Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

 

Born	Memphis, TN, USA
Fighting out of	Irvine CA by way of Memphis, TN
Age	29
Height	6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight	205 lbs. (93 kg)
Overall MMA Record (W-L-D)	27-6-0
Strengths	Wrestling, strength, slamming ability

Entering Pride Fighting Championship in 2001 against prominent Japanese superstar Kazushi Sakuraba would have been no easy feat for anyone, let alone then unknown Jackson. Although losing in the first round to a rear naked choke, Jackson did enough to be invited back and set about tearing through the Pride Middleweight division (205lb’s) and even compiled a seven fight win streak that took him to the brink of the title itself, including wins agains Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante and Chuck Liddell.

Having lost to champion Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva in the Grand Prix Final a year before he finally got his shot at the title and a rematch with Silva in October 04, after hoisting Ricardo Arona over his head and knocking him out with a slam still talked about to this day in a number one contenders match a number of months before. In what many called the fight of the year, Jackson bloodied champion Silva on the ground before the fight was stood up where Silva unloaded a barrage of knee’s to stop Jackson in shocking fashion, leaving Jackson slumped through the ropes.

After the title fight Jackson won four of his next five fights, losing only to Silva’s highly regarded Chute Boxe team-mate Mauricio “Shogun” Rua before signing with the UFC. Jackson made his debut at UFC 67, where he knocked out Marvin Eastman, avenging an early career loss and quickly gaining a shot against then champion Chuck Liddell. A mere 90 seconds into the title fight, Jackson caught Liddell, dropping him with a right hook, before landing a number of unanswered blows on the ground, forcing the referee to step in. Jackson went on to defend his title and finally get his hands on the Pride belt that had escaped him for so many years in September 07. In a unification bout with newly crowned champion Dan Henderson in London, Jackson won by unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed 205lb champion of the world.