Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 6’1/205 lbs.
Age: 30
Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
Fighting out of: Irvine, Calif.
Record: 28-7

The stakes: Normally, rebounding from a controversial decision loss that cost you the UFC light heavyweight championship would be a pretty tough road to travel. That should be small beans for Jackson, who also has criminal charges hanging above his head thanks to a now infamous hit-and-run spree that left every teenage “Grand Theft Auto” fan sighing in envy. The last time Jackson went though a bout of mental mediocrity, he nearly sent his career off the skids with dreadful showings that led to multiple losses. Above all, Jackson has to prove he can keep his head above water, and he has to do it against a fighter who has already beaten him twice.

The breakdown: If nothing else, Jackson at least knows what not to do against Silva; for the love of Pop Tarts, do not go into the clinch. What Jackson can do is use his high-impact wrestling to get Silva on is back, where he can safely use ground-and-pound to pick apart the smaller Brazilian. Whether or not Jackson will have the presence of mind to do any of that remains to be seen.

Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 5’11/205 lbs.
Age: 32
Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil
Fighting out of: Las Vegas
Record: 32-8-1 (1 NC)

The stakes: Silva was supposed to call it a career by now; three straight losses in which it looked like Silva’s legs were made of cement and his fists were loaded with feathers were supposed to be enough for the MMA cognoscenti to write off the Brazilian. Now, fresh off a vintage performance against Keith Jardine at UFC 84, Silva looks like a rejuvenated fighter who’s been reminded that his true calling remains putting fist to face. Taking out a longtime rival and former champion like Jackson may be all Silva needs to secure the dream scenario his fans have been cooking up for years: Silva, the icon of Pride’s middleweight division, taking on the UFC’s light heavyweight champion.

The breakdown: The gameplan is the same as always for Silva … draw Jackson into a slugfest he cannot hope to win. While Juanito Ibarra did wonders for Jackson’s boxing, his recent change of camps and tumultuous personal life place him in much the same situation as his previous bouts with Silva. All Silva needs to do is stay back and wait for the right moment to lock hold of the Thai clinch that has already made Jackson the subject of many a highlight reel.


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The bottom line: On paper, Jackson should be able to beat Silva, but in reality, it’s starting to look like the stars will never line up for him. Now’s not the best time for the former UFC light heavyweight champion to go after Silva a third time, and it will show when the cage door closes, as a lethargic Jackson falls prey yet again to the relentless onslaught of “The Axe Murderer.” Someone get the video camera ready; the last few seconds of this fight will probably find their way onto a medical school video on blunt force trauma.