by King Hazard
If you skipped Saturday night’s UFC event on FOX Sports 1 this weekend, then you probably missed out on the special Quinton “Rampage” Jackson announcement. The former UFC light heavyweight champion who left the Zuffa-owned banner in 2013 for Bellator and Spike TV, has officially re-signed with the UFC. That’s right! As of now, Rampage will no longer be competing under the Bellator roof.
Shortly after the big announcement was announced, Bellator president Scott Coker made it clear on Twitter that “Rampage” is still under an exclusive contract with Bellator MMA. However, “Rampage” claims that Bellator has been in breach of his contract in an official statement that he released on Sunday.
There’s no word yet on when he makes his return inside the Octagon, but it sounds like his plan is to be active in early 2015.
Official Statement From “Rampage” Jackson:
After five months of grueling negotiations and gray-area contract talks with Bellator MMA and parent-company Viacom, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson officially terminates his contract with the up-and-coming promotion citing multiple breaches since the removal of president and founder Bjorn Rebney. Jackson exercises a clause in the agreement that allows for a 45-day window to satisfy any contract dispute. Bellator MMA, failing to fulfill the requests of Jackson, was put on notice, failed to respond and eventually notified that negotiations were officially terminated.
Jackson’s UK-based fight manager and Wolfslair Academy founder Anthony McGann confirms, late Saturday night, that “Rampage has indeed signed with the UFC.” Details of the deal have not been made public. Jackson was available for comment late Saturday night from his Laguna Hills, California, training center, Rampage Family Fitness, and provided the following: “I went to the UFC and we put a deal together that worked out for both of us. I’m excited to be here. The UFC had nothing to do with me leaving Bellator. I was done with Bellator when I made the final call and they still didn’t do what they had to do contractually. I wish those guys the best but I’m where I belong.
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