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FIGHTER SPOTLIGHT: Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Nov 20, 2010 - 2:15:49 PM FIGHTER SPOTLIGHT: Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

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By: Dan Wyatt, MMATorch Contributor

Name: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Promotion: UFC

Division: 205

Height: 6 ft 1 in

Reach: 73 in

Record: 30-8

Specializes: Boxing, Wrestling

Career Summary: Jackson was a collegiate wrestler who entered the sport of MMA after it was popularized by other wrestlers such as Randy Couture and Dan Henderson. The only difference is that Rampage wasn't looking to lie on his opponents, and with devastating power he wanted to knock them out.

Jackson began fighting in 1999 and won his first two fights before losing a decision to Marvin Eastman, a loss he would later avenge. Rampage went on a tear through the lower level circuits, winning eight fights in a row before getting a chance to fight for Pride in Japan; his first opponent was submission specialist and MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba. Sakuraba had no plans on striking with Rampage and immediately went for a takedown. They exchanged takedowns with Sakuraba going for numerous submissions with Jackson defending. Jackson eventually gassed after slamming Sakuraba multiple times and gave up his back; Sakuraba slipped in the rear naked choke and finished the fight.

Jackson didn’t give up though, winning nine out of his next ten fights over fighters the likes of Kevin Randleman and Chuck Liddell. He made it to the Middleweight Grand Prix finals, where he met Wanderlei Silva. In what would be the beginning of a trilogy, Silva won the fight by technical knockout, winning the Grand Prix.

Jackson won two more fights before once again facing Silva, this time for the Pride Championship. Unfortunately he once again came out on the losing end, this time in a much more hard fought battle that saw Jackson win the first round. He went on a rebound with a win over Murilo Rua by decision; unfortunately he may have drawn the ire of "Ninja's" younger brother, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

The younger Rua easily handled Jackson with effective striking, clinching, takedowns, and soccer kicks. It would be his last fight in Pride as he returned home to America to take one more fight before joining the UFC.

His first fight was a grudge match against Marvin Eastman, who had handed him his first career loss. It was a tightly contested first round that saw both fighters exchange. However, in the second, Rampage attained the clinch and threw short ranged punches to Eastman, knocking him out cold.

He was then given a shot at a title against a man he had previously beaten, Chuck Liddell. Much like in their first bout, Jackson didn’t have much trouble with Liddell as he won in just under two minutes by TKO.

After dominating Pride for so many years, his first task in defending his belt was to unite the Pride and UFC belts. The UFC had just bought Pride and were uniting the belts by having Jackson face Dan Henderson, the last Pride Middleweight Champion. Rampage was able to keep his belt and unify the two in a five round battle with the former champ.

Jackson was named a coach for the seventh season of the ultra-popular Ultimate Fighter series, with Forrest Griffin coaching opposite of him. His fighters had little success as he only advanced two of a possible eight fighters. After the show Griffin was given a chance to take Rampage's title away. Throughout the fight Griffin landed plenty of leg kicks that hurt the champion and visibly was less aggressive near the end of the fight because of them. It went to decision and the judges scored a unanimous decision for Griffin, crowning a new champion.

After a heart breaking loss Jackson took on Wanderlei Silva, the only man to beat him twice. The grudge match didn't last long, as it only took Jackson three and a half minutes to knock out his old foe. He was then given Keith Jardine and was told if he won the fight he would have a chance to regain his title from new champ Rashad Evans. He won the fight by unanimous decision, but unfortunately sustained damaged ligaments in his jaw and couldn't fight Rashad, so instead Lyoto Machida fought him for the title.

Once again Jackson was tabbed as a coach for The Ultimate Fighter, this time against Rashad Evans, fresh off his loss to Machida. The season was made big by internet sensation Kimbo Slice fighting on the show, and Jackson wasted no time getting him on his team, taking him with the first pick. Once again, however, Jackson was unsuccessful as a coach, this time only advancing one fighter and getting none in the final.

His fight with Rashad was delayed, as Jackson decided to pursue a career in acting. By the time he came back it had been over a year since he fought last and ring rust showed in the fight. He was rocked early on and for much of the fight he was on his back as he was outwrestled by Evans, eventually losing by unanimous decision.

He is now set to fight fellow former Champ Lyoto Machida in a fight that could result in a title shot for the winner, both fighters know what it's like to be champion and both are hungry to get their title back.

Strengths: Jackson has probably the heaviest hands in the 205 pound division. He sets his strikes up with nice combos, and most opponents, even good strikers, do not like going toe to toe with him just because he has such devastating power. Those who do stand with him usually pay for it. Jackson also has a strong top game, though he usually only uses it for ground and pound. But when he gets the fight to the ground he doesn’t let many opponents up from underneath him.

Weaknesses: He does not fight well off of his back, as seen in the Evans fight. He can't do much from the bottom position and if he ever faces a wrestler again he needs to work on sweeps or hip escapes if he would like to have a chance to get back up.

Where he stands in the division: Rampage is an elite light heavyweight, I would put him number four in the division behind Evans, Machida, and Mauricio Rua.

What the future holds: If Jackson can't beat Machida then he could fight the winner of the Griffin vs. Franklin fight. Griffin is an old opponent who Jackson has expressed interest in fighting again. Another option is the winner of the Jones vs. Bader fight, as both have been tearing up the lower competition and are considered the top prospects in the 205 pound division, and Jackson could be their test against a former champion.

How close he is to a title shot: If he can beat Machida in impressive fashion than he should become the next challenger. The only problem is that current champion, Mauricio Rua, is currently injured and won’t fight again until March at the earliest, and then he has to fight Evans, so it could be awhile until he could get a shot. So there could be a fight between there.

On deck for next week: I’ll be taking a look at the fast rising Matt Hamill as he continues his ascent in the division.

Dan Wyatt is a communications major in college looking at a career in sports radio and sports writing. Outside of sports you can find him doing stand up comedy or acting in the upcoming independent film, Company of the Damned.

[Rampage Jackson art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]