Raja Jackson, son of former UFC light-heavyweight fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, has finally been arrested following the brutal, livestreamed attack that left indie wrestler Stuart “Syko Stu” Smith hospitalized.
Los Angeles County jail records show the 25-year-old was taken into custody early Thursday morning and booked on a felony charge of battery with serious bodily injury. He was held behind bars on a $50,000 bond, per TMZ, and has already bonded out.
The arrest stems from the August 23 attack at a KnokX Pro Wrestling event in Los Angeles, where Raja blindsided Smith in the ring, slammed him to the mat, and pummeled him with a flurry of punches to the face while Smith lay unconscious. The assault, which was livestreamed on the website Kick, left Smith with severe injuries that included fractured facial bones and the loss of several teeth.
Other wrestlers at the event were forced to finally intervene and stop the attack after Raja ruthlessly punched Smith over a dozen times in the face and head. Smith was rushed to the hospital and later spent several days in critical care before being released earlier this month to recover at home, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The case sparked outrage among fans and wrestlers who questioned why Jackson had not been arrested despite clear video evidence of the attack. Both Smith’s wife, Contessa Patterson, and his brother, Andrew, have shared health updates in recent weeks via Facebook, thanking fans for their support. A GoFundMe launched for Smith’s recovery has raised over $220,000 as of press time.
The former UFC Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has somewhat condemned his son’s attack while, ironically, making most of his statements about the incident on his own Kick channel – the same platform his son’s brutal attack was streamed to a live audience.
The Los Angeles Police Department had previously confirmed an ongoing investigation into felony battery, though charges had not been filed as of earlier this month. Thursday’s arrest is the first legal development since the attack took place.
Smith, a military veteran who turned to wrestling as an outlet after his Army service, continues to face a lengthy recovery at home.
The Dallas Express will provide more updates, such as the exact charges he faces, as Jackson’s case proceeds through the courts.