Fight of the Week: Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson at Pride 28

By Al Stover
Mark J. Rebilas – US Presswire

http://youtu.be/nBMPs00EF20

Well fight fans, as a tribute to the holiday season, I am going to treat you to one of my favorite clashes of all time: Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for the for the Pride Middleweight championship at Pride 28: High Octane on Oct. 31 2004

 

What led to this fight?

The bad blood between Rampage and the Axe Murderer goes back, even before their first encounter in finals of the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament.

After his match with Kevin Randleman at Pride 25, Jackson immediately called out the champion, who was sitting in the crowd at the time. They would meet in the finals of the 2003 tournament where Silva finished him by TKO, six-and-a-half minutes into the first round.

Rampage would spend the next year earning memorable victories over Ikuhisa Minowa and Ricardo Arona, who he knocked out with a slam at Pride: Critical Countdown 2004.

Jackson was named the number one contender and he would meet Silva at Pride 28.

 

What are some key moments during the match?

* Back and forth striking combinations between both Silva and Rampage.

* Jackson getting Silva on the mat near the end of round one and then getting another takedown in the beginning of the second round.

* Silva landing soccer kick to Jackson’s face followed by a foot stomp on the head.

 

The end result                                 

Although Jackson was able to get Silva on the ground and keep him there for a short period of time, the Axe Murderer would escape and bring the fight back to the feet.

After catching Jackson in a clinch, Silva would deliver a series of knees that sent an unconscious Rampage into the ropes. The Axe Murderer celebrated his victory on the turnbuckle as he was declared the winner.

 

What makes this fight significant?

This was one of only two non-Japanese fighters to challenge Silva for the Pride middleweight title, the other opponent being Arona in 2005.

Had some of Jackson’s best trash talking including: “When I beat Wanderlei I’m a take his belt pull his pants down and spank him for being so ugly.”

This fight is my favorite fight of all time.

Other fights related to this one:

Antonio Rodrgio Nogueria vs. Fedor Emelianenko at Pride 25

Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz at UFC 106

Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147

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