.
Looking Ripped
From the looks of Cooper’s picture from the A-Team set, he might be able to give Rampage advice on how to stay cool and not get bored between scene set ups.
According to People.com, A-Team follows a renegade band of disgraced former Special Forces soldiers. The renegades are lead by John “Hannibal” Smith.
Smith is a wise-cracking, cigar-chomping master negotiator played with delight by Liam Neeson.
I am sure that Rampage is working out to keep his UFC body in shape for his next bout with Rashad Evans. He is such a beast!