AS THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT title showdown at UFC 135 looms closer, let’s take a detailed look at the man with the unenviable task of facing off against Jon Jones, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Jackson is one of the most colourful and popular characters fighting at present. This is due to his gung-ho fighting style and the fact that he manages to wind up every opponent in the lead up to his fights.
The first of his many rivalries was with Wanderlei Silva in the PRIDE fighting organisation. Their clear hatred for each other in the lead up to the bout translated into the ring as both fighters viciously gave it their all.
Rampage seemed to be getting the better of the PRIDE middleweight champion before being caught by a prolonged series of knees forcing the referee to call a stop to the bout.
That turned out to be the first in a trilogy of fights the two went on to have together as Rampage fell foul of Silva’s knees once more in the second bout before finally getting the better of Silva by knocking him out in the third and final fight.
From PRIDE to the UFC to TUF coach
Rampage’s performances in PRIDE did not go unnoticed across the shores in America. His wild striking style and his “knock out or get knocked out” ethos always made him a fans’ favourite.
He disposed of Marvin Eastman in his first UFC fight in 2007 and just three months later he was handed a shot at the champion, Chuck Liddell.
Jackson caused an upset by knocking out Liddell less than two minutes into the first round of the bout to become the UFC light heavyweight champion.
Dan Henderson was Quinton’s next victim as he won a hard fought unanimous decision and unified the PRIDE middleweight and the UFC light heavyweight titles.
He was then selected as a coach on season seven of “The Ultimate Fighter”, putting his title on the line against Forrest Griffin in the series finale. Rampage lost a close decision to Griffin in a bout that was acknowledged as the “fight of the year.”
He got back on track with victories over Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine before being picked to coach on TUF once more, this time against another bitter rival, Rashad Evans.
The series was as memorable for the fights, as for the exchanges between Rampage and Evans, as the two nearly came to blows on a daily basis.
Despite a scare in the last round, Evans managed to defeat Rampage via a unanimous decision.
Not for the first time in his career, Jackson put together back to back victories over Matt Hamill and Lyoto Machida, to set up another shot at the light heavyweight belt.
Quinton has made it his mission to get his belt back and as per usual in the run up to his fights, the verbal sparring has already kicked off.
UFC 135 happens on the weekend of 24 September and is live on ESPN.
