Sherdog’s Top 10: Knees

Wanderlei Silva made sure he was on the right side of history at Pride 28. | Photo: Stephen Martinez/Sherdog.com

1. Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson
Pride 28 “High Octane”
Oct. 31, 2004 | Saitama, Japan

Few men in MMA history have inspired fear like “The Axe Murderer.” Though he soiled his reputation with some of his antics in recent years, Silva remains one of the sport’s most beloved and revered figures among hardcore fans. His propensity for concussive violence was stunning, never more so than during his remarkable run through Pride Fighting Championships.

Silva had already stopped Jackson with knees a year earlier in one of the most memorable scraps of 2003, and fans waited for the rematch with baited breath and foaming mouths. The two 205-pound greats did not disappoint, as they picked up where they left off and went about trying to maim each other for more than 13 minutes. In the end, Silva was in superior shape, landed the harder strikes and wore out “Rampage” before kneeing him into unconsciousness in the second round.

Jackson was gasping for air by the time he walked into a flailing right hook. The punch buckled his knees, and Silva went for the kill, snatching the double collar tie. “The Axe Murderer” doled out five consecutive knees, and though Jackson did well to defend, the next one got through. The Memphis, Tenn., native’s lights went out and he collapsed face-first onto the ropes, where he bobbed slowly, blood trickling onto the canvas beneath him.

It was a gruesome scene, and it became an instant staple of Silva highlight-reel packages.