Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, a UFC legend who has faced the likes of Jon Jones and Chuck Liddell, has revealed that Fedor Emelianenko is the hardest-hitting opponent he has ever encountered in the octagon.
Jackson, who was one of the first major stars to emerge after Dana White’s appointment as UFC president in 2001, has had an illustrious career, competing against numerous MMA legends. The 46-year-old made a name for himself in Japan’s Pride promotion, where he shared the ring with renowned fighters such as Kevin Randleman, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua.
Joining the UFC in 2007, Jackson’s impressive run continued, as he knocked out Liddell to win the light heavyweight championship in his promotional debut. He went on to record more big victories over the likes of Dan Henderson, Lyoto Machida, and Silva.
However, Jackson’s career also saw him suffer defeats against Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, and Jon Jones. The American’s last fight came in 2019 when he stepped up to the heavyweight division to challenge the legendary Emelianenko, known as ‘The Last Emperor’.
Despite being overweight and out of shape, Jackson was sent crashing face-first to the floor by an overhand right from Emelianenko, a shot that the American had never seen coming. This knockout loss to the Russian heavyweight great surpassed the previous record held by Kevin Randleman, who was considered the hardest hitter that Jackson had faced.
“I always said Kevin Randleman until my last fight with Fedor,” Jackson said on his podcast. “Fedor hit me with a punch. I never even saw that punch coming. Never even saw it.”
Emelianenko, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight in MMA history, is also a favorite of Jackson’s. “He’s my favorite fighter,” the UFC legend added. “I love watching him fight. He’s no-nonsense. When he fought Kevin Randleman, Kevin Randleman slammed him on his neck and the Japanese newspapers took pictures of him. Frame by frame they showed Fedor upside down in the air getting slammed and his facial expression never changed. Stone cold. That’s not normal, bro.”
Despite the loss, Jackson is grateful to have shared the cage with a true MMA icon like Emelianenko, who showcased his impressive speed and dangerous ground game throughout his illustrious career.
