UFC news

A New Jersey judge has granted a preliminary injunction against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson that will prevent him from competing at UFC 186 later this month.

A preliminary injunction filed against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson by Bellator MMA has been granted by a New Jersey judge, which means the veteran fighter will not be allowed to compete at UFC 186 later this month against Fabio Maldonado.

Bellator, a Viacom owned company, filed the suit against Jackson in chancery court claiming that he breached a contract that he signed with the promotion in June 2013. Jackson alleges that it was Bellator who actually breached the contract by not fulfilling certain aspects of his deal.

News of the injunction being granted was first reported byMMAFighting.com with court reps confirming the verdict to FOX Sports on Tuesday.

Jackson later filed a release with the promotion, believing that they did not live up to their end of the bargain, but Bellator disagreed and filed an injunction in court to prevent him from fighting for another promotion.

Judge Karen L. Suter of the Superior Court of Burlington County, New Jersey rendered the verdict after postponing the original hearing from last week to Tuesday where she made her decision.

"We are pleased by the judge's ruling and look forward to having "Rampage" fighting for Bellator again soon," Bellator officials said on Tuesday after word of the injunction came down.

Now the temporary injunction will stop Jackson from competing at UFC 186 on April 25 against Fabio Maldonado as scheduled, but long term the verdict doesn't mean the veteran fighter still can't escape his deal.

The courts will ultimately decide his fate down the road and Jackson could very well win while facing Bellator in litigation, but until that day arrives, he is not allowed to compete for the UFC.

UFC 186 has taken some major hits over the last few weeks including the loss of the original main event between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao, which was scrapped due to injury. The original card also featured a welterweight showdown between Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard. Lombard was eventually pulled after failing a post-fight drug test from his last bout at UFC 182 in January.

Now with "Rampage" being pulled from the card as well, UFC 186 stands with 11 total fights.  The UFC has not made a statement yet about the decision in the case against Jackson and whether or not they'll keep Maldonado on the card against a different opponent or pull him from the show completely. 

Stay tuned for details as more information becomes available on this story


source : http://www.foxsports.com/