“Yakuza wanted to meet me,” UFC legend Rampage Jackson dishes on Japanese popularity leading to invitation from Japanese mafia

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson talks about 'savage' run-in with Japanese Yakuza and receiving invite to meet the boss.

“Yakuza wanted to meet me,” UFC legend Rampage Jackson dishes on Japanese popularity leading to invitation from Japanese mafia

Rampage Jackson opens up about meeting the Yakuza (Source: IMAGO/Jetsettimes.com)

MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson reigned as a star of Pride FC in the 2000s. After his stint in Pride, he joined the UFC and became the light heavyweight champion. Rampage was one of the big American names at the forefront of the UFC’s Japanese affiliate. He infamously had a meeting with the Japanese mafia – the Yakuza – during his time there. Recently, Rampage divulged a riveting encounter with a Yakuza boss.

The UFC veteran revealed the behind-the-scenes story of his meeting with some members of the Yakuza in a recent podcast. After his iconic ‘SLAM’ on Ricardo Arona, he seemingly became quite the figurehead. So much so that he was approached by a member of the yakuza, who informed him that their boss had summoned him. This is what Rampage said about the encounter:

I got so popular in Japan that the Yakuza wanted to meet me. And I went and met with the Yakuza, right!? We went back there, it was a bunch of Japanese people back there watching ‘Jackass’ and they were smoking weed… the boss came out...
Rampage Jackson via The HJR Experiment.
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Rampage was taken aback by the “huge” yakuza boss, who he claimed was 6’6″ with a “ripped” physique. He was initially unsure of the proposition for the meetup. After meeting with the boss, Rampage became even more surprised when the Yakuza boss brought up Quinton’s brother, who was simultaneously in Japan. Sharing his take on the Yakuza, Rampage continued:

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They didn’t seem like evil people – nothing you know. I’m God’s Street soldier, so I always stay away from evil…They were just – I feel like the Yakuza – they’re like the Samurais that had to go underground...

The fighter stated that he sees them not as threatening but rather as a needed element for Japanese society. The fighter has had a two-decade-long combat sports career, spanning from 1999 to 2019. But in his mind, he still thought of the Yakuza as a more fearful and prominent entity and societal presence.

Rampage Jackson sparring with his son goes viral

UFC legend Rampage Jackson is known for his fearsome physicality and dominant feats. The fighter has had many career highlights. At UFC 71, Jackson defeated UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell in a rematch of their 2003 Pride fight. Jackson then defeated Pride MMA champ Dan Henderson by decision at UFC 75. He has even served as a coach in the earliest renditions of The Ultimate Fighter.

Quinton Jackson
Quinton Jackson (Source: bjpenn.com)

The UFC and Bellator veteran recently made headlines regarding a sparring session with his son. In the video, Rampage is seen training with his son, Raja Jackson. His head movement, swiftness, and stance have garnered many positive responses from fans and peers alike. Even Nate Diaz has commented on the matter.

What is remarkable is that he performed these moves while supposedly fasting for 24 hours. A fitness model named Shaun Rez also pointed out this factoid. Even though he had been out of the trade awhile, his head movement and body language were apt enough to draw in positive responses.

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