Rampage Jackson Claims The UFC Is Losing The Ratings War With Bellator
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson has been one of the most outspoken fighters in modern MMA, even back in his Pride FC days. The former UFC light-heavyweight champion left the promotion on less than savoury terms with Dana White, and has blasted his former employers at every opportunity since.
Now fighting for Bellator, Jackson scored his first win in nearly three years in his debut; knocking out fellow UFC castaway Joey Beltran in under a round. Now booked to face Christian M’Pumbu at Bellator 110, Jackson sat down with Fight Hub TV to discuss his former bosses:
“If people were trying to decide on who to sign with, Bellator or the UFC, I would ask them to ask themselves what’s more important to them? Longevity in a career? Or just being able to tell your friends that you fought in the UFC?”
“Granted, the UFC is the premier league right now. They’re pretty much the name, they’re the name that everybody recognize. So many people even think our sport is called UFC.”
Obviously Rampage is more inclined to be critical of the UFC because of his heated rivalry with DW, but recent press about the UFC has been rather centred around the poor working conditions for their athletes. Jackson continued:
“If you want longevity, I would go with a company like Bellator that you can grow with. And here’s a secret that the UFC won’t tell you, and will never tell you, but right now Bellator is getting more ratings than the UFC. And sponsors understand stuff like that.”
“So a lot of sponsors are going to come over and jump to Bellator and UFC sponsorships are going to go down because if you don’t have the ratings you don’t have the commercial money and the people to watch the commercials and you don’t have the endorsement dollars.”
.This would be big news if it were backed up by hard evidence. Not that I don’t trust Jackson’s word, well actually it is because I don’t trust his word. I’d be very interested to see it the whole thing plays out like he says. I suppose the proof will show in the UFC/Bellator state of affairs over the next few years. Check out the full interview below and stay tuned to LowKick.com!
