Rampage TKOs Liddell at UFC 71

BY JOE FERNANDEZ | joe.fernandez@newsday.com

May 26, 2007

Quinton Jackson, left, celebrates after defeating Chuck Liddell in the first round of an Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight championship bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday, May 26, 2007. Jackson won by technical knockout at 1:53 in the first round. On top of Liddell is referee John McCarthy. (AP Photo)

LAS VEGAS - With the power of one right hook, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson made his name in the UFC.

Jackson (27-6), in his second UFC fight, came to the Octagon cascaded by boos, but left wrapped in gold. Jackson, who made his name fighting in Japan for Pride FC, landed a crushing right hook that sent Chuck Liddell (20-4) to the canvas. Jackson then pounced on the highly popular UFC light heavyweight champion, landed four rights to Liddell's head as Referee John McCarthy stopped the match at 1:53 in the first round in front of 14,728 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

"I was real relaxed, that's what I do," Jackson said. "Chuck was right. He said someone was going to get knocked out in the first round...I didn't expect Chuck to go down like that, it was destiny."

Liddell, who walked out to the Octagon with most of the Arena crowd in his corner, came into the fight with seven consecutive knockouts and seemed to be excited at a chance to avenge his TKO loss to Jackson that he suffered in Japan in 2003.

"I was in great shape for this fight," Liddell said. "I made a mistake."

The night ended with current Pride middleweight and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson, walking out with a Pride championship belt over each shoulder, congratulating Jackson on his win and possibly setting up a future match.

"Whoever wins will have both belts," Dana White said.

At the end of the night, the UFC President was very proud of his company and didn't pull his punches.

"It was a great night," White said. "The De La Hoya fight got Superbowl-type hype and the fight sucked."

In the main undercard, Karo Parisyan (25-4) featured two of his famous judo throws and was able to outstrike Josh Burkman (19-4), earning the unanimous decision victory. Terry Martin (18-2) withstood Ivan Salaverry's early leg kicks and was able to scoop up Salaverry (12-5-1) and drop him on his head and shoulder, which appeared to knock him unconscious. Martin followed Salaverry down to the floor, punching the sides of his head until he earned the TKO victory. Keith Jardine (12-4-1), a heavy favorite according the MGM betting lines, was knocked out by 35-year-old Houston Alexander (7-1), who was making his UFC debut. After he released an unrelenting series of punches, Alexander landed a crushing right uppercut that not only knocked Jardine's mouthpiece out of his mouth but knocked him unconscious and sent the 31-year-old crashing face first into the canvas. In the first fight on the main card, Kalib Starnes (10-2-1) grinded out a tough unanimous decision victory against Chris Leben.

In the preliminary undercard:

-- Wilson Gouveia tapped Carmelo Marrero with a guillotine choke at 3:06 in the first round.
-- Din Thomas caught Jeremy Stevens with an armbar and won by submission at 2:44 in the second round.
-- Alan Belcher caught Sean Salmon with a guillotine choke and won by submission at 0:53 in the first round.
-- James Irvin, after a strong start, was picked up by Thiago Silva and landed awkwardly on his right foot, buckling his right knee. Irvin verbally and physically tapped out at 1:06 in the first round.