Above all else, the main event at UFC 86 was an amazing fight. It may have even been the best light heavyweight fight ever. In the fourth round, for the first time, we heard a UFC crowd actually chanting for Rampage, and the crowd gave him a big ovation after the fight. I believe his days of being booed against homegrown UFC stars are over. He is too exciting to watch and too funny of a guy to hate, and I think the fans are finally on his side.
I fully believe he will come back from this loss stronger than ever. If he can beat Forrest in another great fight, he will establish himself even further, and will be ready for a run at the top as a popular UFC superstar, as opposed to the guy that beat Chuck Liddell.
Losing is obviously a setback, but I think it may have been even worse for him if he won a tight decision and got booed to hell by the crowd in the aftermath. I think he is now a legitimate draw and superstar after that fight, and I think the reaction to his next fight will show it.