Rampage Jackson Back on UFC 186 Fight Card

Bettors are jumping to bet heavily-favored Quintin Rampage Jackson in his UFC return.

Yesterday, a judge in the Superior Court of New Jersey’s Appellate Division overturned UFC rival Bellator’s injuction against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, which will allow him to fight Fabio Maldonado in a catchweight bout to be contested at 215 pounds at UFC 186 in Montreal this weekend. With that ruling, the judge has given a much-needed boost to the UFC 186 card, which has been mired in controversy and plagued by multiple fight cancellations due to injuries and failed drug tests.

UFC President Dana White made a statement after hearing of the ruling, saying that the UFC was “happy with the decision from the New Jersey Court allowing Rampage to fight in Montreal this Saturday night,” and that he was “looking forward to seeing Rampage back in the Octagon.”

On the matchup with Fabio Maldonado, who is the +240 underdog of the fight, White said that Rampage Jackson can be counted on to “bring his intensity. He comes in and tries to finish you and I love that about him. He’s taking on Maldonado. Another guy who loves to stand, loves to trade toe to toe, and those are always fun fights.”

This will be Jackson’s first time back in the Octagon since losing to Glover Teixeira in early 2013. Jackson, who is 36 years old and 7-5 in the UFC, recently re-signed with the UFC after a short stint with Bellator, who he accused of breach of contract. Current odds show Rampage as heavily favored at -300.

Former NHL player Steve Bosse, who had been scheduled to replace Rampage at the fight, is no longer on the card. Still scheduled is the headline fight, which sees the very heavily favored at -900 Demetrious Johnson defend his 125-pound title against Kyoji Horiguchi. Co-headliner Michael Bisping, who is slightly favored at -160, will be fighting +125 underdog C.B. Dolloway. There are a total of 8 Canadians fighting on the UFC 186 card, which is a real testament to the growing popularity of the sport in Canada, and a great chance for the audience in Montreal to see some of their country’s finest fighters in action.