Featured Image Credit: (X)
Topics: Sport, Social Media, MMA
Brenna Cooper
Former UFC fighter Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson has spoken out after his son received fierce backlash for his behaviour at an independent wrestling event broadcast online.
Footage emerged last night showing MMA fighter Raja Jackson appearing to pummel a professional wrestler into the mat during a fight at a Los Angeles Knokx Pro Wrestling event.
The horrifying moment, which had been live-streamed on Kick, showed 25-year-old Jackson hoist his opponent Stuart Smith, known as Syko Stu, over his head before slamming him into the mat.
Jackson then begins punching his opponent repeatedly as he lies seemingly unconscious on the mat until numerous other wrestlers jump into the ring to intervene in the horrifying event.
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The uncomfortable moment has since gone viral after being shared on social media, which you can see below:
(WARNING: The following clip contains extreme violence)
Fightful reporter Sean Ross Sapp later provided some extra context to the shocking clip, explaining that a confrontation between Jackson and Smith had been planned, however, it wasn't meant to be anywhere near as brutal as what played out.
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"Based on what I've heard, the spot with Raja Jackson at Knokx Pro Wrestling was planned," he wrote on X.
"However, Raja Jackson knocked the person out - ring name Syko Stu - and followed up with a lot of heavy punches to Syko Stu, which were not planned to do that kind of damage.
"Stu was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. We are working to find out more and have Stu in our thoughts."
The exchange has been met with a huge amount of backlash online, with Dave Meltzer - founder of the Wrestler Observer Newsletter - said that Jackson's actions "may be the worst thing I've ever seen in a ring."
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An update on Smith's condition has not been publicly released, though Jackson's father Rampage claimed he was 'awake and stable'.
The 47-year-old went on to write say the interaction was planned as 'payback' for an earlier altercation between the two fighters, which ultimately 'went wrong'.
"I want to clear up the misinformation about my son Raja," he wrote on X.
"I’ve been confirmed that the wrestler (Stewart Smith aka Syko Stu) is awake and stable. Raja was unexpectedly hit in the side of the head by him moments before Smith’s match, Raja was told that he could get his “payback” in the ring, I thought it was apart of the show. It was bad judgement, and a work that went wrong."
Going on to condemn his son's behaviour, Rampage continued: "Raja is a MMA fighter not a pro wrestler and had no business involved in an event like this. I don’t condone my son’s actions AT ALL! He suffered a concussion from sparring only days ago and had no business doing anything remotely close to physical contact. As a father, I'm deeply concerned with his health AND the well being of Mr. Smith. That being said I’m very upset that any of this happened, but my main concern now is that Mr. Smith will make a speedy recovery."
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He concluded the statement by apologising on behalf of his son and to the streaming platform, adding: "I apologise on his behalf and to KICK for the situation."
This is the second time which Kick has faced backlash in the past week, after French streamer Raphaël Graven, aka Jean Pormanove, reportedly died while livestreaming on the site.
LADbible has contacted Raja Jackson, Knokx Pro Wrestling and Kick for a comment.