Former UFC 205-pound champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson announced his first fight in Bellator, and it will be on pay-per-view against fellow former UFC champ Tito Ortiz.
Jackson made the announcement during the Bellator 97 broadcast on Thursday evening, with Ortiz joining him in the cage.
“Tito is a showman,” Jackson said. “I know it’s going to be one of the best fights in history.”
Jackson and Ortiz will fight Nov. 2 in Long Beach, Calif., at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, according to information announced by Bellator MMA representatives.
Prior to the announcement, reports indicated that Rampage would face Roy Jones Jr. in a what was expected to be a boxing match. Jones was also in attendance at the Bellator event, but no indication was given regarding the potential for future boxing bout with Jackson.
Jackson (32-11) hasn’t won in the cage since May 2011, and has lost three consecutive fights. It was announced in June that Rampage signed with Bellator in a multi-fight deal, which also includes participating in TNA Wrestling.
Ortiz (16-11-1) last fought in July 2012, a unanimous-decision loss to Forrest Griffin. The fight with Griffin was his third loss in a row, and he announced his retirement from MMA competition soon after. He went on to become an MMA manager, most notably for Cris “Cyborg.”
No other fights have been announced for the card.
