Bellator, not ONE FC, inks ex-UFC champ Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson

In one of its biggest talent acquisitions to date, Bellator MMA has signed former UFC light-heavyweight champion and PRIDE veteran Quinton Jackson.

Sources close to the fighter confirmed the deal with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). Brazilian site NewsMMA.com.br first reported the signing.

A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles, and “Rampage” will be in attendance. Contracts details are expected to be unveiled then.

According to MMAFighting.com, in addition to Bellator MMA, the deal includes includes the opportunity to appear on TNA Impact Wrestling programming on Spike TV.

Jackson (32-11 MMA, 0-0 BFC) immediately becomes a contender in Bellator’s 205-pound division. Current champion Attila Vegh (29-4-2 MMA, 5-0 BFC), recent tournament winner Emanuel Newton (21-7-1 MMA, 4-1 BFC) and ex-Strikeforce champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (9-2 MMA, 1-1 BFC) are among the division’s most recognizable competitors. Additionally, a light-heavyweight tournament kicks off June 19 with notables such as Seth Petruzelli (14-7 MMA, 1-1 BFC) and Renato Sobral (37-10 MMA, 0-1 BFC)

Jackson, PRIDE’s 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix runner-up, recently closed out his UFC career with a three-fight skid, which included losses to champ Jon Jones, Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira. In 12 UFC fights, he posted an overall 7-5 record.

The fighter, who’s ranked No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA light-heavyweight rankings, announced his split with the UFC following his January loss to Teixeira. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, UFC President Dana White said Jackson made nearly $16 million during his five-year run in the UFC. But his constant clashes with UFC officials, as well as a high-profile arrest in 2008 for two felonies related to hit and run and evading police, turned the relationship sour. Jackson also launched an acting career that took away from his time in the cage, which drew some ire from White.

In February he expressed his desire to move on. Despite recent reports of a potential move to ONE FC, Jackson instead will fight on with Bellator.

“Any organization out there, if they want to have my back and treat me like the way I feel I should be treated, I’ll go and hype up their shows,” he said. “That’s what I do. I get people interested.

“I don’t need to fight. My kids are secure, and my family is secure. I don’t need to fight, but I like to entertain people. I still feel like I have something to prove still.”