Bellator files injunction to stop Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson from fighting in UFC
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's return to the UFC may have to go through the legal system following an injunction filed in New Jersey by Bellator MMA as it seeks to stop his fight at UFC 186 on the grounds he has not fulfilled his contractual obligations to the promotion.
According to a release from Bellator MMA, the injunction was filed in Burlington County, New Jersey with the hope that a judge will grant the order and compel Jackson to return to the Viacom-owned organization and complete the final three fights on his deal.
Jackson signed a six-fight deal with Bellator in 2013 before exiting the promotion late last year to return to the UFC. Jackson stated at the time that Bellator had not lived up to the obligations laid out in his contract, so he voided the deal along with his representatives at the time.
Jackson is currently scheduled to make his return to action on April 25 at UFC 186 against Fabio Maldonado.
"Jackson, who has completed only three fights of his exclusive six-fight contract with Bellator, is barred by contract from fighting for any promoter other than Bellator," a statement released by Bellator on Monday read. "Our lawsuit for an injunction and related relief -- filed in the Chancery Division of the Superior Court in Burlington County, New Jersey -- will compel Jackson to honor his contractual agreement. We look forward to having one of our MMA stars fighting for Bellator again."
UFC officials stated at the time of Jackson's signing that they were confident his contract with Bellator was voided or else they wouldn't have offered him a new deal with the promotion.
When Jackson signed with Bellator, he also signed an overall deal with Viacom to not only fight in the MMA promotion, but to do several other projects with the media conglomerate, including television shows and a stint with TNA Impact Wrestling.
Part of Jackson's argument against Bellator stemmed from what he says was the promotion not living up to several parts of his contract, including a Spike TV reality series as well as a movie deal with Paramount. When issues were unable to be resolved, Jackson and his management team requested the deal be terminated due to a breech of contract as outlined in his original deal.
Clearly, Bellator has other ideas and now an injunction has been filed in an attempt to stop Jackson from fighting at UFC 186 against Maldonado.
