Raja Jackson pleads not guilty to felony battery charges in Los Angeles

Raja Jackson entered a plea of not guilty on felony battery charges in a Los Angeles court on Thursday in a case that could see him face up to seven years jail time if convicted. The son of former UFC champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson faces both felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from his attack on professional wrestler Stuart Smith at a wrestling event in Los Angeles in August. 

Jackson, 25, has been charged with both misdemeanor battery and felony battery, which include sentencing enhancement for an attack that resulted in "great bodily harm," according to MMA Fighting. If convicted on both charges, Jackson could face up to seven years in prison.

The charges come more than a month after Jackson leapt into the ring at a Knokx Pro event in Los Angeles. On a livestream from ringside at the event, Jackson could be seen slamming Smith, who wrestles under the name Syko Stu, then pummeling him with more than 20 undefended blows as Smith lay unconscious on the mat.

Smith spent several days in the hospital after the incident, with friends and family reporting that he'd suffered multiple injuries, including facial fractures and the loss of several teeth. The attack followed a backstage incident in which Smith hit Jackson in the head with a beer can before later apologizing and explaining that he thought Jackson was part of the event.

On the livestream before the attack, Jackson said he was waiting for his chance to jump in the ring and confront Smith, who he said he planned to take revenge on "for real." The brutal incident that followed seemed to catch the other wrestlers at the event by surprise, and it was several seconds before they could pull Jackson away from Smith's prone body.

Jackson was arrested in connection with the incident on Sept. 19, and is due back in court Nov. 24 for a preliminary hearing in the case. His father, retired MMA fighter "Rampage" Jackson, has referred to the incident as a case of "bad judgment" on his son's part, and has said he hopes his son will avoid a lengthy prison sentence.