Quinton “Rampage” Jackson now has a new official home for his mixed martial arts career, since signing with Bellator MMA. The bitter sister organization to the much more successful UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) was eager to snatch the former light heavyweight leader as soon as his contract with the UFC ended.
According to email leaks to BR MMA, Spike TV, “Rampage” Jackson has signed an exclusive contract with the company and possibly Bellator to fight later this year under his logo and advertising brands; in fact, Rampage has already beaten two opponents as of the time of this writing. Both Joey Beltran and M’Pumbu have fallen into those vaunted hands, with King Mo Lawal possibly next on the casualty list or perhaps the victor. Spike TV announced that it has also signed a contract with the fighter to participate in both MMA and professional wrestling. Remember that Bellator is the second largest promoter of MMA fights in the US, making it only a small step behind the UFC, despite the difference between the organizations in overall revenue.
Some of the terms of the contract include the image rights to their fights, which will be owned by Spike TV and the TNA Wrestling Organization, as well as Bellator’s promise that Rampage will be able to take advantage of the big screen opportunities, should they arise. Remember his turn as Mr. T in the new film version of the A-Team, and the success and the extra popularity that Jackson has been able to get from it.
With this new speculation about where this legendary fighter after the UFC would open the door for him to leave, it’s over. Jackson, 34, left the UFC earlier this year amid complaints about the treatment the Las Vegas-based promotion regularly receives. Rampage joined the UFC in 2007 and won the organization’s light heavyweight title by knocking out Chuck Liddell. He also defeated Dan Henderson to unify the UFC and Pride Fighting Championship titles. But after the losses to Jon Jones, Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira, the company decided to dispense with their services.
With a professional record of 32-11 (7-5 in the UFC), Jackson begins this new journey trying to have more luck with Bellator than with the UFC where he was falling from the top to less important positions and falling in the rankings.
Now he has a chance to start over but always with the threat that if something goes wrong, there may no longer be a third chance for him. “Rampage” must respect this time due to all the clauses of the new contract; in particular, the clause that has always cost him the most: coaching. Because everyone knows that this man is very anarchist and does not like to comply with his mandatory training, which forces the contract, which impacts not only his physical form but also the image of the sponsor.
Ultimately, true fans of the Black Samurai, as the loyal Japanese PRIDE fans used to call Rampage, will likely stick with the charismatic fighter even in his new place, and expect to see him fiercely punch people like he did before. in his carrer.
