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  - RAMPAGE EXACTS HIS REVENGE, KO'S WANDERLEI
Saturday, December 27, 2008 - by Tom Hamlin - MMAWeekly.com
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Rampage Jackson shrugged off the demons of years past to deliver an emphatic return against nemesis Wanderlei Silva, knocking the former Pride middleweight champ stone cold out in the first round.
Silva’s form, an all-or-nothing style of fast power punching, only served to hasten his defeat. Though he punished Jackson’s legs with kicks, his punches were dangerously wide inside the pocket.
Jackson found early success with a counter right hook, crossing the centerline with the shot a split second after Silva’s last punch.
Jackson fought far more upright than in recent memory, using head movement and a strong guard to avoid the bombs. His jab was active, popping Silva before he could be countered. Though he ate a big knee during a takedown attempt, he stayed patient and continued to trade.
Silva came forward with another flurry. Jackson slipped again, and this time, came across with a left hook. The punch caught Silva flush on the jaw, knocking him lifeless to the canvas.
It was the Brazilian’s third devastating knockout in two years.
Jackson said the troubles of the past were over, and he would get his mind right before begging the UFC for a title shot.
“Last time I fought I wasn’t right,” he said afterwards. “I came to the Wolfslair, got my wolf on. Now, Rampage is back, baby!”
Heavyweight Cheick Kongo made it two in a row against Mostapha Al Turk, stopping the UFC newcomer and former Cage Rage champion with a brutal onslaught late in the first round.
What started out as a five-minute opening frame stretched out to almost 10 minutes, as multiple fouls stopped the action inside the cage.
Kongo was clearly concerned about Al Turk’s ground and pound prowess, and was tentative in letting his hands go in the opening exchanges of the fight.
Al Turk met expectations by diving for a takedown as soon as an opening presented itself. Letting a see-it-from-mile-away haymaker go, he dove for Kongo’s left leg and worked to get the Frenchman to the ground. Kongo would not have it.
Then, two knees went southward, first against Kongo, then against Al Turk. When the action restarted, Kongo went after his foe with a vengeance, chasing him across the ring with punches.
Two rights within his flurry landed solidly, sending Al Turk careening to the cage. The subsequent barrage by Kongo put Al Turk on the downward spiral, particularly a right elbow which sliced open the newcomer’s head.
Referee Steve Mazzagatti had seen enough at 4:37 of the first round.
Afterwards, Kongo made his plea for a title shot, or at least the upper echelon of the division. Like training partner Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the trip across the pond had done him good.
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