Former UFC -light heavyweight champions Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson had an epic war in pride 20 years ago.
While the UFC began to win some momentum in the mid -2000s, Pride was at home for mixed martial arts competition. Before he became legends in the UFC Octagon, Shogun Rua and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson were considered superheroes in the Pride Ring.
In the for some time they came in their combat sport career, Rua and Jackson bumped into the opening round of the Middle Grand Prix of 2005. The tournament contained top names such as Ricardo Arona, Alistair Overeem and Antônio Rogério Nogueira.
Pride did not comply with the modern uniform rules of MMA and Rua made the most out of some unorthodox techniques against Jackson.
Photo by Zuffa LLC
Shogun Rua stopped Rampage Jackson with football kicks before both UFC champions became
Rua and Jackson did not last long to find out in the opening round of their 2005 collision. But Rua did not need long to suppress Jackson, push forward and land a number of heavy shots on Jackson against the ropes.
Rua earned an early knock -down on Jackson before Jackson was able to get up again with about a minute in the first round. But Rua did not leave Jackson off the hook, causing a few brutal knees in the conflict of landing and Jackson to force the Canvas.
Rua continued with the landing of various football kicks that ended the action, which led to the Brazilian legend that continued to the next round of the tournament. Two years later Rua and Jackson went their way to the UFC after Zuffa had bought the promotion.
Fortunately, Jackson was able to bounce back from the Rua loss with six consecutive victories after the fight. In his second UFC performance at UFC 71, Jackson Chuck Liddell took out to become the light heavyweight champion of the UFC.
Football kick! ⚽️ 🦵 #ondhisday in 2005: Shogun Rua vs Rampage Jackson ended in this brutal ko 💥
View completely on @ufcfightpass 📺 pic.twitter.com/bvc2jh2xot
– UFC Europe (@ufceurope) April 23, 2025
Rampage Jackson's fighting return against former UFC -Rival Axed
Jackson would return to fighting this summer in a boxing match against former UFC enemy Rashad Evans, but the fight was recently canceled. Jackson and Evans had one of the most heated rivalry in the UFC history.
Rua entered the UFC Hall of Fame last year after a career with a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. His reign came to an end to Jon Jones, who became the youngest title holder ever of the UFC.
Rua's planned MMA-COMEBACK In the now defeated Global Fight League, has recently been canceled. Rua was supposed to face Yoel Romero in a light heavyweight matchup.
Rua's football kicks would not have been legal in the UFC if he participated in the Octagon at the time of the Jackson fight. But before he started a legendary UFC career, Rua got the best out of one of MMA's most controversial techniques.