Brash light heavyweight Quinton Jackson (Pictures), whose promotional contract was recently purchased by Zuffa, signed a two-fight deal with the UFC on Friday, Sherdog.com has learned.
"Rampage" will make his UFC debut Feb. 3 on pay-per-view versus Las Vegan Marvin Eastman (Pictures), Jackson's manager and trainer Juanito Ibarra confirmed Friday evening.
Jackson's deal, which runs through July 2007, reads similar to the one he signed with the World Fighting Alliance in March, including bonuses for pay-per-view and other ancillary items not normally associated with UFC deals.
Ibarra declined to divulge any financial terms, and said he doesn't expect Jackson to fight UFC champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures) before July. The UFC has the right to match any offer Jackson fields when his contract expires, Ibarra said.
In just the third bout of his career, Jackson (25-6-0) lost to Eastman (13-6-1) by decision in a King of the Cage-promoted contest. The 28-year-old from Memphis, Tenn. would eventually star in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships, where he lost two epic wars against champion Wanderlei Silva (Pictures). It was also in Japan that Jackson scored his career-defining stoppage over Liddell during a PRIDE Grand Prix semifinal bout in 2003.
Because of that victory, it was long believed that Jackson was a target of the UFC. Yet when "Rampage" joined the WFA, a rematch seemed unlikely. That immediately changed after the UFC purchased fighter contracts from the struggling promotional company's stable; UFC president Dana White said in media reports that Jackson was impetus for the acquisitions.
Jackson will be in Las Vegas next weekend to watch Liddell defend his title against Tito Ortiz (Pictures).
"sure is going to suck for the UFC if Eastman wins....there goes the big rampage/chuck rematch.....they should have him fight forrest (if he wins his next fight) so at least they could have a real #1 contender for chuck if rampage were to lose "
Forest and number 1 contender just doesn't sound right. Can't rule out the possibility of Liddell being the number 1 contender after December 30th though.
"i saw eastman at the las vegas combat club not too long ago. he doesnt act like a badass but he is one of those rare guys who you just look at and immediately know he is not to be f**ked with. "
I got to train with him some when I was in Vegas. He is a real cool guy and down to earth.
It gives Rampage the oppurtunity to avenge a loss, and it gives those people who aren't familiar with him a chance to see him beat the hell out of someone. It's a reasonable matchup.
the first fight was one of rampage's early fights. It was pretty even at times, and jackson looked nothing like he does currently, physically or skillwise.
Forest should have to beat someone besides stephan bonnar before he's number one. Make him beat Babalu (or try to anyway) before letting him fight for the title. Although, tito would brutalize him this time so it doesnt really matter.