Raja Jackson, the 26-year-old son of former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, has learned his fate after pleading no contest to a felony battery charge. The charge stemmed from an unprovoked attack on veteran professional wrestler Stuart Smith, known as 'Syko Stu', during a wrestling event in Los Angeles last September.
The Attack
Jackson, seated in the front row, suddenly jumped into the ring and launched a brutal assault on Smith. He picked Smith up, slammed him to the floor, and repeatedly punched him in the head. Several people intervened, and Jackson fled the arena. Smith was hospitalised with a fractured maxilla bone and later regained consciousness with some recollection of the events.
Plea Deal and Sentence
On Thursday, it emerged that Jackson had struck a plea deal, avoiding a potential seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He pleaded no contest to one count of battery with serious bodily injury. His sentence includes 90 days in jail, two years of probation, and $82,000 in restitution to Smith.
Background and Reactions
Jackson was not immediately arrested but was taken into custody about a month after the incident. Videos later emerged showing Jackson ranting about being called a 'b****' and explaining his actions. In a phone call after the attack, he told someone named Andre that Smith had 'p***ed me off'.
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson apologised on social media for his son's actions, stating that Raja had been concussed from sparring days earlier and that he believed the attack was part of the show. He expressed concern for both his son's health and Smith's recovery. Weeks later, he told Ariel Helwani that his son should 'do a little time, do a little community service, and go to anger management class, get some therapy.'
