UFC 5 - RAMPAGE VS SILVA

UFC 5 - RAMPAGE VS SILVA

The UFC 92 fight between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva was set to be an explosive conclusion to one of the most intense rivalries in mixed martial arts history. Scheduled for December 27, 2008, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, this light heavyweight bout was the third encounter between these two fierce competitors.

Their rivalry began in Pride Fighting Championships, where Silva had decisively won both of their previous encounters. In their first meeting at Pride Final Conflict 2003, Silva emerged victorious after landing a barrage of devastating knee strikes. The rematch at Pride 28: High Octane saw Silva once again dominate Jackson with knees, leaving him unconscious and hanging between the ropes.

As they prepared to face each other for the third time, the stakes were high. Jackson, coming off a loss of his UFC Light Heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin, was eager to prove himself and get back into title contention. Silva, on the other hand, was looking to cement his dominance over Jackson and potentially position himself for a title shot

The build-up to the fight was intense, with both fighters showing their disdain for each other. At the weigh-ins, tensions boiled over as Silva shoved Jackson during their face-off, leading to a quick intervention by UFC officials and security.

Jackson entered the fight as a slight underdog with betting odds of +116, while Silva was favored at -136. The MMA world was buzzing with anticipation, as fans wondered if Silva could maintain his dominance over Jackson or if Rampage would finally exact his revenge.

With their contrasting styles - Silva's aggressive Muay Thai versus Jackson's powerful boxing and wrestling - and their shared history of violence, the stage was set for an explosive and potentially fight-ending encounter that would add another chapter to their legendary rivalry.