Just days ago, former UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson (32-9) Tweeted a message in frustration telling fans that he wouldn’t be competing in Japan and that “its a big mistake by the UFC”, ESPN.com is reporting that Jackson is set to meet Ryan ‘Darth’ Bader (13-2) at the February event.
The former light heavyweight champion will meet Ryan Bader at UFC 144. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the matchup to ESPN.com.
The news comes days after Jackson claimed on his Twitter account that he would not be fighting on the card. In a tweet posted Tuesday, Jackson wrote, “It don’t look like I’m fighting in Japan, which I’m not happy about at all.”
UFC 144 is expected to take place on February 26, 2012 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This bout will likely act as the co-main event as a lightweight bout between champ Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson should act as the headliner.
Jackson is coming off a loss to Jon Jones this past September at UFC 135, dropping the match by rear-naked choke submission to the 205-pound champion. The loss for ‘Rampage’ ended a two fight win streak which saw him earn victories over Matt Hamill at UFC 130 and against Lyoto Machida at UFC 123. The bout against Machida was a win by split decision which had left several surprised the scores turned out in Jackson’s favor.
Bader competed last weekend at UFC 139 in San Jose, earning a quick knockout victory over Jason Brilz ending a two fight losing skid. ‘Darth’ was submitted by both Tito Ortiz at UFC 132 and was by Jones, pre-UFC champion, at UFC 126 last February. The TUF 8 season winner is 6-2 overall in the Octagon.