Rivalries: Quinton Jackson

Perhaps Chael Sonnen was right when he put forth the idea that Quinton Jackson does not get enough credit as one of the best promoters in mixed martial arts history. A former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder who was widely regarded as a defiant outlaw, Jackson managed to stay in the thick of the media whirlwind, whether it be it good or bad. Ever-vocal and never one to shy away from a camera, Jackson was among the cadre of fighters who brought MMA into the mainstream. The Sherdog.com “Fighter of the Year” in 2007, “Rampage” remains in the public eye and was previously expected to take on former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs in a boxing match on June 1 in Qatar.

With Jackson now 45 years of age and long past his competitive prime, a look at some of the rivalries that helped shape him into a legend of the sport:

Wanderlei Silva

Jackson’s rivalry with Silva took place across four fights in three different promotions. They first locked horns in the middleweight grand prix final at Pride Final Conflict 2003. Silva got the best of Jackson in that fight, owing to his relentless aggression and mastery of a thai clinch that overwhelmed the American. It resulted in a TKO at the 6:28 mark of the first round. In the rematch, which went down at Pride 28 in October 2004, Jackson started as the aggressor, determined to answer the loss that snapped his seven-fight winning streak. However, Silva once again proved superior, landing a series of brutal knees that staggered and ultimately folded Jackson. His legs gave way, and his limp body sprawled across the ring ropes. Jackson made the most of another chance at redemption at UFC 92 UFC 92, where he scored a knockout victory with a vicious left hook. He then leveled the series against Silva with a TKO victory at Bellator 206, which marked the last win of his professional MMA career.

Chuck Liddell

Jackson’s rivalry with Liddell revolved around personal pride and dominance in the UFC light heavyweight division. However, the seed of the rivalry was sowed in the semifinals of the aforementioned middleweight grand prix at Pride Final Conflict 2003. In that fight, Jackson dominated Liddell, using his wrestling and ground-and-pound after an evenly drawn contest in the striking department. The vicious shots from mount forced Liddell’s corner to throw in the towel, which led to a second-round TKO at the 3:10 mark. In their rematch more than three years later at UFC 71, Liddell’s 205-pound title was on the line. Jackson secured the title shot in only his second appearance for the Las Vegas-based promotion and did not disappoint. During a wild exchange in the opening frame, “Rampage” caught Liddell with a vicious right hook and followed up with a few follow-up strikes on his grounded rival to clock the finish at the 1:53 mark of the first round.

Rashad Evans

Jackson’s rivalry with Evans was characterized by heated exchanges, personal grudges and an intense buildup. The UFC made sure to strike while the iron was hot and gave fans a showdown on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series that will resonate through time. Jackson and Evans served as opposing coaches and locked horns at UFC 114 in May 2010. The highly anticipated clash transpired as a back-and-forth battle, with Evans utilizing his wrestling, speed and crisp striking to outpoint Jackson through three rounds. The judges scored the bout 29-28 unanimously in his favor.

Jon Jones

Jones claimed much later in his career that he looked up to Jackson and was starstruck when the pair crossed paths at UFC 135. The buildup between the seasoned veteran and the freshly crowned youngest champion in the history of the organization was marked by mutual respect. Jones systematically dismantled Jackson using teep kicks, chopping shots to the kneecaps, takedowns and slicing elbows to put on an absolute masterclass in modern-day MMA. In the fourth round, Jones took Jackson down against the fence and worked his way to a rear-naked choke submission, securing the victory at the 1:14 mark.