Jackson refuses to live in past

That’s a wise move given his recent past is nothing to be proud of.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder lost not only his belt this summer but some of his dignity as well when he was arrested a few days after Forrest Griffin took his title from him on July 5.

In a bizarre incident, Jackson was involved in a multiple-car accident and then took off, leading police on a chase through Orange County in California before he finally was stopped and apprehended.

Subsequent tests showed he had not been eating or sleeping, sustaining himself only on energy drinks. Jackson was suffering from dehydration, which brought on a bout of delirium at the time of his July 15 arrest for felony evading, hit-and-run and reckless driving.

Jackson, who takes on rival Wanderlei Silva at the MGM Grand Garden as part of the Saturday’s UFC card, said he feels great and is ready to prove his critics wrong.

“Everything is good,” Jackson, 30, said. “You’re going to see a new Rampage out there, and it’s for real.”

Many UFC fans would prefer the old Rampage, the one prior to his loss to Griffin, the one who could energize the crowd from the moment he walked into the arena to the time he left the cage victorious.

Despite his brush with the law, Jackson remains one of the UFC’s most popular fighters. He’s still big box office, and his feud with Silva, a Brazilian and Muay Thai specialist, goes back to when the two competed in the PRIDE organization in Japan. They met twice, and each time Silva got the best of Jackson.

Now, Jackson wants revenge.

“Rampage came to me with a hit list of guys he wanted to fight, and Silva was at the top of the list,” UFC president Dana White said.

It would have been easy for White to turn his back on Jackson after his legal troubles. Yet he immediately rushed to California to see the fighter as soon as he learned of the incident, and he has stood by his side.

“That wasn’t Rampage,” White said. “That was some guy who hadn’t eaten, who hadn’t slept who was hopped up on those (expletive) energy drinks.

“He hadn’t killed anyone. It wasn’t like he had a gun on him and was shooting people. It was an unfortunate incident.”

Jackson appreciates the support. He has changed trainers and training methods for this fight, part of a mega card that includes heavyweights Frank Mir and Antonio Nogueira squaring off and Griffin defending his belt against Rashad Evans in the main event.

“I’ve never been more motivated for a fight,” Jackson said. “I’m doing things to prepare for Silva that I never thought I’d do.

“I had a strength and conditioning coach. I’ve been swimming. I changed sparring partners, and they did a great job in getting me ready.”

Jackson (28-7) said he learned a hard lesson from his July arrest.

“I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I also learned that no matter what happens, you gotta turn the page,” he said. “We’re not perfect. Things happen in life.

“Sure, I regret what happened. But there’s nothing I can do about it now. It’s in the past, and I’m focused on right now, and that’s beating Silva come Saturday.”

• NOTES — Today’s weigh-in at the Grand Garden begins at 4 p.m. Admission is free, and the doors will open 3. … A UFC autograph session will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Grand Garden concourse. … The 10-bout card Saturday begins at 5:15 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.