The UFC officially announced that Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson had returned to the promotion on Saturday night, but it quickly came to light that the fighter is still in the midst of a contract dispute with his former employer Bellator who are now threatening legal action.
Last night a new statement appeared on ‘Rampage’s’ own website explaining why he believes he is entitled to make the switch from Bellator, where he compiled a 3-0 record, back to the UFC where he was once the light-heavyweight champion.
Read the full statement from his site below.
“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 U.K.-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, CA 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.”
Despite that statement Bellator CEO Scott Coker has indicated that they intend to pursue legal action since they believe the fighter is still under contract with them, so it looks like a fight may well be brewing in court rather than the cage.
