When Tito Ortiz signed with Bellator, the fight most fans were clamouring for was a bout between Ortiz and another former UFC champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. As a draw it was the biggest fight Bellator had ever attempted to book.
It seems now, that a fight between the pair will remain a dream unfulfilled. Rampage has again shocked the MMA world by managing to get out his Bellator contract, signing back with the UFC.
Speaking to MMAFighting.com “The People’s Champ” discusses the motivation behind Jackson’s abrupt Bellator departure.
“He made a business decision, I was bummed. I wanted to fight against him. I guess in the long run, we’re friends. It would have hurt our friendship. We’re still really close friends. He has to pay his bills. I understand that. I guarantee the UFC paid a lot of money for him. I’m very happy for him. That’s awesome.”
While Bellator contends that Jackson is still under contract, Rampage has disagreed vigorously, stating that Bellator has failed to meet contractual obligations. The UFC however, has gone ahead and booked Jackson to face Fabio Maldonado at UFC 186 in Montreal. It remains to be seen if Bellator will attempt to stop the fight by filing an injunction.
Ortiz and Jackson were expected to fight each other as the main event of Bellator’s Pay-Per-View inaugural event but at the 11th hour Ortiz suffered an injury which caused the bout to be scrapped. Jackson won 3 straight before rejoining the UFC. That decision that was likely financially motivated according to Tito Ortiz.
“He would have made more money in the UFC than he would through Bellator right now. Not saying that Bellator is never gonna make that much money, but it’s gonna take a couple years. The short term right now, that’s what he’s thinking about. He doesn’t want to fight forever. He’s getting old himself and his body has taken damage. People don’t know what we go through, fighters every single day. Not even physically, but the mental torment from fans, everyone.”
Ortiz has won both of his fights in the Bellator cage and is coming off a unanimous decision win over fellow UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar at Bellator 131. While Ortiz seems happy for his old friend Jackson, he clearly believes that ‘Rampage’ didn’t want to meet him inside the cage.
“I know ‘Rampage’ personally. I know he doesn’t want to fight me. He’s got another three or four fights in him and that’s it.”