UFC issues statement regarding the Bellator – Rampage fiasco

UFC 186 was slated to be one of the biggest PPVs of the year, with both the UFC Bantamweight title and the UFC Flyweight title being defended on the same card. The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson was also set to make his return inside the Octagon, but the past few weeks have thrown water on UFC’s and Dana White’s plans for the PPV.

With T. J. Dillashaw getting injured during training, the Bantamweight champion was pulled from the card, making the Demetrious Johnson – Kyoji Horiguchi showdown the main event of the night for the UFC Flyweight title. Couple of days ago, the UFC suffered another setback, with Bellator FC being granted an injunction by a New Jersey Superior Court judge, preventing Rampage from competing in the UFC.

With Rampage signing with the UFC at the end of last year, Bellator FC’s Scott Coker has vowed to do everything within his power to stop Rampage from fighting in the UFC, and bring him back to Bellator FC. In light of the new developments, UFC issued the following statement:

“UFC has been advised of the New Jersey state court’s ruling in the matter between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Bellator MMA. The UFC organization was surprised about the ruling because Mr. Jackson represented to UFC on multiple occasions that he was free to negotiate and contract with UFC. The UFC organization is also surprised that Bellator sat on its alleged rights for months before taking action.

UFC understands that Mr. Jackson is considering an emergency appeal, and UFC is also considering action to protect its rights and minimize damages regarding this matter. UFC 186 in Montreal, Canada will proceed as planned and UFC is currently evaluating its fight card options.”

With Rampage no longer fighting on the card, UFC now has an uphill task of saving the PPV. With everyone already looking past UFC 186, with the recent World Championship Tour with UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo and the number one contender for the title, Conor McGregor being a phenomenal success, it might not deflate UFC’s morale, but with the likes of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone and Benson Henderson throwing their names in for a showdown “anytime, anywhere”, it’ll be interesting to see what UFC and Dana White come up with for UFC 186.