This Saturday night’s UFC 186 event has received a much needed boost after it was announced that Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson will be able to fight Fabio Maldonado on the main pay-per-view card after all.
‘Rampage’ had been pulled from the event a couple of weeks ago after Bellator applied for an injunction against him competing, claiming that he was still legally under contract with them.
The former light-heavyweight champion had walked out of the promotion and re-signed with the UFC at the end of last year claiming that Bellator had breached the terms of his contract by not providing him with the pay-per-view numbers for his fight with Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal last year.
With Bellator’s injunction initially being successful the UFC had no choice but to remove him from the UFC 186 event and had intended to bring in the recently retired Steve Bosse to replace him against Maldonado this weekend instead.
According to the UFC in an official statement the injunction has now been lifted though and that paves the way for ‘Rampage’ to retake his place in the co-main event of the show in Montreal, Canada.
“It’s time to pay some bills! The fight is back on boyz! April 25th UFC186!!” an excited ‘Rampage’ wrote on Twitter as the story broke.
With the UFC 186 event having been hit hard by injuries and call-offs it’s no surprise that the UFC are also pleased with the fact that they can now welcome back a star name, who had been one of the focal points of the promotional campaign, back to the main card.
“We are happy with the decision from the New Jersey Court allowing Rampage to fight in Montreal this Saturday night,” UFC President Dana White said. “I am looking forward to seeing Rampage back in the Octagon.”
Meanwhile, Bellator have also confirmed the court ruling, and are now looking to reassess their options after the surprise ruling.
“We are gratified that the Appellate Division did not disturb part of the Chancery Division order enjoining Jackson, but are disappointed that they reversed the injunction as to the April 25 fight,” reads a statement from Bellator. “We continue to believe that Judge Suter’s decision was thorough, well reasoned and correct, and are evaluating our options.”
UFC 186 now proceeds with a flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and Kyoji Horiguchi still headlining, with ‘Rampage’ Vs Maldonado in the co-main event spot and Michael Bisping Vs CB Dollaway proceeding that.
As for Steve Bosse, it looks like he’s headed straight back into retirement as he’s been removed from the card.
