Breaking News: "Rampage" to Fight in Feb. UFC

[Will]

Breaking News: "Rampage" to Fight in Feb. UFC

by Josh Gross

Brash light heavyweight Quinton Jackson, whose promotional contract was recently purchased by Zuffa, signed a two-fight deal with the UFC on Friday.

"Rampage" will make his UFC debut Feb. 3 on pay-per-view versus Las Vegan Marvin Eastman, 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 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 . 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 .

I have never really been a fan of Jacksons, but the guy is definitely an outspoken character and should make for some interesting feuds.

[RKO 2007]

Can’t wait to see him fight, I’ve heard a lot of good things about him.