MMA Fighter Bios: QUINTON “RAMPAGE” JACKSON

QUINTON JACKSON

BORN: Memphis, Tennessee

6’1, light-heavyweight

“Rampage” is a very is a Jekyll and Hyde persona when it comes to his out of ring and in range persona. Fun, jokes and levity are abundant for Jackson before a fight, but when it’s game time Rampage comes alive and there’s an immediate shift in his demeanor. There’s a real change in his look, his body language and intentions, none of which are funny in the slightest. That deep desire to win an d talent to make sure it happens has catapulted the pride of Memphis, Tennessee into the category of all-time greats.

After a successful amateur wrestling career in junior college, Jackson took a whirl at the MMA game and found it to be a very positive endeavor. He racked up a nice 11-1 record, with wins in King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge and Dan Severn’s Dangerzone promotion.

Japan caught onto the fighter who was knocking out and submitting fighter after fighter while possessing the personality of a highly affable comedian who oozed charisma. Pride FC signed the American upstart and although he was defeated by Japanese sensation Kazushi Sakuraba in his debut, Jackson would go on defeat Alexander Otsuka and Yuk Ishikawa by stoppage. An accidental knee to the groin of Daijiro Matsui in Jackson’s next bout would lead to a DQ loss, but it would be the only blip on the radar for Jackson for a long time. A 7 fight win streak would be on the agenda of Jackson as he was undefeated for a good year and a half and he took Igor Vovchanchyan, Kevin Randleman, Muilo Bustamante and Chuck Liddell along the way.

Jackson’s main goal was to defeat Wanderlei Silva, who was tearing through competition at 205 in Pride. AT the Pride Final Conflict 2003, Jackson would lose to Silva in the finals by KO. But Jackson would get back up and keep fighting and scored wins over Ikuhisa Minowa and Ricardo Arona. The defeat of Arona being via one of the most vicious KOs by slam seen in MMA.

Again there would be a brief low point in the career of Rampage as he went 2-1 over his next two bouts, once again losing to Wanderlei Silva. He bounced back to defeat Murilo Ninja Rua, only to be finished by Rua’s brother Mauricio Shogun Rua in his next bout.

But one of the things about the career of Rampage which is consistent is his ability to bounce back after facing adversity. With some tough losses and difficult times in his career, he always finds ways to come back strong and show the world he is one of the to 205ers in the game and one of the best of all time. Rampage scored wins over Hirotaka Yokoi, Don Sik Yoon, Matt Lindland, before finally receiving a call to fight in the UFC, after the premiere MMA organization took over the reigns of Pride FC. After a defeat over Marvin Eastman, Rampage was pitted against Chuck Liddell, who was terrorizing the 205 division in the UFC with KO after KO in the Octagon. Jackson put a stop to “The Iceman” and his reign of terror at light-heavyweight by putting Liddell to sleep for the first time in his career via first round KO in a spectacular victory which earned Jackson UFC gold.

A successful defense against Pride FC import Dan Henderson at UFC 75, allowed Jackson to unify the Pride FC and UFC 205 pound titles. Solid wrestling, striking, cardio and heart were shown by Jackson, who was training as serious as ever for his first title defense. The gold and silverware around Jackson’s waist was aplenty, but so was the number of challengers lining up to take on the king of the hill at 205. Rampage was up against Forrest Griffin next, and was upset in a razor close bout with Griffin.

Once again despite the loss to Griffin, being involved in a well publicized arrest and being booked on suspicion of felony reckless driving, Rampage still found a way to bounce back up, and really high, to the top of the 205 pound weight class. In late 2008 a third fight between Rampage and his nemesis Wanderlei Silva was set up, and thrice was a charm for Rampage. He made up for the two losses in a big way as he showed good defense and a power-packed offence to knockout Silva via KO and put to rest the tough losses the American endured at the hands of Silva in Pride.

Next up for Jackson was another tough 205er looking to get up to the top of the heap himself, Keith Jardine. But once again Jackson was game, and fought hard and well, adapted as best he could to Jardine’s awkward yet effective style of fighting and came out on top via decision. Despite overtraining and experiencing hitting the wall late in training and impacting him during the fight, just like he always does, Rampage kept pushing forward and secured a win via a unanimous decision over Jardine.

Rampage is definitely a case where the cream rises to the top of the crop. Based on athletic ability, as well personal conviction about himself, Rampage belongs at the top of the heap at 205, and finds himself reaching there time and again. Even when he’s defeated and pushed down a few pegs, he rises right back up from the ashes, reinvigorates himself and finds himself among the elite of his division.

RAMPAGE BLING

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Belt holder

1 Successful Title Defence

Unified UFC Light Heavyweight and Pride FC belts

2-time KO of the night honors

2-time Fight of the Night honors

5 MOST MEMORABLE RAMPAGE MOMENTS

1. KOs Chuck Liddell to win UFC title

2. Unifies Pride FC and UFC tiles and defends UFC belt against Dan Henderson

3. Slams Ricardo Arona to KO the Brazilian

4. Avenges loss to Wanderlei Silva

5. KOs Kevin Randleman in Pride FC