A former UFC fighter has spoken out following the shocking footage of his son, Raja Jackson, assaulting a wrestler.
The internet was shocked by footage showing 25-year-old Raja Jackson, the son of former UFC champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, violently attacking a professional wrestler, Syko Stu, during a KnokX Pro Wrestling event in Los Angeles.
Warning - this clip features extreme violence:The footage shows Raja Jackson, an MMA fighter, lifting Syko Stu (real name Stuart Smith) over his head and slamming him onto the mat before unleashing a barrage of punches.
The assault continued as Stu lay motionless, leading other wrestlers to intervene and stop the attack. While the confrontation between the two men was planned, the intensity of the violence clearly went beyond what was intended.
Fightful reporter Sean Ross Sapp, who commented on the situation, clarified that while the fight between Jackson and Smith was scripted, the punches that followed were not part of the plan.
"The spot with Raja Jackson at Knokx Pro Wrestling was planned. 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," Sapp wrote on social media.
He confirmed that Syko Stu was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries following the incident.
The altercation has since led to an investigation by the LAPD, with authorities confirming they are looking into the matter, although they did not provide further details.
Meanwhile, one of the wrestlers who intervened, Douglas Malo, provided an update on Syko Stu's condition, stating that he was awake and able to speak, but had suffered significant injuries, including the loss of many teeth and broken facial bones.
As the controversy surrounding the violent incident intensified, Raja Jackson’s father, Rampage Jackson, took to social media to address the situation and clear up some of the confusion.
In his post, Rampage confirmed that Syko Stu was no longer in critical condition and emphasized that the attack had escalated beyond what was originally planned. "I want to clear up the misinformation about my son Raja," Rampage said.
"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."
Rampage Jackson also expressed regret over the situation, acknowledging that his son should never have been involved in the wrestling match in the first place.
"Raja is an 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," he said.
As a father, Rampage voiced his concern for both his son’s well-being and Syko Stu’s recovery, adding: "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."
KnokX Pro Wrestling, the organization where the incident occurred, also issued a statement apologizing for the violence and emphasizing the importance of Syko Stu’s recovery.
"First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with our brother Mr. Stuart Smith (Syko Stu) as he remains a priority and we are monitoring his well-being," the statement read.
"What was supposed to be a planned and agreed upon wrestling spot, turned into a selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith. This egregious act is reprehensible and never should have occurred."
The statement continued, acknowledging that in the 17 years of KnokX Pro Wrestling's operation, nothing of this magnitude had ever taken place, and they expressed regret to their fans and patrons.