Rampage Jackson drops Wanderlei Silva for second round TKO

Rampage Jackson knocked down Wanderlei Silva at Bellator 206 to win a second round TKO in the main event.

Rampage Jackson defeated Wanderlei Silva via TKO, 2nd inning – at the main event co-hosted at Bellator 206 on September 29, 2018, live from San Jose, CA.

"All the respect in the world for Wanderlei," Jackson said in his post-fight interview. "We will never have another Wanderlei, even though I came out victorious tonight, give him our respect."

Try DAZN for free for a month

TOUR 1

The round began tense while neither one nor the other fighter touched gloves. The difference in height was striking because Silva seemed to be much smaller than Jackson. The two men assessed themselves but that is Silva who hit first with a forehand that landed. Jackson tried to counter but Silva managed to dodge the combo. Jackson still acted but that is Silva who landed. Jackson tried for the third time, this time throwing Silva against the fence with a shot. The pair began a brief attempt to separate and return to the center of the cage. Silva kicked his leg and then a straight hook before moving away from Jackson's reach. Neither one nor the other of the fighters was moving very fast, but Silva quickly managed to get a kick followed by a combo at which Jackson reacted by a right before the two fighters stepped back . Silva landed a right hand and Jackson charged and leaned against the fence. Silva could escape and they went back to the center once more. From there, Jackson closed the distance and held Silva back against the cage. He stepped back and grabbed huge balls on the body that forced Silva to turn around and run for the bell.

2nd ROUND

Silva opened the round with a low kick outside, which Jackson did not defend. Silva advanced on Jackson and he loaded his back by swinging wildly Silva's body and face. Silva responded, forcing Jackson to cover and withdraw, and then they returned to the center of the cage. Silva landed another right hand and a few moments later, Jackson landed on a huge suit that almost knocked him out. Jackson grabbed Silva and pressed him back to the cage where he kicked Silva's legs before releasing him and handing him back to the center. The two men exchanged shots, swinging wildly and kneeling before Jackson stopped the action and pressed Silva back against the cage. From there, Jackson landed on the uppercuts before Silva could sneak back and bring the slugfest back to the center of the cage. Jackson slammed Silva's chin and dropped it onto the canvas where he finished it with an impressive mass and mass.

This is the fourth time the duo faces each other, the first while he was under contract with Bellator. Their first fight, in 2003, saw Silva beat Jackson via a TKO in the first round. The second fight, a year later, gave the same results: a new vicious stop of the TKO via powerful knees. The third fight, played at UFC 92 in 2008, saw Jackson win the victory with a first-round knockout of Silva.

They have not fought for 10 years.

Jackson entered the highly anticipated bout with Silva on consecutive losses following defeats against Chael Sonnen and King Mo. He was hoping to return to the win column with a win over Silva on Saturday.

Silva had lost his own loss, also in the hands of Sonnen.