Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson Returns To UFC, Bellator CEO Scott Coker Claims Contract
Former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson shocked the mixed martial arts world when it was announced tonight during UFC Fight Night on Fox Sports 1 that the popular fighter would return to the UFC after two years away from the dominant fight league, during which time he went 3-0 with two knockouts while performing for rival promotion Bellator MMA.
Jackson parted with the UFC early in 2013 under acrimonious circumstances, which included allegations by Jackson of mistreatment by UFC President Dana White and verbal insults traded between the two.
Jackson’s last fight in the UFC came in the form of a loss by unanimous decision against Glover Teixeira in January 2013 in UFC on Fox 6.
Jackson spoke about his experience away from the UFC.
“I went out in the world and I looked at the other side and said ‘man, the grass looks greener over there across the street.’ So I ran across the street and looked at the grass and it got ran over by the lawnmower. Sometimes you think the grass is greener and you’ve got to take that chance. I never would have known if I hadn’t gone out there.”
Jackson’s June 2013 signing was considered a boon for Bellator, who immediately positioned former PRIDE champion in a dream fight against friend and former training partner Tito Ortiz that was scheduled as the main event for Bellator 106 in October of 2013. Ortiz would suffer a neck injury that would force him to pull out of the fight, which pushed Jackson’s Bellator debut back a month to Bellator 108, whereby Jackson would defeat UFC and Strikeforce veteran Joey Beltran by way of a first round knockout.
The following February, Jackson knocked out former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M’Pumbu at Bellator 110, also by first round knockout. His final Bellator fight was a controversial unanimous decision victory over Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal in May 2014 at Bellator 120, a fight that some felt was close enough to have warranted a rematch.
SB Nation’s Brent Brookhouse reports that Bellator CEO Scott Coker has already commented on Jackson’s UFC return, claiming that Jackson is still signed to an exclusive contract with the promotion that all but assures a court room battle with Zuffa, LLC, UFC’s parent company.
“Let us be clear that Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson is under an exclusive contract with Bellator MMA. We will protect our contractual rights.”
Jackson claims that he elected to terminate his contract with Bellator, citing breach of contract for the promotion’s failure to produce an allegedly agreed upon reality show centered around the fight star. Jackson’s contract was a partnership with Spike TV and the Total Nonstop Action professional wrestling company, for which Jackson was supposed to wrestle. A storyline with former Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle was teased, and then unceremoniously dropped. Soon after, Jackson told the media he was “done” with the company, after seeing “how they ran things.”
The 36-year-old Jackson claims to be healthy with long-time knee issues apparently healed, and he sounds ready to avenge prior losses in the octagon.
“I left, got my knees fixed and healed up and I got excited about fighting and…more excited about being a fighter. I just want to put on good, exciting fights. I want fights against Shogun, and Rashad and Glover and Jon Jones. The guys I really want to face again are the people that beat me.”
