Raja Jackson, son of UFC legend Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, has discovered his fate after beating a wrestler unconscious during an unprovoked attack last year.
Raja, 26, was arrested on a felony battery charge back in September after he jumped from his front-row seat at a wrestling event in Los Angeles and launched a brutal unplanned attack on veteran performer Stuart Smith, known to fans as ‘Syko Stu’.
Raja picked Smith up, chucked him on the floor and then repeatedly punched him in the head. Seconds later, half a dozen people intervened and Jackson left the arena.
Smith was transported to the hospital where he later re-gained consciousness and had ‘some recollection of the events from the day of the attack’, according to his brother. He was later diagnosed with a fractured maxilla bone.
Months on from the incident, it emerged on Thursday that Raja had struck a plea deal over the matter and avoided a lengthy jail sentence. He pled ‘no contest’ to one count of battery with serious bodily injury, according to reports.
Now, it is expected that the UFC legend’s son will spend 90 days behind bars before going on probation for a further two years, as well as paying $82,000 in restitution.
Raja Jackson, 25, struck a plea deal and avoided a lengthy jail sentence in light of his attack, and subsequent arrest, on wrestler Stuart Smith in August last year
Independent professional wrestler Smith was hospitalized and suffered a fractured maxilla bone as a result of Raja’s brutal and unprovoked attack at the Los Angeles event
Former UFC champion Jackson (pictured) apologized for his son’s actions on social media
Prior to Thursday, Raja had been facing a potential seven-and-a-half year sentence in light of his attack, which left ‘Syko Stu’ unconscious in front of shocked spectators.
The 26-year-old was not immediately arrested and was only taken into custody around a month after the incident itself.
Clips from earlier in the stream – which later reemerged – showed how Jackson was enraged by an incident prior to the event between him and Smith.
Meanwhile, as he fled the scene, Raja was captured ranting about people ‘calling me a b****’ in a video that emerged online as he explained why he attacked Smith.
‘I’m tired of motherf***ers playing with me bro. Real sh**,’ he said to the camera while sporting blood on his white T-shirt.
‘I’m tired of everybody f***ing playing with me and sh**. Think I’m always playing and sh**, calling me b**** and sh**… I’m not no f***ing b****, bro.
‘At the end of the day, I’m going to stand up for my f***ing self because I’m tired of everybody f***ing playing with me. Real sh**!’
Another video also shows Jackson taking a phone call after the attack from someone named ‘Andre’, who told him that he had gone too far with his actions.
After being asked why he stormed the ring and assaulted Smith, Raja stressed to Andre that he had ‘p***ed me off’.
Raja appeared to lose his cool over an interaction with Smith prior to the event starting
After throwing Smith on the floor, Raja beat him unconcious in front of stunned spectators
The frightening incident sparked outrage online, with MMA legend ‘Rampage’, 47, later taking to social media to apologize for his son’s actions.
‘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 a part of the show,’ he wrote.
‘Rampage’, who had 49 professional fights and was a UFC light-heavyweight champion, continued: ‘It was bad judgement, and a work that went wrong.
‘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. I apologize on his behalf and to KICK for the situation.’
Weeks later, ‘Rampage’ told Ariel Helwani he believes his son should ‘do a little time, do a little community service, and go to anger management class, get some therapy.’
He added, ‘I know my son. Raja wasn’t trying to kill nobody. He wasn’t trying to kill that guy. He wasn’t trying to kill that guy’.
