Former light-heavyweight champions talk trash prior to UFC 114

Bickering like potty-mouthed kids, Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans traded insults Tuesday during a heated media conference call to promote UFC 114.

The two mixed martial arts fighters tried to talk over each other repeatedly in rapid-fire exchanges that were a continuation of their face-to-face jawing sessions during Season 10 of "The Ultimate Fighter." Reporters on the call were unnecessary props during some stretches as the two former light-heavyweight champions made like the Two Stooges.

The two bitter rivals will meet May 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas where the animosity will be settled in the cage.

While most MMA fighters pride themselves on showing respect to their opponents, Jackson and Evans are on a combustible collision course.

"These kind of fights happen every once in a while," said UFC president Dana White.

"These guys don't like each other. It doesn't get any more real than this," he added.

Tuesday's call had it all, from curse words to gay slurs. White called it the most heated pre-fight call he had ever been on.

"When you get two of the best in the world fighting each other, it's fun anyway," said White. "But when they don't like each other this much, it makes it a lot more fun."

There is more than bragging rights on the line, however. The Jackson-Evans winner will get a title shot at newly crowned 205-pound champion Mauricio (Shogun) Rua, White confirmed.

Evans (19-1-1) called Jackson a "Tin Man" — a fighter without heart who quit in a 2005 loss to Rua. He also laid into Jackson's street vibe.

"Stop acting like you're stupid. Stop acting like just because you're black, you're stupid," said Evans, who is also black. "I can't stand that attitude."

Things turned ugly when Jackson (30-7) made reference to how fighters in Evans' camp tweak their nipples in the cage before fights (an inside joke that reportedly started with Canadian Georges St-Pierre hearing it was supposed to bring luck).

"I do what I do, you do what I do," said Jackson. "Why are you acting all cocky and acting all fake and be playing with your nipples because you're all gay. ... Why do you portray the stereotype of a black gay man?"

Said Evans: "I'm going to put my big balls right in your face."

It went downhill from there.

"Next question," White said eventually.

Asked why he disliked Evans so much, Jackson said: "I just don't like the way he talks to me.

"He's just real fake, real cocky. For someone who ain't really done much in this sport."

"Hey, I was a world champion, bro," interrupted Evans. "And I got that belt from somebody (Forrest Griffin) that beat you."

"Where's your belt?" taunted Jackson.

"Where is your belt?" Evans countered.

"I've got three of them homie," said Jackson. "I got them."

"Shut the hell up, you don't got a belt," said Evans.

More sniping ensued, with Evans eventually acknowledging neither of them had a belt anymore. But even then there was no common ground.

"I guess we're the same, ain't we," said Evans.

"Nowhere near the same," replied Jackson.

"I know. I'm better than you," said Evans.

"I'm glad you think that. You can't do nothing better than me, boy," said Jackson.

"We'll see," countered Evans. "You know the best thing about this is we'll see in two weeks. That's the best thing about all this shit talking right now. ... We get to see in two weeks. And I want you to show up and I want you to be your best."

"I am going to be my best," said Jackson, adding: "Just show up."

While grammar and good taste were perhaps the only things to take a beating Tuesday, it's clear the two fighters share a genuine dislike.

"I think these two have eclipsed any grudge match we've ever had," said a happy White, who knows bad blood makes for good pay-per-view sales.

"You can tell this is genuine."

Jackson, 31, said he is looking forward to laying a beating on the 30-year-old Evans.

"I'm a grown-ass man. This is a sport to me, this is how I get paid," said Jackson. "But this is the first time I'm actually going to enjoy beating the hell out of somebody."

After their stint as TUF coaches, Jackson and Evans were scheduled to meet last December at UFC 107 in Jackson's hometown of Memphis. But Jackson pulled out so he could play the role of B.A. Baracus in the movie remake of "The A-Team."

Jackson won the 205-pound title off Chuck (The Iceman) Lidell at UFC 71 in May 2007 and successfully defended the belt at UFC 75 when he defeated former Pride champion Dan Henderson. But he lost the title next time out to Griffin at UFC 86 in July 2008 and went off the rails soon after. A bizarre police chase was later blamed on delirium caused by several days of fasting and living on energy drinks.

Evans defeated Griffin at UFC 92 in December 2008 to claim the crown, only to be beaten by Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida five months later at UFC 98.

Evans rebounded to defeat Thiago Silva at UFC 108 while Jackson beat Wanderlei (The Axe Murderer) Silva at UFC 92 and Keith (The Dean of Mean) Jardine at UFC 96.