On this day in 2002, an MMA icon sent shockwaves in PRIDE by slamming his opponent into the floor.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson may believe that Wanderlei Silva was the scariest fighter at the time but the American knockout artist was another feared competitor.
The former UFC and PRIDE star has produced some incredible highlights during his long career that came to an end in 2019, including Jackson’s one-punch KO over Silva at UFC 92 where he got some revenge.
He was also on the end of some big losses having faced the majority of the top names of his era with his defeat via soccer kicks against Mauricio Rua being a particularly rough moment for Jackson.
Throughout his entire run, there was one specific technique that he became known for with his sheer power making him an intimidating physical force in Japan.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson recorded his first win via slam when he drove Masaaki Satake into the floor
In 2001, Quinton Jackson made his debut in PRIDE where he suffered the second loss of his career after being submitted by Japanese icon Kazushi Sakuraba.
He’d return to the promotion for two more fights that year, going 1-1 before he arrived at PRIDE 20: Armed and Ready on April 28 in 2002.
At the Yokohama Arena in Japan, ‘Rampage’ would feature alongside the likes of Dan Henderson, Antonio Nogueira and Bob Sapp with Wanderlei Silva fighting to a draw with Mirko Cro Cop in the main event.
Jackson took on Japan’s Masaaki Satake where the American’s physical advantages were clear to see from an early stage in the fight as he held his opponent in the corner.
After being separated by the referee, ‘Rampage’ pushed him right back into the corner where he grabbed hold of a leg before hoisting Satake up in the air and driving him back down to the canvas.
The travelling fighter went on to dominate from top position for several minutes whilst landing some vicious ground and pound that Satake was eventually able to escape from by scrambling back up to his feet.
Unfortunately for him, with Jackson still having his hands wrapped around his opponent’s waist, he suplexed him back through the air with the impact causing him significant damage.
Satake didn’t defend the follow-up strikes and as soon as the referee stepped in to wave the fight off, he rolled around on the mat in pain with the replay showing how he had landed on his shoulder when being driven into the canvas.
Jackson would go on to put together a six-fight win streak with victories over the likes of Chuck Liddell and Kevin Randleman before he was knocked out by Silva at PRIDE Final Conflict in 2003.
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Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson produced an even more devastating slam just two years later
Remarkably, just two years later, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson would go on to make the slam his signature move after he produced a second knockout via this technique.
After bouncing back from his loss to Wanderlei Silva at PRIDE Final Conflict in 2003, the fan favorite was matched up with Ricardo Arona at PRIDE Critical Countdown in June of 2004.
This fight would become notorious for producing one of the most devastating finishes of all time with Jackson using his power to perfectly counter a submission attempt.
As Arona looked to threaten with a triangle choke from the bottom, ‘Rampage’ picked him up and power-bombed him into the floor, knocking his opponent out in an instant with his head being smashed into the floor.
He would then go on to suffer his second knockout loss to Silva later that year.