AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Quinton "Rampage" Jackson looked stunned beat Lyoto Machida.B.J. Penn left no doubt against Matt Hughes.
In the UFC's first card featuring four former champions, one main event ended quickly and the other marquee matchup went the distance Saturday night.
Jackson was awarded a split-decision victory against Machida — after raising his opponent's hand.
"When he dominated me in the third round, I forgot what happened in the first two rounds," Jackson said. "At the time, I thought I got whooped because he landed a flurry on my face."
Penn, meanwhile, screamed as he celebrated a 21-second knockout of Hughes at UFC 123.
He knocked Hughes flat onto his back by countering with a right cross, then unleashed a flurry of shots to his head that led to their fight being stopped.
"He hit me hard," Hughes said. "When I felt the hit, I thought it was a knee or a kick."
There weren't many punches or kicks in the Jackson-Machida fight, but Jackson's aggressive style seemed to pay off for the judges against Machida's passive ways.
"I think that's the only reason that earned the decision," Jackson said.
Machida shuffled and backpedaled more than he punched or kicked, but took Rampage down in the third after two rounds without much action.
He didn't bristle at the decision that didn't go his way, losing a second straight fight after starting 16-0.
"If the judges saw that Quinton won, then they saw Quinton win," the Brazilian said through a translator.
Jackson (31-8) was determined to show he can still be a force in the UFC after playing B.A. Baracus in "The A-Team" movie. He was unimpressive in a loss to Rashad Evans in May, one of just two setbacks in a 10-fight stretch, and was lackluster against Machida.
"I was really going for the knock out," he said. "I am kind of disappointed in my performance a little bit."
It looks as if Penn made the right decision to keep fighting.
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